Buying a Battery Lawn Mower

At the end of my weekly, half-hour ritual of mowing my lawns, my old gas-powered lawn mower choked and coughed its last dying breath, and with it, about the same amount of pollution as driving 150 miles, according to the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services.  For the past few years I had heard  that you should only mow your lawns when your neighbors can’t see, to avoid the scowls you receive if you’re caught using a gas-powered mower. Being a socially conscious neighbor, I’ve been getting up at 3am to mow, but I’m still getting scowls and choice language. I just don’t understand….  

Greg and His Amazing Technicolor Mower

So I needed to buy a new mower.  I started my research.  I knew that mowers were available that use an electric cord. I had one years ago and promised I’d never get another one. At the end of each session, I looked like an orange mummy wrapped up in a hundred-foot extension cord.  

Truthfully, I did not know that battery-operated mowers were even made until I dug further. Come to find out, from no less than Bob Vila, battery mowers are easier to maneuver, much eco-friendlier, require virtually no maintenance except brushing them off, and cost much less. Not only that, but I don’t have to keep several full gasoline cans in my garage…. a big win with my wife! To boot, it folds up nicely and stores in my outdoor storage bin with room to spare.  

Battery mowers are easy to find. Lowe’s and almost all the big-box stores carry them, and probably your local Ace Hardware as well. I bought mine out the door for just under $305, which included docs, taxes and dealer prep. I now mow my lawn in the light of day and am the rage of the neighborhood. Folks even comment about the Indy Car-esque lines. I’m hoping they’re talking about the mower!