A Shopping Guide to Mulching Lawn Mowers
This guide will help you find a grasscycling mower that’s right for you. For up-to-date ratings of mulch-mower performance, consult the most recent June issue of Consumer Reports, available at your local library.
Push Mowers
Not only are push mowers quiet, non-polluting and inexpensive, they do a good job of grasscycling. One disadvantage is that they can’t chop and blow the clippings down into the turf like a power mulching mower. But you can always rake up the areas where clippings might be tracked into the house. Grass clippings make great compost and mulch.
Push mowers are sold in most local hardware stores, as well as big department and discount stores. Quality of construction varies with price, so comparison shop. Test the handle for stiffness, strong attachment to the mower, and comfortable hand grips. Compare the ease of height adjustment, and look for smooth, sharp blade edges. Higher priced mowers often have six blades rather than five, to cut more smoothly.