Question by Daisy: How well do reel lawn mowers actually work?
We are moving into a rent house, and we are responsible for upkeep of the yard, but we have been renting an apt so we do not have a mower at the the moment. I have seen the reel mowers, and I like the idea of them because of the safety (we have a two year old and another on the way) and the low low upkeep costs. I have never used one before though, and I am just wondering how people who have used or are using them feel about them. Do they do a good job and are they easy to use? Thank you!
Best answer:
Answer by bushmaster8
I’m old enough to have used ‘push-type’ ['man-powered'] reel mowers about the time the gasoline powered reel type mowers were becoming common, and then ‘graduated’ to the rotary type power mower.
Both the man-powered and engine powered reel type mowers ‘actually’ do work.
There is a problem in that you can’t ‘miss’ a mowing or the grass blades will be too TALL and the rotating reel will push them downward and ‘miss’ cutting a lot of the blades. This leaves a ‘raggady’ looking lawn it you don’t go over it again 2 or 3 times depending on the height and thickness of the grass. Weeds are impossible to cut with a reel type mower.
IF it is a man-powered reel type mower, it can work you to death if the grass requires more than an half inch cut off.
Unless the “new” [today's] reel mowers have been improved by putting some kind of guard in front of the reel, they are more dangerous than a rotary mower [because its blade is hidden below the deck].
IF you mow at least once, or twice per week, the yard is level, and there are few or no weeds in your lawn, then yes, a reel mower can do a good job. It does require much more physical effort to push a man-powered type of reel type mower than a push type power rotary, because with the unpowered reel mower YOU are providing the power to spin the reel and cut the grass.
Of course if you buy an engine powered reel type mower the physical effort is reduced because the engine provides the power to cut the grass, and usually to propel the mower.
Unless your yard and lawn condition is ideal for a reel type mower, AND it has some kind of reel cover for safety, then I recommend a rotary type mower.
What do you think? Answer below!