Advantages of an Electric Lawnmower

Using a gas powered lawn mower can be an inconvenience. You have to dress decently so you can go to the gas station, get a container, and buy some gas. Then you have to come back, change into your gardening clothes and fill the lawn mower, trying not to spill any of it.

Even worse, you have to pull the power cord again and again until it starts, getting embarrassed in front of the neighbors as you look like a wimp. You deal with the gas fumes as you mow your lawn. Then if anything gets stuck under the mower, you can't turn the mower over to look underneath, because you might spill the gas. When you are finally finished for the year, you have to worry about how you will store the remaining gas for the winter.

Well, you no longer have to deal with any of that. There is a better solution to conveniently cut the grass. When you compare an electric lawn mower to a gas lawnmower, the electric one beats the gas one, every time!

An electric lawn mower saves all of that hassle. There is no need to run to the gas station. Simply plug in your lawn mower, and push it around like a vacuum cleaner to mow the lawn.

It is very easy to turn on. There is no need to pull a cord. Also, you can turn it on and off at will. If you want to talk to a neighbor, or move to another part of the yard, you can turn it off if you want, and turn it back on when you are ready. Stopping and starting is easy.

It is quiet, and doesn't put out any fumes. It works just as well as a gas powered one to cut the grass. You can even go over small twigs just like the gas one. You can mulch the clippings and leave them to fertilize the lawn, or use the bag to collect the grass, just like the gas-powered equivalents.

Some mowers provide easy adjustments to the cutting height. (Others require you to turn the mower over first).

You can even fold down the handle for compact storage in the garage. Since it doesn't have gas, you can even turn it sideways, and file it in its space in the garage or storage shed.

The Black and Decker MM1800 has zero emissions, making it very good for the environment.

Electric lawn mowers get their energy either through the power cord, or through a rechargeable battery. If you buy the one with the rechargeable battery, you will have to compare the battery life with the size of your yard.

I have always used the corded mowers. You will need to buy a cord that fits the specifications of the mower. If you do not use the right cord, it may not have enough power to work sufficiently, or it could fry the lawn mower. I had an old electric lawn mower that I bought used at a yard sale. I let my neighbor borrow it. He used his own power cord, which fried the motor, and the mower would not start any more.

I then bought a new electric lawn mower. This Black and Decker model is no longer available. The mower did not come with a power cord. When you buy an electric lawn mower, be sure to also buy a power cord. You can match the size of the cord with the distance from your electrical outlet to the farthest reach of your yard. I would add a few more feet for convenience, for going around trees, etc. Don't get a power cord that is too long though, since it will keep getting in the way and might get tangled..

When you are mowing the lawn, you will need to be careful that you do not run over the cord with the sharp blades of the lawn mower. Cords are expensive, and you do not want to lose them. There is an easy lawn mowing strategy in the booklet that comes with the mower that shows you a mowing path that will avoid interference with the cord. Basically you start closest to the cord and work your way out and away. I have been using electric lawn mowers for about twenty years and have not cut a single cord.

Most of the mower is protected so it is unlikely that you will not get shocked if it rains, but to be safe, I always stop mowing the grass when it starts raining.

Even when it isn't raining, mowing over wet grass is not good for your lawn whether you use an electric or a gas powered mower. You can mow over wet grass with an electric mower without risk of shock, but it will cling to the underside of the mower, and you will have to clean it off. Spraying the undercarriage with a cooking spray once before using the lawn mower may help keep the grass from sticking. You can also turn your mower sideways or upside down to clean it without worrying about gas leaking out. Simply crumple up a newspaper, and wipe the grass off.

I really like using my electric lawn mower. It is easy to turn on and off as often as I want, and does not require dealing with gas and fumes. It are easy to maneuver and get the grass cut to the length I want it. When I am done with it for the winter, I simply clean it, fold down the handles and store it for a winter's nap. I don't have to worry about storing the gas or buying more the following spring.