Every winter, Consumer Reports tester Dave Trezza heads to Florida to put dozens of mowers and tractors through their paces — all before the spring mowing season begins.
“We go down to Florida in January and February so we can test the mowers ahead of time before the mowing season starts,” Trezza said.
The testing site spans more than 5 acres of grassy land, complete with obstacles such as hills and trees. The space gives Consumer Reports’ mower testing team room to assess how evenly each mower cuts, how it handles, and its mulching and bagging performance.
Maintenance matters
The biggest takeaway from the test field: maintaining your mower saves money.
“Most mowers will give you a decent cut, but of course, you have to remember to sharpen the blade in the spring, keep your deck clean,” Trezza said.
How you mow can also help cut costs. Mulching grass instead of bagging it supplies the lawn with extra nutrients, which means spending less on fertilizer.
“When you’re mulching with your lawn mower, you want one that obviously doesn’t leave any clumps behind, cuts evenly. This is a really good example right here. You can see it’s nice and even, and there’s no clumping left behind,” Trezza said.
Shopping for a new mower
For those in the market for a new mower, a self-propelled model can be a smart investment for sloped or larger lawns. Shoppers can keep costs down by choosing a gasoline-powered model, such as the Yardmax, which cuts and mulches as well as mowers that cost hundreds more in Consumer Reports’ tests.
Opting for a push mower saves even more money. The Ryobi battery-powered push mower delivers an even cut and is an excellent choice for mulching.
Compared to gasoline mowers, battery-powered models require little to no maintenance and offer a quieter mowing experience.
Keep it clean
Regardless of mower type, Consumer Reports recommends cleaning the mower after each use. Caked-on grass clippings can deteriorate the metal deck and restrict airflow, affecting the mower’s overall performance.