Environmentally Friendly Lawn Mowers

by Samantha Egan, Horticulturist

If it's time to get a new lawn mower, there are now some environmentally-friendly alternatives to the gas-powered mower. You can buy either corded or cordless electric lawn mowers or an old-fashioned reel-type push mower. Currently, the reel-type mowers make up the fastest growing sector of the lawn mower market!

Many of us don't realize how much pollution the small engines of our lawn mowers and other gas-powered landscape equipment produce. In fact, mowing your lawn for one hour with a gas-powered lawn mower can produce more air pollution than driving a new car from Madison to Chicago!

One of the most noticeable features of the electric mowers is how quiet they are. With one of these new electric mowers you can mow your lawn on a Sunday morning and not disturb any of your neighbors!

As well as being quiet, these mowers are inexpensive to operate and maintain. On average, they cost about $5 to $10 per year for electricity and require no expensive oil changes or engine tune-ups. They also start with the push of a button instead of yanking a stubborn starter cord.

There are a few drawbacks to electric mowers. They're best for small lawns less than 15,000 square feet. These mowers can also be slightly more expensive up front then your typical gas-powered mower. However, the decrease in operation and maintenance costs will quickly make up for the difference in the initial cost.

So, trade in your old gas-powered mower for a new manual or electric lawn mower. You'll be helping the environment as well as saving your time and money!

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