When warm weather returns, it is time for BBQ, swimming pools, and outdoor gardening. Lawn care for a home can be a major endeavor, depending on the size and layout of the lawn itself. In the search to find the right tool for the job, the best lawn mowers come in handy to keep your yard manicured.
According to a recent study, more than two-thirds of Americans find themselves spending more time at home now than two years ago – and the economy may be to blame. That’s according to a new survey of 2,000 Americans, where 69 percent of respondents remain home due to external factors such as inflation and a looming recession. With all that time on their hands, respondents have been staying busy by upgrading their homes. Over the last year, Americans have prioritized maintaining their yards and lawns (36%), followed by their kitchens (30%) and living rooms (29%). On top of that, they spend 50 hours maintaining their lawn, 42 hours caring for their kitchen, 27 hours keeping up their dining room, and 33 hours on their home gym each year.
Spending time on lawn care and gardening can be good for your health. In fact, a new study reports that gardening could help reduce the risk of cancer, boost mental health and bring communities together. Scientists say it leads to eating more fibrous fruits and vegetables, exercising more and building social connections. These positive elements of gardening can ease stress and anxiety and lower the risk of various illnesses, according to researchers from The University of Colorado Boulder.
With so many choices from gas to electric to remote controlled and more, there are many lawncare products to choose from. StudyFinds did the research for you by turning to the experts to find the best lawn mowers available for your today. Let us know your opinion in the comments below!
The List: Best Lawn Mowers, According to Experts
1. Honda 21-Inch Walk Behind Mower
As always, it is unusual for our sources to agree on which product is the best. However when it comes to Lawn Mowers, our sources agree: Honda is top of the line. “Whether it’s a car, generator, or lawn mower, it’s tough to beat the reliability and durability of Honda engines—and such is the case with this self-propelled gas lawn mower. Its powerful GCV170 engine powers not just one but two blades, giving it a cleaner, more precise cut over most other gas-powered lawn mowers that have just a single blade. With its rear-wheel drive, this mower is ideal to contend with yards that have slopes and more-rugged terrain. Its engine is formidable, and so are its features. An easy-to-use clip system makes it simple to switch between its three grass-clipping options—mulching, side discharge, and bagging—and the well-designed speed controls add to the quality of this premium self-propelled walk-behind mower,” writes Bob Vila.
The wow factor of this mower comes from the quality and power of the engine. “In terms of cut quality and the ability to maintain turf health, it’s one of the best self-propelled mowers available, due mostly to a pair of features—a two-blade cutting system that offers golf-course-like results, and a unique way to dial in a precise mulching-to-bagging ratio to compensate for various grass conditions. Combine all of that with this mower’s other strong details, like a large 200 cc engine and rear-wheel drive to help traverse tall grass or hills, and you’re getting enough to justify the steep price,” says the NY Times.
This mower is especially well-suited for larger lawns: “It is not designed for small yards, and you won’t be darting in and out of flower beds and shrubbery. It is a pleasure to use. We had tested Honda mowers before and were familiar with their operation and overall product quality. The HRX217VKA did not disappoint. Easy to assemble and set up right out of the box, it started on the first pull of the cord. Right away you can feel the heft of this mower with its innovative NeXite deck and powerful motor. It’s heavier than most mowers, but it feels planted on the lawn and tracks perfectly,” adds USA Today.
2. Ego Power+ Select Cut Mower
Battery powered mowers have finally become a match for gas-powered competitors. “Advanced battery technology has finally arrived and the benefits can readily be seen in the Ego Power+ LM2135SP, a 21-inch self-propelled electric mower. This cordless mower with a cutting width of 21 inches utilizes a 56-volt lithium ion battery to power through up to 60 minutes of lawn cutting. The Ego Power+ is powerful, comfortable, and a joy to use. Even though the battery only lasted about an hour, the mower performed extremely well mulching and driving itself uphill. It has plenty of torque and is capable of doing anything a gasoline-powered mower can do,” says USA Today.
This model boasts powerful specifications as well as a compact size it could be a great choice for smaller lawns. “The battery is compatible with all Ego power tools, so you can swap batteries around and always have a spare ready to hot-swap if needed. The drive is controlled using a typical lever control, and delivers excellent fine-speed control over the range of the mower’s performance. The mower’s multi-blade system gives a professional, clean cut to your lawn that a single-blade mower can’t achieve. Need to mow late in the day? No problem: There are LED headlights to illuminate your path. The Ego lets you quickly switch between mulching, bagging and discharge with a single lever, and the collection bag holds 2 bushels of clippings. You can vary the deck height from 1.25 inches to 4 inches using a single handy lever—you don’t need to adjust each wheel or front and rear individually,” mentions Forbes.
For the average suburban home this model could easily be a go-to purchase for lawn care. “The Ego Power+ Cordless Mower is the best bang for your buck. With its rapid charger, this battery-powered push mower contains lots of helpful features, such as LED lights that keep you on track if your mowing time spans into the night. Create the cut of your dreams with one of six height positions, so the stripes on your grass are always up to snuff. When you’re ready to store your mower, take advantage of its foldable technology to be compact and out of sight. Oh, and don’t forget about the lawn mower cover, too,” writes Family Handyman.
3. Husqvarna AUTOMOWER Robotic Lawn Mower
Robot lawn care has not only arrived but are now becoming more readily available. “Robot lawn mowers are for those of us who don’t want to mow the lawn ever again. They’re still relatively new, meaning prices are still relatively high, but if you’ve got the cash to spend, they’re a fantastic investment for the time-tight gardener. The 315X has built-in Bluetooth and cellular, meaning you can use the companion app and check in on your lawnmower’s progress wherever you are in the world, as well as stop and start it manually if you prefer. Set a schedule, and you’ll never need to worry about mowing the lawn ever again or use voice commands to bark instructions at it via Amazon Alexa or Google Home instead,” explains Homes & Gardens.
For those who want to take the plunge and go robotic, “This Husqvarna Automower Robotic pick mows the yard for you! It can complete large yards, too, thanks to its 145 minutes of running time and fast-charge battery. Its adjustable cut height system can be set between 0.8 to 2.4 inches, and you never have to worry about it being stolen thanks to its GPS tracker and PIN code. The weatherproof technology allows this mower to be caught in the rain without damaging its system, and it’s also capable of mowing slopes up to 24 degrees,” says Family Handyman.
This particular model is pricey, but with the larger price tag comes all the exciting features one might want from a lawn care robot. “This futuristic-looking machine is specifically designed to be able to handle hills up to 35°. This Automower works great for yards up to roughly 0.9 acres and the battery keeps it mowing for an hour and 40 minutes. Charging takes just 30 minutes before it’s off and running again. Like most robotic mowers, the cut height is limited. Ranging from 1.2 to 2.8 inches, it’s not the best option for all grass species. Smartphone connectivity and GPS assistance are built into the system. It’s not completely wire-free just yet, though Husqvarna is working on that,” mentions Pro Tool Reviews.
4. Greenworks 3-in-1 Lawn Mower
Suburban homeowners are certainly the target audience for many lawn mower manufacturers. “If you have a small lawn that’s no more than 0.25 acre (a typical size for a suburban lawn in many parts of the US), we recommend the Greenworks 3-in-1 Lawn Mower, a mower that impressed us when we tested it in the past. During our latest round of testing, we tested this model again in one of our own backyards on three separate days and found it simple to assemble. It only took around 10 minutes to be up and running), easy to turn on, and comfortable to use. We also had no trouble folding down the handle when it was time to store the mower and appreciated its small size. Overall, we continue to be impressed with this push mower’s features, performance on flat lawns or gently sloped terrain, and value,” explains The Spruce.
The benefits of a corded lawnmower outweigh the hassle of an extension cord, particularly for smaller lawns. “If you’re on a budget, you’ll get a lot of performance for your money. The deck is on the smaller side at 20 inches, meaning you might want to leave this one if you have a larger yard. It is better for nipping around smaller areas and getting into smaller corners easily instead. Noise levels are low, and an easy push-to-start button will get it up and running without any hassle. It’s well-made and reliable, so you have no worries about running out of fuel or battery at any stage. Features are pretty functional here, but there’s enough. You can choose between seven mow levels and between bagging, side discharge, and mulching for the cuttings,” points out Homes & Gardens.
It’s all about choosing the right tool for the right job. “If you have a small yard, there’s no need to spend big bucks for a large or expensive machine. This Greenworks option is corded, so you don’t need to think about recharging a battery or making sure the fuel tank is full. The mower’s 20-inch deck allows you to cover plenty of ground in one pass, while seven position height adjustment lets you get the perfect mow every time. Clippings can go right into the included bag. Since this is a plug-in model, it’s nice to know it has a cord retainer to keep the extension cord from accidentally unplugging during the job. Once you’re finished, fold down the handle for easy and compact storage,” mentions Forbes.
5. Toro Smart Stow
Toro is a trusted American brand for lawn care. “Toro touts a commercial-grade construction on this model and includes a lighter aluminum deck rather than steel. In addition to that, you get outstanding cut quality, especially on the mulching side (you better with the name Super Recycler!). Wrapping it up, the Personal Pace drive system adjusts to your walking pace so there are no levers or dials to adjust,” says Pro Tool Reviews.
The Toro Smart Stow could be a great choice for larger lawns or lawns that are not level. “The Toro SmartStow is another top-rated mower that our experts like for homeowners who are short on space in their garage or shed because it folds down for vertical storage. It’s extremely versatile, too: the self-propelled engine lets you customize its speed to match your pace, plus the mower has nine cutting height options and 10-inch rear wheels that make it easy to maneuver over all lawn types. Thanks to its flex handle suspension, physical fatigue is reduced when mowing larger or sloped lawns. It also features a robust Briggs and Stratton engine for easy riding and powerful mowing — and easy maintenance with no oil changes required. The all-terrain workhorse allows for versatility with its three-in-one cutting offerings — rear bagging collection, side discharge or recycler mulching,” notes Good Housekeeping.
The Toro Smart Stow touts several great functional advantages: “The Toro 20340’s storage feature is called the SmartStow system, which is made possible by the Briggs & Stratton engine’s unique design. It’s a simple process: You fold the handle over the body of the mower and lock it in place. Then (with the bag removed), you set the mower upright or wheel it around like a piece of luggage, much like you would a cordless model. It makes storage easy, not to mention cleaning the underside of the mowing deck or inspecting the blade,” claims the NY Times.
You might also be interested in:
Sources
- Popular Mechanics
- Bob Vila.com
- NY Times
- USA Today
- Forbes
- The Spruce
- Pro Tool Reviews
- Family Handyman
- Good Housekeeping
- Homes & Gardens
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.
