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Hand Push Lawn Mowers
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by Shelley
on February 12, 2011
I want to really be green as much as possible and I am a big gardener. I want to start cutting my lawn with a hand push mower so I no longer have to use gas and felt it would also be beneficial for me physcially ( a good workout) 
But I'm really not sure what type I should purchase or which works the best, does the best job? Can anyone here help me out with that? Any advice, suggestions would certainly be appreciated. Thanks. Can't wait for Spring I get so excited at that time of year when all is new again. 
Hi Shelley,
I'm in Australia so I guess we would have different brands etc here. My husband and I have had a push mower for about 5 years & it's great.
It sure is a good work out but sometimes it can be exhausting if you have a large lawn or are dealing with sloping land or dips in the ground. It certainly is a rewarding experience and the grass clippings naturally fall where they are cut which is a good form of mulch and also means you don't have to deal with a huge amount of grass clippings to dispose of.
Definitely a green option. All the best with it.
Thanks Naomi for your advice it is greatly appreciated. Shelley :)
Hi Shelley, I also use a push 'reel' mower. If you have a large yard, you may consider getting one of the wider models. For example, Craftsman makes one that is the traditional width and a wider width (I saw them at Sears last summer).
I have to say, mine works very well, but I have a smallish yard. My neighbor made fun of my old-fashioned push mower when we first moved in, but the next summer he traded in his gas mower for a human-powered push mower as well!!!
Naomi is very correct, the only time I have a problem is when I get stuck in a hole in my lawn! Also, I've noticed two things: its easier to mow when your grass is dry because wet grass (like from morning dew) tends to stick to the blades, and its easier if I don't let my lawn overgrow to an obscene length (its much harder to mow after a long vacation).
All in all, I love my reel mower: it's perfectly quiet, it gets the job done, and it's an upper body workout that is good for me!
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