On any nice sunny Saturday morning in the US you will be able to hear the unmistakable sound of the lawn mover as it brings the lawns back into a respectably trimmed state. It is a never ending task, but one that many people have a great lifelong passion for. Just as many however, see it as a necessary chore, one that has to be endured but finished with as quickly as possible so that more interesting pursuits can be found.

For those of us that look forward to spending time with our best friend lawn mover, we see the end result of our manicured lawns and are well satisfied with our efforts. The difference that neat gardens and well maintained lawns make is well documented, often adding many thousands of dollars to the value of a home. Most gardeners will tell you however; that it is the satisfaction of seeing their lush lawns and gardens that is the driving force behind their weekly lawn mowing tasks.

For the new gardener, or first home buyer who finds himself the owner of not only a new house but a fabulous looking lawn, the decision to purchase a lawn mover can be quite a challenging one. It's OK for those of us who have grown up with lawn moving for pocket money on a Saturday morning, because we do have some idea on what features we like. If you want to purchase a lawn mover that is going to be problem free and last for a good many years, then expect to pay a good price for it.

Before you purchase a lawn mover you need to consider several things. If you have a large lawn you may be better suited to a ride-on mover, whereas most suburban lawns will only require a push mover. The type of lawn mover you purchase will also be determined by your budget. Physical fitness will also play a role in determining which type will be best suited to you. For example, a self propelled push lawn mover will be a better purchase for someone who does not have a lot of strength.

Many of us really do like spending time on our lawns, but most of us prefer it to be easy. Choosing a lawn mover that has plenty of power, is reliable and cuts well means that our task is finished in record time, leaving more time for our family and friends. This is very important for those of us that enjoy a busy lifestyle with not much free time on weekends.

Thankfully technology has seen great improvements made to the lawn mover. It wasn't all that many years ago that these noisy machines were incredibly difficult to start and just plain difficult to get along with. Now with their superior blades and instant ignition they are a joy to use.

The lawn mover has been around for a long time. In fact around 150 years ago it made its debut as the reel mower back in the 1820's. Even today, some people still use the reel mowers, particularly when they have just a small patch of lawn to cut. They are relatively silent and although they do take a little energy to push them, they are well suited to certain applications. The fact that they are very eco friendly is another great draw card for many who have a great aversion to the environmentally unfriendly gas powered mowers.

As we moved outdoors to enjoy such sports as tennis, cricket, lawn bowls and croquet, the lawn mover had to advance to keep up with the ever growing demand of keeping large grassed areas in perfect condition. The rotary blade lawn mover which dates back to the 1930's was a great technological break-through and is still being used extensively today for both home and professional use.