Push Reel Mowers: The Green (and cheaper) Way to Mow Your Lawn
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Get Ready For Summer With A Reel Mower
Today's reel mowers are lighter and easier to use than ever before. They make a great alternative to gas or electric mowers, especially if you have a small yard.
The next time your power mower breaks down or the price of gas rises...consider getting a reel mower.
Advantages and Benefits of Using a Reel Mower
- Good For The Environment - Reel mowers run on people power. There's no use of fossil fuels to pollute the environment.
- Quiet - No loud noise to wake your neighbors or frighten your pets. You can have a conversation or listen to music while you mow the grass.
- Better For Your Lawn - The scissor like action of the blades cuts the grass cleanly which is healthier than the hacking done by a regular lawn mower blade. A reel mower leaves the clippings on the lawn which acts as a natural fertilizer for your lawn.
- Low Maintenance - No oil changes, no tune-ups, no trouble starting after the winter. Sharpen the blades every couple years, spray a little WD-40 on it occasionally and you're set.
- Cheaper - You can purchase a high quality reel mower for less than the cost of a low end gas mower. Plus you'll save on fuel and maintenance costs every year.
- Good For You - Pushing the mower provides you with light exercise free of breathing in the exhaust fumes of a gas mower. Your ears will appreciate the quiet.
- Less Space Needed To Store - Reel mowers are less bulky than a gas or electric mower. Lean it up against a wall and it's out of your way.
- No Blast Of Debris - Unlike a power mower which can hurl rocks, sticks and clippings out the side, your reel mower will just calmly snip the grass as you walk along.
Did You Know?
"One hour of lawn mowing with a gas-powered lawn mower produces as much pollution as driving your car for four hours."
Source: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
20 Inch Push Reel Mowers
Gilmour RM30 20-Inch Reel Mower with Grass Catcher
Avg. Customer Rating: 
Amazon Price: $119.99 (as of 07/11/2009) 
Scotts 2000-20 20-Inch Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower
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Amazon Price: $119.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Reel Mower Video
Reasons to switch to a reel mower.
Reel Mowers Cut Down Pollution
Winner of the LiveEarth/MSN video contest! To fight climate change in our backyard, we use a reel mower to cut the grass. I made this video with my 8-year-old son Carrick to show the reasons why it makes sense to switch to this smart alternative.
Runtime: 1:43
5875 views
10 Comments:
18 Inch Push Reel Mowers
American Lawn Mower Company 1815-18 18-Inch Reel Mower
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Amazon Price: $99.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Do you own a reel mower?
16 Inch Push Reel Mowers
Sunlawn LMM40 16-Inch Light Weight Manual Push Reel Mower
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Amazon Price: $139.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
American Lawn Mower Company 16-Inch Bent Reel Mower #1705-16
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Amazon Price: $104.00 (as of 07/11/2009)
Great States 415-16 16-Inch Standard Full Feature Push Reel Lawn Mower With T-Style Handle And Heat Treated Blades
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Amazon Price: $82.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Reel Mower Video
A new reel mower owner demos it.
Quick Look at my new Scotts Classic 20" Reel Mower
Just a quick video of my new Scotts Classic 20" reel mower. Purchased from Amazon for $120, I'll be using it this season. I talk a bit about what I learned buying it. Note the last part of the video, the reel turns so fast it synchronizes with the camera and looks like it's not moving when it actually is spinning quite fast. I needed to purchase a push mower that either side discharged or mulched, since my current 20" push mower only bags. I hand mow my lawn for the exercise, perhaps this reel mower will fill the bill, only time will tell.
Runtime: 3:41
13176 views
10 Comments:
14 Inch Push Reel Mowers
American Lawn Mower Company 1204-14 14-Inch Deluxe Hand Reel Mower
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Amazon Price: $69.99 (as of 07/11/2009)
Things to Consider Before Buying
- Not As Good Cutting Tall Grass - When your grass gets to be 4" or higher the mower will have a tougher time cutting consistently and you may need to make multiple passes. Mowing frequently will help avoid this.
- Best For Smaller Yards - Using a reel mower can take a little more time than a power mower. Most experts advise using a reel mower if your lawn area is less than 4000 square feet.
- Tougher To Get A Manicured Look - Depending on the height of your grass, you may need to make multiple passes or increase the overlap of each pass in order to get that "manicured" look to your lawn.
What is your favorite feature of reel mowers?
Reel Mower Accessories
American Lawn Mower Company SK-1 Reel Mower Sharpening Kit
Amazon Price: $16.30 (as of 07/11/2009)
Sunlawn Lawn Mower Grass Catcher For All Models #61003
Amazon Price: (as of 07/11/2009)
American Lawn Mower Company 1ST-SP Reel Mower Grass Catcher
Amazon Price: $19.49 (as of 07/11/2009)
Reel Mower Manufacturers
- American Lawn Mower Company
- American has been in the lawn mower business since 1895 and also manufactures the Great States line of mowers.
- Sunlawn
- A company founded to make environmentally friendly lawn care products.
Comments
What do you think of reel mowers? What convinced you to buy (or not buy) a reel mower?
CCGAL wrote...
Nice lens! I was pleased to see you told both sides of the story, because using a reel mower is difficult if your grass grows fast and you have a lot of yard and not a lot of time. I've tried more than once to maintain a large lawn with just a reel mower, and have failed miserably each time. However - that said, it's great exercise, pushing a reel mower, and if you have to take a walk for your heart anyway, why not make your walk back and forth over your lawn 3x week with a reel mower? Solve 2 problems at once!
Posted April 16, 2009
Brooks wrote
I actually enjoy mowing with a reel mower. Gas and electric, a chore. Keep electric mower for mulching leaves and REALLY tall grass.
Posted April 08, 2009
Graceonline wrote...
If we have to have carpets of lawn, the push reel mower makes sense, and you can't beat the exercise.
Posted February 22, 2009
TheGreenerMe wrote...
I could use a push reel mower workout once in a while. Nice work!
Posted December 29, 2008
lisadh wrote...
I had a push mower with my first house, which had a VERY small yard, and I loved it.
Posted September 15, 2008
SquidPoint wrote...
Odd... I bought one of these just last week. Not only is it more green, but it makes for a good exercise
Posted September 08, 2008
Katie wrote
Not good for a busy family. With a power mower, I can mow once a week. With the reel mower I MUST mow twice a week or else double my work.
Better for the environment, but too difficult. I am listing mine on craigslist and buying a 'real' mower.
Posted September 07, 2008
Teddi14 wrote...
I was thinking about buying one for my yard. I have a hard time with my gas push mower and this seems easier and greener! Thanks for the informative lens. I am lensrolling it to my lens on tips to save gas and energy at home. 5 *'s. I found you on www.lensroll.com too.
Posted August 30, 2008
CherylK wrote...
This is a great lens! I'm lensrolling it and favoriting it...five stars, too. Good job!
Posted June 19, 2008
