Push Reel Mowers
Push reel mowers are undergoing a revival in popularity. Not only are they friendly to the environment (no air or noise pollution), they are also inexpensive to purchase and operate (no fuel), and many people find them an enjoyable form of exercise.
Modern reel mowers are light and easy to push. However it is definitely worthwhile to keep the blades sharp, as blunt blades will make the reel mower significantly harder to use. Sharpening kits for most models of mowers are available, and well worth the investment.
- Non-polluting. No noise or fumes.
- Requires no fuel. Emits no green-house gases.
- Great exercise. Requires little force to operate if kept in good condition.
- Can actually be faster than a powered lawn mower for small gardens, as there is no messing around with fuel and starting the engine
- Can be used early in the morning, without waking the neighbors.
- Relatively safe. They stop when you do, and don’t throw stones.
- Provides a higher quality cut than a rotary mower.
Not recommended for:
- Larger lawns.
- Significant slopes or undulations.
- Long grass or infrequent mowing. The push reel mower is best for frequent, light mowing. Long grass will slow the rotation of the reel making cutting more difficult.
More Information:
- A Push For Lawn Care at Home and Garden Television
- Selecting a Reel Mower at DIYnet
- Lawn Mower Savvy at National Gardening Association
- Buy A Push Reel Mower at eHow
- Lawn Mowing at Ohio State University Extension
Manufacturers:
- Scotts Reel Mowers by Great States Corp
- Luxus 33, Luxus 38 and MM-1 by Brill/Sunlawn
- American Lawn Mower
Do you have a push reel mower? If you do, we’d love to hear your experiences by commenting below…
March 29th, 2007
I have small(ish) front and rear lawn lawns, and use a Flymo push mower to mow about every second week. I find this controls the lawns very well, and gives me a bit of exercise as well (although I think I got nearly as much with my earlier petrol one).
I find that mowing around 7am is comfortable temperature-wise and doesn’t disturb neighbours.
I haven’t sharpened the mower since I bought it, as the blades self-sharpen on the cutting plate.
April 1st, 2007
Was using my push mower on the nature strip when a pack of teenage boys came to watch and had never seen a hand mower before. They were quite eager to all have a turn. That day I had all my lawns mowed for nothing Ha!
April 3rd, 2007
Where can I get a push mower from my location?
April 3rd, 2007
Jenny, You didn’t say where your location is, but you might like to try:
Your choice is fairly limited if you want to order from a web site within Australia. Many specialist mower dealers either stock or can order in a range of manual push reel mowers, but only a few accept orders over the web. Mega-stores like Bunnings may stock a few models, depending upon the location.
April 6th, 2007
As a lone female, i found the one my grandfather had in his shed, borrowed it and know that he’s probably looking down on me from heaven-having a laugh no doubt. But it’s great and you don’t have to be mechanically minded to use them. AND i don’t smell like fuel afterwards!
April 10th, 2007
As a child I loved the smell of fresh cut grass and the pleasant whirling noise the blades made as they manicured the lawn.
40-something years later I passed a display of push mowers at Home Depot and have just decided I am going back this weekend and purchasing one.
Here’s to the great smell with no noise.
April 12th, 2007
I have used a push mower for nearly 4 years now. It has certainly paid for itself.
I must have an unusual one however, because unlike many of the entries from others, my push mower makes more than enough noise to wake the neighbours, in fact it probably makes enough noise to wake the dead.
I have never sharpened it, but find that it has always made the same noise.
Still it is still substantially quieter and less polluting than the 4 stroke petrol beast it replaced.
I get quite a bit of exercise from mine as my front lawn is up and down all over the place due to tree roots. I find that it just becomes a contest of wills between me and the gum tree and me and the Liquid Amber as to who will give up first. I torment them by ring barking their surface roots with the push mower and they torment me with the surface roots - Damn the Drought, Damn the drought I say.
Happy push mowering.