Lawn mowers that make the cut
Just in time for the warm weather and green grass, Consumer Reports rated more than 100 mowers and tractors in its largest mower test to date. CR’s testers mowed 19.2 acres and identified more than 30 top-scoring models, including three models from Honda and Toro that retail for $400 or less.
Among the top performers is the Black & Decker SPCM1936, $450, one of the few cordless electric mowers with self-propelling wheels, a feature more typically found on gas models. Tests also found more lawn tractors that can maneuver around trees and posts nearly as well as zero-turn-radius riders. The new Craftsman 28856, a CR Best Buy at $1,600, offers added agility plus impressive mowing for about $1,000 less than many zero-turn riders and $2,000 less than the four-wheel-steer John Deere X304 tractor. At $500 each, the Toro Super Recycler 20092 and Honda HRR216K7VXA cost $200 less than the top Honda self-propelled gas model and mow comparably.
On some models, features trumped performance. Lawn-Boy’s 10605 one-speed mower includes a work-saving clutch for just $300, but it was only mediocre at bagging and side-discharging clippings. The Cub Cadet’s Z-Force S 46 17AF5BHH, $3,600, is tops among zero-turn-radius riders and noteworthy for its tractor-like steering wheel and steerable front wheels for better control down slopes, but it was among the more repair-prone tractor brands and was repair-prone among zero-turn riders.
How to chooseConsider a self-propelled mower for hills and save cordless models for small lawns that can be mowed within 30 to 45 minutes. For larger lawns with slopes, choose a tractor with front-steering wheels over a lever-steer, zero-turn-radius rider, which is harder to control on hills. Here are additional tips from Consumer Reports:Ÿ Choose the right mode. All tractors and riders can side-discharge clippings, essential when grass is too high to mulch or bag. Choose a model that did well in the mode preferred. For riders, expect to pay about $50 extra for a mulch kit and $500 for the bagging system.Ÿ Know what you#146;re getting. Many brands are made by more than one manufacturer, so know the mower#146;s model number when replacing blades and other parts, rather than just the make and blade size.Ÿ Think twice about high wheels. For walk-behind mowers, engines mounted farther up front make most of those mowers harder to tilt back when making U-turns at the end of a row.Ÿ Play it safe. Check for rocks and other debris before mowing. Keep people and pets away from the area. Always wear long pants, sturdy shoes and hearing protection. And look behind whenever backing up a riding machine.String trimmersOver several weeks, CR tested 40 models and found the best corded and cordless models can trim around posts and edge along walks as well as some gas trimmers. But there were a few models that had fancy features and added power that did not result in better performance.Until recently, battery-powered trimmers were strictly light duty. Black Decker#146;s 24-volt NST1024, a CR Best Buy at $140, cut cleanly with one pass and performed adequately in taller growth. Corded trimmers start with push-button ease and run as long as needed. Stihl#146;s FSE 60, $110, tops the plug-in category for overall performance. Close behind, Black Decker#146;s GH1000, a CR Best Buy, performs similarly for just $70. Echo and Stihl are tops among gas trimmers for fast, neat trimming and edging with the muscle to slice through two-foot growth. The new Hitachi CG22EABSLP, $150, weighs less and did nearly as well in the tall stuff. Its heavier, 0.095-inch line also helped it trim all tall grass aggressively.Ÿ Visit the Consumer Reports website at www.consumerreports.org.$PHOTOCREDIT_ON$©2011 Consumers Union Inc.$PHOTOCREDIT_OFF$