If you live in an area where regular snowfall is normal, then you are going to want to make sure that your winter law care strategy involves keeping your grass free of clutter and debris before the first snow should fall. Proper lawn maintenance in preparation for the first winter snow involves removing sticks, raking away the leaves and disposing of any other debris that should not be on your yard, before they end up buried beneath the snow.

Even if you are not exactly expending a great deal of snowfall, it is still vital that you make sure that your grass is free to breathe rather than left buried beneath piles of leaves, sticks and other rubbish. This rubbish can interfere with the grass needing to receive proper air, proper nutrients and proper moisture which is why it is so important that you clean up your yard before the first snowfall. Your grass may not be growing during this period of time, but if left buried for too long, it can still end up dying during the winter season.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that the summer is the most important season when it comes to controlling and preventing the growth of weeds. The opposite, however, is actually true because weed control is most important during the winter season. Weeds actually grow much more quickly during the winter than your grass can. If the weeds are allowed to grow without any control, your lawn may be dead by the time the spring runs around.

Because your lawn will be growing so slowly during the fall and winter season, it is rather simple to find the weeds that are growing during this time. All you have to do is make sure that you pay attention to your grass during these months, pulling weeds or applying weed killer as needed so that the weeds do not overrun the lawn, ruining your landscaping during the colder season.

If you plan on planting winter grass varieties like rye grass, then these will have the best chance of thriving when planted in October, which is the best time for them to take root. Make sure that your newly planted grass seeds get plenty of water even when the weather is chilly outside.

A lot of people already have taken their lawn mowers out of storage and given them a couple of workouts.
How did the mower perform? Is it time to buy another? If it is a gas-powered mower, are you thinking about switching to electric, or to battery power, or an old-fashioned push mower?

If it's time to buy a new lawn mower, here are some things to consider, no matter which side of the push/electric/gasoline debate you're on.
Chore or joy: Do you enjoy mowing the lawn, or does it become a chore after the first few outings? Would it be worth it to hire the neighbor's kid or to contract with a service? If you like mowing or think that the exercise, even in the dog days of August, is what the doctor ordered — wear a hat — then doing it yourself is the way to go.

Choose the right size: How big is your yard? How much is lawn and how much garden? Is the surface smooth or bumpy from stones? Are there places always in the shade or wetlands where moss, not grass, predominates? Would you have to run over tree roots? How easy would it be to mow around trees, bushes, walls, and similar obstacles? Is your lawn level or does it slope up or down? If it runs uphill, it might be easier to deal with it using a self-propelled machine.

Stow and go: The mower will have to be stored somewhere, which means finding a less-than-backbreaking way to get it in and out. You won't want to maneuver a heavy, gas-powered mower up and down the basement stairs, and you really should have a garage or a storage shed with a ramp if your lawn requires a ride-on mower. You'll also need a place to store the gasoline and oil — and you don't want to do that near the furnace.

Rear or side bag: The bag on most lawn mowers is in the rear, right underneath the handle. They hold two to three times more grass clippings than a side bag.

Don't go cheap: What you can afford to spend should be factored in along with the kind of mower you and your lawn deserve. Depending on the type, lawn mowers range from the manual-push variety at $80 to ride-on tractors that can cost up to $6,000. Typically, $300 to $700 can get you an electric, battery-powered, or gasoline-powered mower that suits most lawns.

The reel thing: If you're nostalgic, fitness-minded, or environmentally sensitive, the human-powered reel mower could be the one for you. Whether you push or a gas engine pushes for you, reel mowers use blades on a revolving cylinder to shear the blades of grass. Rotary mowers bend the grass first, then cut it. Rotary action is best for those who let their grass grow for weeks before cutting it.

Push vs. self-propelled: Regardless of which energy source powers your mower, you'll have a choice between pushing it as the engine whirs or simply guiding the mower across the lawn. As you might expect, self-propelled mowers cost more. Two desirable features on self-propelled models are a blade-brake clutch — which allows you to pause to pick up a kid's toys but lets the engine run so you won't need to restart — and a single-lever height adjustment for the proper cut.

Powered with gas: These include both push and self-propelled models, most with four-stroke engines and a cutting swath 21 or 22 inches wide. They are noisy, require regular maintenance, and, though federal rules have reduced emissions, still pollute more than others do.

It's electric: These are push-and-walk-behind mowers, with an electric motor driving a rotating blade. Corded and cordless versions start easily with the push of a button or flip of a switch, produce no exhaust, and have interchangeable blades. Mowers with cords are limited by distance from the electrical outlet, and there's always an opportunity to run over the cord. Cordless, battery-operated models are improving, but you must remember to charge the battery — typically 24 hours for a complete charge.

Easy to Use and Easy on the Environment
The CMM1200 is designed to simplify lawn care. Just insert the key, pull the level and go. No cords to pull, no gas or oil to buy, mix, store or spill. No extension cords to worry about and no dirty fumes polluting the environment.

With this electric mower, a 1200-watt output permanent magnet electric motor delivers quick, effective performance. A single battery charge provides plenty of run time to mow a typical home site of 1/3 acre, which translates to a grass area of 10,000 to 12,000 square feet.

The mower's deck offers a cutting width of 19 inches. This durable polymer deck is easy to clean, won't ever rust, and is backed by a lifetime warranty. The mower also offers you the choice of using the mulching plate to lay cuttings back on your lawn as free, chemical-free fertilizer, or of using a rear bag with a large 1.5-bu capacity to collect clippings.
You can select a mowing height from 1.5 to 3.5 inches to account for a variety conditions. One-touch height adjustment lets you adjust all four wheels with the pull of a single lever. And when it's time to put the mower away, the handle folds to create a more compact footprint, allowing for storage in tight spaces.

The Black & Decker 24-volt battery-powered mower is the first in its class to offer a charger that qualifies for the Energy Star approval mark. This charger meets the strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy. A battery will charge to 70-percent in just three or four hours, or to 100-percent overnight. In addition to benefiting the environment, this efficiency helps you save money on utilities.

Black & Decker also supports the activities of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBCB), a not-for-profit company established for the purpose of collecting and recycling rechargeable batteries within the U.S. and Canada so that they don't end up in landfills. Companies involved in this recycling effort pay for the cost of collection and recycling so that the environmental benefits come at no cost to you, the consumer.
This electric mower weighs just 76 pounds, and it is backed by a full two-year warranty.

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Most gas-powered mowers we tested now start with just one pull of the rope, and some $400 models now offer electric starting for another $40 or so. Corded electrics cut more capably than before, and cordless versions run longer per charge courtesy of better batteries. You’ll also find lower-priced zero-turn-radius riding mowers, which use rear-wheel steering for tight turns.

Cleaner gas engines are on the way as well. Despite the good news, some new designs and claims came up short in our weeks of tests over nearly 400,000 square feet of tough annual rye grass.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

Mowing options range from $100 push mowers to $4,000-plus tractors and zero-turn-radius machines. Here’s what you’ll find:

Manual-reel mowers. These most traditional mowers are sold by McLane and Scotts, among other brands. They’re quiet, inexpensive, and nonpolluting, since pushing them turns the wheels and a series of curved blades without an engine. They’re also relatively safe and require little upkeep beyond blade adjustments and sharpening. But swaths are only 14 to 18 inches wide, cutting tends to be relatively uneven, and most can’t cut grass higher than 11?2 inches or trim closer than 3 inches around obstacles. And because they don’t disburse clippings like a rotary mower, you’ll need a bag (or a rake) if you’re fussy. Price: $100 to about $400.

Electric mowers. Major brands include Black & Decker, Craftsman (Sears), and Homelite, among others. These push-type, walk-behind mowers use an electric motor to drive a rotating blade. Both corded and battery-powered cordless models start with push-button ease, produce no exhaust emissions, and require little upkeep beyond sharpening. Most offer a side or rear bag and a mulching mode that cuts and recuts clippings until they’re small enough to nestle within the lawn and fertilize it as they decompose. The best corded models perform as well as some gas mowers, and today’s cordless models run longer per charge. But electrics, particularly cordless versions, still can’t match the best gas mowers in tall or thick grass and weeds. Cordless mowers weigh up to 30 pounds more than corded models, and don’t limit cutting to within range of a power outlet. Both typically cut 18- to 20-inch swaths vs. 21 and 22 inches for gas mowers. Price: corded, $125 to $250; cordless, $400 or more.

Gas-powered mowers. These free you from a cord and include push and self-propelled models. Most have a 4.5- to 6.5-hp four-stroke engine and a cutting swath 21 or 22 inches wide, and can handle long or thick grass and weeds. Most can also bag, side-discharge, or mulch clippings by cutting them small enough to hide within and help fertilize the lawn. But gas mowers are relatively noisy, produce exhaust emissions, and require regular maintenance. Price: push-type, $150 to $400; self-propelled, $200 to $900.

Zero-turn-radius mowers. These rear-engined, rear-steering riding mowers are similar to the ones landscapers use and typically mow a swath 42 to 48 inches wide. You would need a four-wheel-steer tractor to match their tight turns around trees, posts, and other obstacles. They also side-discharge, bag, and mulch clippings. But they’re pricier than most tractors and typically don’t cut as well. Tiller controls for steering and ground speed take practice, and steering on hills can be challenging. Rear-steering wheels can tear up grass on turns. You’ll also pay some $400 to $800 for a bagging kit. Price: $2,700 to $4,000 for most homeowner versions.

Important Features: Lawn mowers

For electric and gas mowers

A sliding-clip cord keeper or a flip-over handle eases turns for corded mowers. One-lever height adjustment lets you raise and lower the entire deck at once, while a blade-brake clutch on gas-powered mowers stops only the blade when you release the handlebar safety bail, eliminating the need to restart the engine. An overhead-valve engine tends to run more efficiently than a side-valve engine. Many gas mowers include a rubber primer bulb that supplies added fuel for cold starts, and some have an automatic choke that shuts off after the engine starts. An electric starter eliminates the need to pull-start a gas engine. Some self-propelled gas-powered mowers have several speeds or infinite drive speeds, typically from 1 to 31?2 mph. Rear-wheel-drive models tend to have better traction on hills than front-drive models, especially when their bag is full. Models with swivel front wheels allow easy 180-degree turns, but can be tricky on hills. Some mowers offer corrosion-proof aluminum or plastic decks. Most models now allow tools-free mode changes. Mowers with a rear bag tend to cost more, but the bag tends to hold more than side bags and eases maneuvering.

For tractors and zero-turn mowers

Gear-drive models must be shifted between ground-speed ranges; models with automatic drive vary ground speed infinitely via a hydrostatic transmission or other system. Four-wheel steering lets tractors turn nearly as tightly as zero-turn machines. A safety switch for reverse helps avoid mishaps by making you engage it before mowing in reverse. An electric power takeoff switch lets you avoid pulling a lever to engage the blades. Some models also let you switch mowing modes without changing blades. A translucent fuel tank or a fuel gauge eases fuel-level checks, while cupholders are an added convenience on many models. Cruise control locks in a ground speed. A high-back seat adds support and comfort, while a washout port accepts a hose for clearing clippings beneath the deck. Also convenient: an hour meter, which shows how long the engine has run between oil changes and other maintenance.

How to choose

Here’s what else to consider as you shop for a mower or tractor:

Choose the right kind. Decide which type—manual-reel mowers, gas or electric mower, lawn tractor, or zero-turn-radius mower—best matches your lawn. Then choose one that is especially adept at bagging, side-discharging, or mulching clippings if that’s the mode you prefer.

Don’t pay extra for big names. You’ll find a Honda engine in lawn mowers from Craftsman, Lawn-Boy, Yard-Man, and other brands that use Honda’s premium image to gain added cachet. These newer engines aren’t the commercial-grade versions that made Honda’s reputation for durability, however. Those we tested performed well, but so did more-plebeian brands.

Don’t count horses. Higher horsepower doesn’t necessarily mean higher-quality mowing. Some manufacturers have swapped horsepower numbers for engine-size and torque specifications, but even those don’t guarantee better results. Our advice: Check our Ratings for top performers.

CR Quick Recommendations Self-propelled Mowers
While models at the very top can still set you back $600 or more, several capable mowers perform almost as well for as little as $370. Decide on a gas, corded, or cordless-electric mower with driven or nondriven wheels based on your needs. Then see our Quick Picks or high-scoring models with specific strengths and value.

Best for most, with versatile mowing:

• Honda HRX217KVKA , $630
• Toro Super Recycler 20055 , $520
• Honda HRR216K3VXA , $540
• Toro 20076 , $460, CR Best Buy
• Lawn-Boy 10685 , $380
• Toro 20073 , $370, CR Best Buy

The Honda HRX217KVKA offers superb mulching and bagging, the dealer-only Toro 20055 Super recycler (3) fine side-discharging, the Honda HRR216K3VXA and Toro 20076 a blade-brake clutch; all four are from reliable brands. The Lawn-Boy 10685 offers easy handling, the Toro 20073 fine mulching for less. Lawn- Boys are now built by Toro; time will tell whether the brand’s reliability improves.

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