Push Reel Mowers: When Mowing the Lawn is Fun

Mowing the lawn can be either a chore or a challenge. Push reel mowers are for people who think mowing the lawn is fun.

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If you are still reading, you may be one of them.

Push reel mowers have been around in one form or another for close to two hundred years. Their design is simple, consisting of a base (metal reel with blades, attached to a set of wheels) and a handle for pushing the base. They run on people power rather than gasoline, electricity or batteries. You can hear the birds chirping in the trees as you mow. How much more environmentally friendly can lawn care be?

To be fair, the latest generation of electric and gas mowers continue to improve in the environmental friendliness category. New regulations entering into force will help move the traditional gas powered lawn mower closer to a twenty-first century low emissions standard. Electric mowers are quiet enough to not only please the neighbors when you choose to mow during the early morning hours, but also quiet enough to hear the early birds catching their worms during your mowing.

The difference between the three types of mowers (push reel, electric and gas) is more about attitude and choice. We are schooled to choose a mower based on our specific lawn care needs, with lawn size commonly cited as a determining criteria. With their longer base and higher horsepower, gas powered mowers are marketed as suitable for larger lawns. Electric and reel mowers are marketed as practical solutions for smaller yards. The mowing the lawn as chore model underlines this marketing approach. It's a chore that can be efficiently completed with the proper tool.

People who think mowing the lawn is fun think differently about yard size. Larger yards mean increased mowing time, regardless of the mower choice. Push reel mowers naturally increase the time needed to complete the job. After all, you're not babysitting a self-propelled tool as it moves up and down the lawn, you're actually exerting energy to push the reel through the grass, sometimes more than once, especially when the grass grows high. In fact, if you have a larger than average yard, using a push reel mower means that splitting the yard in two allows you to mow twice a week rather than once a week.

Push reel mower technology has improved over time. Today's models are typically lightweight, with mowing widths range from 14-20 inches. They can be set to cut grass at lengths three inches or less. Gadget lovers can find models with grass catchers, although none yet have high tech cup holders attached. They are almost maintenance free, meaning you spend more time mowing with them rather than repairing them. Try one out today and see what fun you've been missing.

© 2007 Patricia A. Michaels