smnoel
10-09-2003, 11:52 PM
As part of the American Dream, we fall into one of two categories: we have a bit of land to call our own, or we desire some. On this land, we make our home, settle in with family, and have a barbeque every Memorial Day, July 4th, and Labor Day. Another part of the American Dream, as our friends chow down on our delicious secret-recipe ribs, is to hear them marvel, "Wow, your lawn looks flawless! Is it real? Can I touch it? What's your secret?" As we give them a knowing smile and go over to check the grill, we know we are truly living The Dream.
So how do we get to that ideal point? Well, besides the obvious (get some land, get a house, get a grill), we've got to learn how to properly maintain our expanse of lawn. And the number one tool of lawn maintenance is. . . (drumroll, please). . .the lawnmower! By using the right lawnmower the right way for your lawn's specific needs, you can singlehandedly create a gorgeous lawn that would generate the respect of the whole neighborhood. Even your neighbor's dog will be impressed. Over the next three
weeks, we'll discuss the different aspects of the lawnmower, and how it can help you to create a lawn utopia of your very own. But first things first, let's find out which type of lawnmower is the best for you.
Though many people equate the term 'lawnmower' with the ever-popular gas-powered version, there are other types of mowers out there. The reel mower is one of the oldest types still on the market. It consists of a cylinder of blades that, when pushed, cycle into contact with a base blade at the grass level and snips the grass in a scissorlike fashion. You would probably recognize this mower as the one used in many old cartoons: the cat would chase the dog with the mower, or the mouse would go after the cat with it, much to the delight of the TV audience. Thus, mowing the lawn is not only productive, it can be humorous as well (however, please refrain yourself from going after the local squirrels). There are some good benefits of this mower type that many people overlook. It requires no gas or electricity, so not only is it better for the environment, it is quiet as well. It is also very lightweight, can be easily stored, and the only maintenance required is to occasionally sharpen the blades and lubricate the cylinder. The reel mower is put to it's best use in a level, small, and even lawn. In these circumstances, it would take no longer to use a reel mower than it would to drag out a gas or electric version.
A newer type of lawnmower is now available as well. This version is an electric-powered type. Some models have the ability to be charged, and others have a cord attached like a vacuum cleaner. If you do use a corded version, make sure you are mowing the grass and not your cord. The chargeable types usually stay charged for an hour or so, which is plenty of time to mow the typical residential lawn. Though a bit louder than the reel mower, which has no engine at all, the electric mower is still relatively quiet, and is nearly maintenance-free. With a sharp, futuristic look and high efficiency, the electric mower is not merely a tool, it is a conversation piece as well.
The last, and most popular, lawnmower type is the gas-powered mower. These are the most powerful mower, and work best for big expanses of lawn. There are a wealth of choices within this version. You can choose between push-types or self-propelled models, walk-behind or ride-on styles, there are bagged versus bagless versions, mulching mowers that return the nutrients to the lawn, and the list goes on and on. Along with having the most variety, however, the gas mower requires the most maintenance as well. However, if you keep up with your maintenance schedule, your gas mower will serve you well for many years to come. We will discuss how to properly use and maintain your lawnmower during the next two weeks. Despite the maintenance requirements, the variety of gas-powered lawnmowers has helped to make this type mower the most common in the
industry.
When it comes to mowing the lawn, we have numerous choices to suit our individual needs. Choosing which mower is right for you can be a daunting challenge, but it needn't be difficult. Write out the different characteristics of your lawn, what it's requirements are, and your own personal preferences, and you should be able to narrow down your choices. Once you have decided on the right lawnmower for you, be confident in your purchase. You are one step closer to living the American Dream.
Carrie Paulk is the author of "Lawnmower Man I: I Need A Lawnmower," which is part of the Tip of the Week program with Turf Tamer, Inc. She has written many informative landscaping articles. To learn more about landscaping tips and tricks, you can find the rest of her articles at http://www.turftamerinc.com/tip.shtm (http://www.turftamerinc.com/tip.shtm) .
So how do we get to that ideal point? Well, besides the obvious (get some land, get a house, get a grill), we've got to learn how to properly maintain our expanse of lawn. And the number one tool of lawn maintenance is. . . (drumroll, please). . .the lawnmower! By using the right lawnmower the right way for your lawn's specific needs, you can singlehandedly create a gorgeous lawn that would generate the respect of the whole neighborhood. Even your neighbor's dog will be impressed. Over the next three
weeks, we'll discuss the different aspects of the lawnmower, and how it can help you to create a lawn utopia of your very own. But first things first, let's find out which type of lawnmower is the best for you.
Though many people equate the term 'lawnmower' with the ever-popular gas-powered version, there are other types of mowers out there. The reel mower is one of the oldest types still on the market. It consists of a cylinder of blades that, when pushed, cycle into contact with a base blade at the grass level and snips the grass in a scissorlike fashion. You would probably recognize this mower as the one used in many old cartoons: the cat would chase the dog with the mower, or the mouse would go after the cat with it, much to the delight of the TV audience. Thus, mowing the lawn is not only productive, it can be humorous as well (however, please refrain yourself from going after the local squirrels). There are some good benefits of this mower type that many people overlook. It requires no gas or electricity, so not only is it better for the environment, it is quiet as well. It is also very lightweight, can be easily stored, and the only maintenance required is to occasionally sharpen the blades and lubricate the cylinder. The reel mower is put to it's best use in a level, small, and even lawn. In these circumstances, it would take no longer to use a reel mower than it would to drag out a gas or electric version.
A newer type of lawnmower is now available as well. This version is an electric-powered type. Some models have the ability to be charged, and others have a cord attached like a vacuum cleaner. If you do use a corded version, make sure you are mowing the grass and not your cord. The chargeable types usually stay charged for an hour or so, which is plenty of time to mow the typical residential lawn. Though a bit louder than the reel mower, which has no engine at all, the electric mower is still relatively quiet, and is nearly maintenance-free. With a sharp, futuristic look and high efficiency, the electric mower is not merely a tool, it is a conversation piece as well.
The last, and most popular, lawnmower type is the gas-powered mower. These are the most powerful mower, and work best for big expanses of lawn. There are a wealth of choices within this version. You can choose between push-types or self-propelled models, walk-behind or ride-on styles, there are bagged versus bagless versions, mulching mowers that return the nutrients to the lawn, and the list goes on and on. Along with having the most variety, however, the gas mower requires the most maintenance as well. However, if you keep up with your maintenance schedule, your gas mower will serve you well for many years to come. We will discuss how to properly use and maintain your lawnmower during the next two weeks. Despite the maintenance requirements, the variety of gas-powered lawnmowers has helped to make this type mower the most common in the
industry.
When it comes to mowing the lawn, we have numerous choices to suit our individual needs. Choosing which mower is right for you can be a daunting challenge, but it needn't be difficult. Write out the different characteristics of your lawn, what it's requirements are, and your own personal preferences, and you should be able to narrow down your choices. Once you have decided on the right lawnmower for you, be confident in your purchase. You are one step closer to living the American Dream.
Carrie Paulk is the author of "Lawnmower Man I: I Need A Lawnmower," which is part of the Tip of the Week program with Turf Tamer, Inc. She has written many informative landscaping articles. To learn more about landscaping tips and tricks, you can find the rest of her articles at http://www.turftamerinc.com/tip.shtm (http://www.turftamerinc.com/tip.shtm) .