Electric Lawn Care
Electric push mowers are a welcome, recent addition. They’re less messy than gas mowers and start at the flip of a switch. You can adjust the blade height with one movement. Electric mowers are low-maintenance (just sharpen the blades). Bagging and mulching functions are available. The mowers are inexpensive to operate ($3–$6 a year) and environmentally friendly. It’s estimated that running a typical gas push mower for an hour puts out as much noxious emissions as a car driven 50 miles. With my corded model, I easily maintain a 1⁄10-acre yard within reach of a 100-foot extension cord, and it’s as quiet as my vacuum cleaner. Cordless models are powered by a rechargeable battery and may mow up to 1⁄3-acre on a single charge. They are more expensive, up to $450 compared to the corded mowers, which average $200. Electric mowers are poorer than gas ones at tackling tall grass and weeds. Mow frequently.