Below are some of the most common lawn mower features, and why you might want to consider them.


Steel, Aluminum and Other Deck Materials

The deck of a lawn mower is the body of the mower that surrounds the blades.

Steel is one of the most common materials for a mower deck. Steel is strong and durable, but it can also rust if it isn't taken care of, and it is heavier than some other materials.

Cast aluminum is similar to steel, with great strength and durability. It also has the advantages of lighter weight, and resistance to rusting. Cast aluminum decks are typically found on more expensive mowers than ones with steel decks.

Plastic is a common deck material for small electric mowers. It isn't typically an option for gas mowers, which get too hot for plastic decks. It is durable enough for small electric mowers and has the advantage of light weight.

Xenoy® decks are exclusive to Honda lawn mowers. Auto manufacturers use Xenoy® for car bodies and bumpers. Honda uses it in the Harmony mower line. It is rust-free and comes with a 5 year warranty just on the deck itself! Xenoy® is a registered trademark of General Electric Corporation.


Mulching, Side Discharge, Bagging

The typical options that you'll find when choosing a lawn mower are mulching, side discharge and with a bag for collecting grass clippings. Bagging can be an option for both mulching and non-mulching mowers.

Mulching is when the lawnmower blade is designed to cut and recut the grass clippings into much smaller pieces, which are left on the lawn to decompose. Mulching is a highly recommended practice which can reduce the need for fertilizing your lawn. Grass clippings contain nitrogen, which returns to your lawn when the clippings decompose.

Side discharge is when the lawn mower just shoots the grass clippings out of a chute on the side and onto the top of the lawn. With this method, the grass clippings are typically not cut up as finely as with a mulching lawn mower. But it is still safe to leave them on your lawn to decompose.

Bagging is just what it sounds like. You attach a bag (a grass catcher) to the mower and collect the clippings in the bag. I do not recommend bagging. It's extra work, it robs your soil of nitrogen, and it fills up landfills unnecessarily. However, sometimes it does make sense to use a bag to pick up leaves, or to collect the clippings for composting.


Pull start, electric start

The vast majority of mowers are started by pulling a cord. However, you can actually buy an electric start lawnmower if you are willing to spend the money. Electric start is typically only found on the most expensive mower models.


Self-propelled versus Non Self-Propelled

A gas powered mower can weigh anywhere from 60 to 100 pounds. I personally believe it is lazy to buy a self propelled mower, but my opinion is not very common because the self-propelled mower feature is very popular.

Self-Propelled
If you are considering a self-propelled mower, you should see if it has the option of running at different speeds or if it only has a single speed setting. I recommend several speeds (or an adjustable speed), because otherwise you might end up with a mower that goes uncomfortably fast or slow.

Non Self-Propelled
Non self-propelled means that the mower turns the blades, but you will do all the pushing to move the mower around the yard. If you are shopping for this kind of mower, pay attention to the total weight of the mower. You'll want to stay near the low end of the weight range -- around 60 to 80 pounds max.

Electric lawn mowers are typically not self-propelled because it takes too much power to turn the blades and move the mower. Ryobi once made a small cordless electric mower that was self-propelled, but they discontinued it in 1998. They no longer make electric mowers. The self propelled version had a very short battery life.

With a corded electric mower you don't need self propelled, because the mowers are very light to begin with. An electric motor weighs less than a gas engine, and the mower itself is also typically smaller for an electric mower.


You Get What You Pay For

A lot of people will head to their local retailer and buy the cheapest gas mower they can find. Then they are always surprised to find out later that it is difficult to use, impossible to start after the first few months without constant tune-ups, and it wears out after just two or three years.

By spending some extra money upfront, you'll save money on repairs and tune-ups and have a mower that is more enjoyable to use and that lasts for many more years than a cheap mower. Over time, it's typically less expensive to buy a better mower.