To go with propulsion or push, is actually a simple decision to make. If you don’t want to push a mower around regardless of your lawn size, best to opt for self-propelled mowers. And if you have raised terrain, no-push mowers are your only choice. With flat even terrain, it depends on whether you have a large lawn or not and it’s a yes for the former.

Reel mowers will struggle with tougher strains of grass and lawns that have grown unmanaged for more than three weeks. Gas and electric mowers with sufficient power will eat through almost any grass type and regardless of the height (unless it’s the Savannah you wish to mow). Quite naturally, it is the power and deck size that together determine the ability of a mower to cut. Greater the torque and larger the blades, better the cut quality.

First of all, the deck size varies depending on the type of mower. Reel mowers usually have decks smaller than 20 inch. Petrol and electric (both push and self-propelled) mowers tend to have around 12 to 23 inch decks. Riding mowers have the largest up to 66 inch! Moreover, choosing the right deck size also depends on how large your lawn actually is.

Reel Mowers are ideal for lawns smaller than 1/4th If you have a large property, keeping a reel mower in your shed helps you micro manage the yard without having to always take out the more powerful and heavy mower.

Petrol and Electric Mowers are suitable for lawn up to half acre. If you have a bumpy lawn or even a gradual inclination, go for self-propelled mowers with larger decks.

Riding mowers such as ZTR and tractor mowers are for properties with wide expansive greens. Naturally, deck size is inconsequential when choosing riding mowers since they all have massive decks.

Gas mowers will need more routine maintenance year round. If it is a pull-start unit, you must ensure it runs regularly. With electric-start mowers, the battery needs to be charged/replaced periodically. You also have to prepare the mower for winters if the temperature reaches zero. This is a delicate task and then nudging it back to life in spring needs refueling, adding oil, greasing the joints and such. Moreover, gas mowers have many more moving components and are naturally more prone to damage.

On the other hand, electric mowers rely on fewer moving components and do not need winterization. Typically the only two assured maintenance necessity with electric mowers is periodic replacement of the batteries and occasional greasing of the joints.

Self-propelled mowers, riding mowers need a bit more maintenance so the cost of running them is higher than the rest. Reel mowers though are the cheapest since you only need to sharpen the blades once in a while. Do remember that all mowers need blade sharpening and an eventual replacement.