5 Things To Consider Before Purchasing a Push Reel Mower

Push Reel Mowers are making a "comeback" of sorts, though, in reality they've never really left; they've just gotten better. There are a number of reasons why purchasing a reel mower would make sense such as: better for the environment; more exercise; lighter; and, better for the grass, to name a few. However, a push reel mower is not for everyone nor for every lawn situation.

Below I list 5 areas where a reel mower is not the best solution for everyone

  • Yard Size. Most push reel mowers can cover up to 2500 square feet without too much trouble. If your yard is much larger than that, you may want to consider a powered mower, and perhaps even one that's self-propelled or a riding mower.
  • How often You Mow. If you mow less than once every 2 weeks, then your lawn will be taller than what's manageable with a reel mower; especially in the late-Spring and early-Summer time. Most reel mowers can handle up to 2" fairly well; some can even handle as high as 3" or more. If you routinely wait until your grass is higher than 2" you could be making more work for yourself with a push reel mower.
  • Yard layout. If your yard is on a hilly terrain then it's even more work to go back up the hill on each pass. One way to mitigate this layout would be to cut horizontally instead of vertically, so you don't have to go up the hill each time, just across it.
  • Trees. If you have trees in your yard whose branches cover most of the yard, you may have quite a few fallen twigs, sticks and branches to contend with. That would mean adding the extra work of picking up as many sticks as possible before you begin cutting. Whereas powered mowers can cut through most twigs and small sticks easily; those items will quickly stop a reel mower in it's tracks. Which would add to the total cutting time because you would have to clean the debris from the blades each time they got stuck.
  • Weather conditions. If your grass is wet, it will make cutting a bit more difficult. Depending on just how wet the lawn is, the wheels could simply slide across the grass which would not allow the blades to rotate properly.
    • These are just a few things to consider before purchasing a push reel mower. There are a number of good reasons to purchase a reel mower; however, you should decide whether any or all of the 5 items listed above would be "show-stoppers" for you in your decision to purchase a push reel mower.

    Jeff Boyd is the Owner of http://www.reelpushmowers.com, a supplier of Push Reel Mowers and accessories for the environmentally-conscious and health-conscious consumer.

    In The News:

    Google News
    Updated : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:50:27 GMT

    British government unveils massive financial rescue plan - Los Angeles Times


    ITV.com
    British government unveils massive financial rescue plan
    Los Angeles Times - 48 minutes ago
    LONDON - The British government Wednesday unveiled a massive rescue plan for its ailing banking system after days of unrelenting bad news for the financial industry here.
    British government to partially nationalize banks International Herald Tribune
    Rescue plan for UK banks unveiled BBC News
    guardian.co.uk - Washington Post - BusinessWeek - AFP
    all 1,454 news articles

    Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:01:33 GMT

    Harford County Council tries for leaner budget - Baltimore Sun


    Pittsburgh Post Gazette
    Harford County Council tries for leaner budget
    Baltimore Sun - 1 hour ago
    By Mary Gail Hare Harford County Executive David R. Craig met with the County Council last night and painted a bleak revenue outlook that will dominate the remainder of the fiscal year and continue well into the next.
    Sims wants pay freeze to balance King County budget Seattle Times
    Sims announces layoffs, wage freezes for county employees Seattle Post Intelligencer
    Pittsburgh Post Gazette - KOMO News - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Bizjournals.com
    all 10 news articles

    Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:27:45 GMT

    In Florida, Palin keeps up attacks on Obama - Dallas Morning News


    BBC News
    In Florida, Palin keeps up attacks on Obama
    Dallas Morning News - 1 hour ago
    JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Sarah Palin portrayed Barack Obama as a dishonest politician and a risky choice for president Tuesday as she wrapped up a two-day campaign swing through Florida.
    Sarah Palin, Freed? Washington Post
    McCain, Obama and a 'friendly' town hall Los Angeles Times
    Reuters - San Francisco Chronicle - Boston Globe - USA Today
    all 4,475 news articles

    Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:39:26 GMT

    Australian jet plunge probe opens - BBC News


    TVNZ
    Australian jet plunge probe opens
    BBC News - 1 hour ago
    A computer glitch may have caused a Qantas jet to plunge suddenly mid-flight, an Australian air safety investigator has said. The incident injured 40 passengers, in a terrifying airborne drama.
    Qantas plane had glitch before altitude plunge International Herald Tribune
    Computer glitch may have caused Qantas plunge: investigator AFP
    Bloomberg - Reuters - Aljazeera.net - ABC Online
    all 734 news articles

    Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:39:47 GMT

    Absentee balloting began Tuesday - Las Cruces Sun-News


    San Diego Union Tribune
    Absentee balloting began Tuesday
    Las Cruces Sun-News - 33 minutes ago
    By SUE MAJOR HOLMES AP Writer ALBUQUERQUE, NM—It was only mid-morning on the first day of absentee voting, but 200 people had already shown up to cast their ballots at the clerk's office in Bernalillo County, New Mexico's most populous.
    Muncie takes advantage of early voting Ball State Daily News
    Voter numbers growing as deadline nears Corvallis Gazette Times
    Gloucester County Times - NJ.com - Salisbury Post - Aspen Times - Daily Vidette
    all 619 news articles

    Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:16:38 GMT

    Nepal Plane Crashes, Killing Mostly German Tourists (Update1) - Bloomberg


    Spiegel Online
    Nepal Plane Crashes, Killing Mostly German Tourists (Update1)
    Bloomberg - 27 minutes ago
    By Jay Shankar Oct. 8 (Bloomberg) -- A passenger plane belonging to Yeti Airlines, a private carrier, crashed near Mount Everest in Nepal killing 18 people, including 12 German tourists, an aviation official said.
    Everest plane crash kills 18 in Nepal, mostly German AFP
    Official: Plane crash in Nepal kills 18 USA Today
    The Associated Press - The Sun Daily - Spiegel Online - Swissinfo
    all 284 news articles

    Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:23:22 GMT

    Obama connected with audience - Baltimore Sun


    Boston Globe
    Obama connected with audience
    Baltimore Sun - 1 hour ago
    By David Zurawik z on tv david.zurawik@baltsun.com The format of the second presidential debate was described as that of a town hall meeting, but it was pure TV from the "citizens" seated on risers on a brightly lit stage, to the candidates moving ...
    Candidates arguments are as familiar as their mistakes The Miami Herald
    Cool Hand Barack Wall Street Journal
    The Weekly Standard - Los Angeles Times - Dallas Morning News - Boston Globe
    all 464 news articles

    Publ.Date : Wed, 08 Oct 2008 07:28:41 GMT

    RSS For Web Pages
    Web Site Traffic


    PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

    Adsense websites

    How to Create a Zen Garden

    When you hear the term "Zen Garden" the picture conjured... Read More

    Lawn Edging

    How do you make those flowers bloom where they are... Read More

    Wooden You Like to Know? A Primer to Wood Outdoor Furnishings

    To many people, wood is the quintessential building material for... Read More

    Multi Purpose Tree ? Sugar Palm

    Palm family is unique in the aspect that most of... Read More

    Pruning the Backyard Grapevine

    Proper pruning of your backyard grapevines is essential to maintain... Read More

    Layer Your Plantings

    Part three in a seriesIn our last article, we helped... Read More

    Overwintering Pond Fish

    The metabolism of koi and goldfish is controlled primarily by... Read More

    Invite Spring Early - Grow in Your Basement

    Now's the time to get ready to grow your own... Read More

    9-11 Changed Everything for the Garden Tractor Business

    While traveling the US and occasionally taking the back highways... Read More

    The Protea Family (Proteaceae)

    The protea family (Proteaceae) includes a wide range of ground... Read More

    Grow the BEST Tasting Tomatoes

    Tired of tomatoes that are rock hard and taste like... Read More

    Wooden Greenhouses

    An important addition to any British back garden, the greenhouse... Read More

    A Look at Planting Flower Bulbs

    Flowers are a favorite of many backyard gardeners. Thanks to... Read More

    How to Grow Cooking Herbs

    Grow your own cooking herbs to add fresh zest and... Read More

    Cozy Nooks: Creating a Secret Outdoor Place

    Everyone seems to love a secret -- and when the... Read More

    Cyclamen

    Think of cyclamen and the chances are that Mothers Day... Read More

    What Is One Flower Benefit That You Know Of?

    The biggest flower benefit of all is the fact that... Read More

    Orange Perennials For Your Garden

    Perennials are wonderful because, they bloom year after year. Sometimes,... Read More

    Tillandsia Airplants - Dont Plant These Plants!

    Watch out, it's a tillandsia! Have no fear, I said... Read More

    Plants To Grow Old With or The Constant Battle

    Following are a few paragraphs about the on going battle... Read More

    Gift Ideas for Bird Lovers

    Some of the best gifts you can give to a... Read More

    An Outdoor Swing is A Great Way to Relax

    There is simply no better vantage point from which to... Read More

    Nontoxic Pest Control for Your Home and Garden

    Pesticides are toxic and, while often effective against pests, can... Read More

    A Little Known Secret to Successful Outdoor Gardening

    Pruning...Outdoor gardening is so much easier when you know how.... Read More

    How To Prevent Damping Off

    Damping off is the single term used to describe underground,... Read More