Clean Mowing: Reel Mower Roundup - Gardenista
Easier on the budget, the environment, and the health of your grass, the new breed of reel mowers is worth serious consideration. Reel mowers come without gas, emissions, and noise. While the core design of the traditional reel mower has remained the same, enhancements have been made to eliminate some of the frustrating drawbacks that, as kids, caused us to moan every time we were asked to mow the lawn. Features to consider when shopping for a reel mower include the cutting width, weight, blade height adjustment, and availability of a grass catcher (keep in mind that there are benefits to letting the grass clippings mulch back into the soil, acting as a natural fertilizer). Leave it to a scissors company to reinvent the lawn mower. Fiskars Stay Sharp Max Reel Mower offers a cutting system that cuts grass without the blades touching, greatly reducing blade wear. The German-made Brill Razorcut 38 Push Reel Mower weighs in at an easy-to-handle 17 pounds; $169.99 at Clean Air Gardening The heavy-duty Mascot Silent Cut 21 Deluxe Reel Mower weighs 50 pounds, which makes it heavier than other reel mowers. The highly rated NaturCut HD Classic Reel Lawn Mower is $219.99 at Hayneedle. For the traditionalist, the Scott 20-Inch Classic Reel Mower has snuck in a few improvements over the years (like a second set of small wheels for stability) to keep it on the best-seller list; $119.99 at Amazon. The Hudson Star Classic Reel Mower is the Jaguar of the reel mower category.