Buying a reel mower can sometimes be a tough decision because they have a lot of appeal being environmentally friendly, cheap and easy to use. However there tends to be a negative stereotype about using reel mowers. The truth is that there are some situations that reel mowers work fantastically and you'll love it and then there are some situations where they don't work very well at all. The following helpful tips will help you in your decision on buying a reel lawn mower.

The first thing you should know when buying a reel lawn mower is that they are extremely lightweight. They typically weigh only 15-20 pounds so their incredibly easy to pick up and lift over objects if you've got a crowded shed. This also makes them easy to push and incredibly easy to move around objects when you're mowing. So if you need a mower that is lightweight, easy to push and maneuver reel mowers are perfect. There is one thing you should know, being lightweight, they typically bounce around a lot if your lawn is bumpy. While this may not be a problem if you have a bumpy lawn, the best thing to do is to have your lawn rolled in the spring when the ground is nice and soft. In the link below I talk about how I get around this.

Another thing you should keep in mind when you buy a reel lawn mower is that reel mowers rely on keeping the blades sharp to provide an even cut. The best way to keep your lawn looking exquisite is to mow your lawn frequently with a sharp blade. The good news is that sharpening the blades on a reel lawn mower is incredibly easy to do. If you purchase a reel mower sharpening kit, you can accomplish this in about 15 minutes. I try to sharpen the blades on a reel lawn mower about every 6-7 weeks.

Another thing to keep in mind is that reel mowers take time to cut the lawn. Being used to using a riding lawn mower I was surprised at how much the time difference is. Now mowing my lawn with a reel mower was a personal choice and I was ready to accept the fact that it wasn't going to be as convenient, but be prepared to spend about twice as long or more mowing with a reel lawn mower. This will be different for you as every lawn is a different size. There are a few shortcuts I learned that you can check out below.