Green Grass Cutting: Reel Lawnmowers
John Francis
Many of today's new homeowners are looking for environmentally
friendly solutions to yard maintenance. Reel lawnmowers are not
a new idea, but they are gaining in popularity. Environmentally
conscious homeowners are giving up their self-propelled,
petroleum powered mowers for the old fashioned, muscle powered
versions in record numbers.
Reel lawnmowers differ from typical lawnmowers in several
important ways. Invented in 1830 by Edwin Budding, the manual
push mower allowed even the middle class to maintain a lawn
easily. Mr. Budding's lawnmower didn't have an engine and was
self-propelled the old fashioned way, you propelled it
yourself. The design is fairly simple; several blades are
mounted on a circular frame. The blades spin around,
perpendicular to the ground, cutting the grass as they pass.
Early models were made of steel and were quite heavy and
difficult to push. Today's lighter plastics and metals make the
newer reel mowers much easier to use than their predecessors.
Reel mowers are attractive to environmentally conscious
homeowners for several reasons. First, they don't use gasoline
and oil, so they have no harmful emissions. Accidents are less
frequent with reel lawnmowers as well. Once the user stops
pushing them, the blades stop spinning. Engine powered
lawnmowers cause millions of accidents annually, but accidents
caused by reel mowers are far less frequent, and usually much
less severe.
Reel mowers are typically less expensive to purchase and
maintain than engine mowers, making them attractive to the
budget conscious consumer. Upkeep consists of a little
lubricant and occasional blade sharpening. Initial purchase
prices are a fraction of the souped up rotary mowers on the
market today. Manual push mowers are great for exercise as
well, with many users substituting a good lawn mowing session
for one of their weekly jogs.
Another benefit of using a reel mower is noise reduction.
Except for the occasional grunt of the user, these mowers are
virtually silent. Grass cutting at midnight and early in the
morning without disturbing the neighbors is a possibility with
reel mowers.
Of course, there are disadvantages to these manual mowers.
Their operation requires a lot more effort than gas or electric
powered mowers, and they aren't as easy to maneuver. Reel mowers
don't typically collect your cuttings and can't cut twigs and
sticks. In fact, sticks tend to jam the reel mechanisms. Manual
mowers don't cut tall grass or shred leaves as well as engine
powered mowers, so more frequent lawn maintenance and raking is
required.
A reel lawnmower might not be the best choice for a 5 acre
plot. But for today's urban homeowner with a small yard, the
benefits and cost savings of manual lawnmowers make it a green
choice for lawn maintenance.
About The Author: http://gardenslawns.com
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See Also:
Index of Lawn Mowers & Lawn Care
Index of Gardens & Gardening
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