The nice thing about adding a bit of “fire” to your backyard is that you have options. You can match your style and the feel of your neighborhood and yard. Do you like having room for dozens of people, or just an intimate gathering?

What features in your yard do you want the fire to accent? Do you have a nice view? If so, check out this picture.

Does not get much simpler than two fold-up chairs and a small fire pit. This is much like my in-law’s backyard, except they had an old bench with iron sides and slats. Lots of sky for viewing and a big enough fire pit that you could stoke it up a bit for those cool Spring or Fall evenings.

Many people will not have so much room and many need to compact their backyard fire experience a bit more. You could get a clay fire stove and a stand, and you would be good to go.

This is highly portable and does not need much space. Although, I would recommend some cleaning and mulching of the flower beds. Certainly these folk are no the formal type.

Formal Fire Settings

If you’d like to have something a bit more elaborate, check out is “near the sea” setting. Not really the type of backyard I have (or that I could afford), but it has very clean lines and both a table and an outdoor couch.

This is probably composite flooring with a natural wood wall. They have kinda gone for the indoor feel for the outdoors. Glad I do not see a TV! But I do imaging on the upper deck there is a 6-person hot tube with places to set your wine. I’d enjoy visiting, but do not expect my backyard to look like this.

Do you live in the Southwest of the US? Perhaps in Arizona. Isn’t that where many of the Californians are moving to get away from the high taxes?

Here is a very nice and very large integrated outdoor fireplace. Has nice informal seating and a natural wood roof. The roof can cut down on a hot sun while also creating interesting patterns on the decking.

Lots of integrated greenery gives this area a nice comfortable feel. I could see bringing over a 6-pack (or two… or more) and having a nice evening chat with my good friends.

Take a look around your backyard. Might some “fire” add a new dimension to what you already have? I hope so.

The post Add Fire to your Backyard appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Zinnias are actually a member of the daisy family and there are literally 100s of cultivars of a variety of colors and shapes. They are almost always brightly colored and their magic is that the more you pick them, the faster they grow!

They will like a very sunny area, will drink lots of water, and like nutrient-rich soil. They are annuals, but many people find that because they grow so easily from seed, that they will actually reseed themselves making them work much like perennials. This is just more of their magic.

I highly suggest you buy some Zinnia seeds (Amazon Affiliate link for your convenience) in the late Winter or even small plants if you are late to the game. Clear a sunny area in your garden, and plant this magic flower. You will be amazed!

I grew up calling these “Cut and come again Zinnias” so I actually thought this was their name. Little did I realize that all the varieties love to be picked and will quickly grow more beautiful flowers. And you can take the cut flowers indoors to enjoy for a week or so there as well. Really an amazing plant.

They are definitely a warm-weather plant, so be careful to plant after the last possible frost. They are late bloomers so you could even plant them in the summer and they will flower after some other flowers are dying away.

Since there are so many cultivars of Zinnia, it is best to check with the seeds you are getting or just head down to your local hardware store to pick up some small plants.

The post Zinnia – The Magic Flower appeared first on Garden Consumers.

What is right with this house?

First, let’s look at what works well for this house. And I must say that this is not really my type of house. It is clearly out of my price range. Not that I could not afford it, just I have decided to live a more modest lifestyle. This house has the feel of luxury.

Enhanced Walkway

From the photo’s perspective, the walkway clearly stands out. It is probably seldom used though and it is purpose almost seems more one of opulence than function, and I’m a function over form guy, so while the walkway is striking very well designed, unclear how much functionality it has.

Clearly, the house has a nice driveway on the right side and would function very well for foot access to the house. It definitely seems like a modern house with the mailbox on the street next to the driveway, so the mail carrier does not need this walkway.

Probably mostly used by the neighborhood friends, and for this neighborhood that use works very well for those neighbors who like to walk. Since the lots are over an acre each, more distant neighbors might drive over anyway. It is a bit sad to me.

There is a nice brick border on the extra-wide walkway. Both very nice features, but overkill really if you ask me. The walkway has a nice shallow bend that makes it much less stark and more inviting. As you approach the house, the yard descends a bit and the walkway border transforms into a small wall. Very nice touch.

Window Side Lighting and Shutters

I like the tall, almost to the floor, windows. From the inside, these will give great views of the garden to the sky. Also, the curved tops are very nice with matching curved shutters.

The window accent lights will really make this house pop at night. They are matched on each side and also matched to the next room over to the right. For this photo, it would have been better to have all the interior lights on, but I digress.

Why are people still placing home security signs in their yards? Does this really help with security? Surely a house of this stature will have a video doorbell and possibly other exterior video cameras.

There are purists who feel that shudders should at least seem like they could be functional. Here the curved tops do nicely match the curve of the windows, but they are not wide enough. Okay, this is not nearly as bad I have seen. If you really want to see some “Shutter Shaming” check out this Instagram account.

Home Perimeter Wall

The short wall extending around the house to the left really helps the visual appearance of the house from the front. Without it, the right to the left sloping yard would give a bit of a push and pull of feeling out of balance.

The walkway’s border turned short wall is extended into this perimeter wall. It gives balance to the front of the house and makes it feel solid and placed with care. Without this wall, the sloping ground and uneven border gardens would feel uneven. The designer solved the sloping problem and taken the house’s front layout from uneven to unnoticed, this is great.

Comfortable Front Porch

The covered front porch with its two rocking chairs could be a very nice place to rest with a loved one. In this instance though, it seems purely for show. Where will the people place their home-brewed iced tea?

Clearly, a small table is needed and depending on size, perhaps a small plant or other matching decor item.

Curved Roofline Accents

I’m not sure the curved roofline is helping for this house. They do not really seem to fit the style of a clean brick country home. And the curve is small enough that it does not really come alive, which is good. But better would have been to just have a straight roofline.

This is just some overdesign and opulence that distracts when noticed and does not really help with the overall look of the house.

And what about the water flow?

The area marked in the picture with the red arrow will have an extraordinary amount of water flowing through during rain. Up to half of the total front water runoff will want to flow through this area. Clearly, the gutters cannot handle the flow as even in this picture you can see that they are clogged with leaves.

This little exterior alcove has all the signs of a possible water nightmare. The only decent solution (other than redesign) would be to have a full drain at the ground level. This could be a rock garden which is not a bad idea for the area anyway because of all the shading that will occur.

Even with a drain, this will be a high maintenance area. It will require continual attention to keep the water flowing around and not into the house.

What is wrong with this house?

So back to my original question. What is wrong with the house?

Clearly with have a home that was designed with care and expertise. What did they get wrong? What is it that really motivated me to write this posting?

Well actually there are 2 things.

Walkway cuts the Front Yard

A home this size I how has some kids running around. We do not know what the backyard looks like, but from the layout, it seems they are going for a set in nature style. I would expect the backyard to be highly wooded.

So there is this large front yard as the primary playground for the kids, but it is divided with a hard walkway. What a shame!

What about those front trees?

There is definitely something wrong with those trees in the front yard. It is like the designer wanted both the clean front yard with well-manicured grass AND a forest. It just not work for me. They are TOO big and there are way TOO many of them.

I love the flat weed-free yard that I could see being mowed by a robot lawnmower. But feel it be so much better without the inserted forest.

What do you think?

The post What is wrong with this house? appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Walk around your garden and close your eyes. Open your senses. Get yourself tuned into the expansiveness that running water can give. And it does not have to be running water.

Standing water like a small pond or fountain gives so many opportunities for additional life. Birds and other animals will come. A small bird bath can bring so much life. So even if you do not have natural water sources, it is easy to tap into this new dimension.

It really does not take an extensive garden with loads of flowers to tap into the new sensations water can bring to your garden. Even with a passive “bird bath” you can easily achieve dramatic success.

If you have a passively designed birdbath, you may feel that you will not be able to keep water in it. That is perfectly okay. Even dry, it will become a new item in your garden for the animals to explore. And when it rains or you fill it while watering your garden, it will come alive. It will happen almost instantly, like when you are digging in the yard and the robins show up to feast on the worms and insects. They come almost like they had an advanced invitation.

Bridges for more Dramatic Effects

If you are lucky enough to have a small stream or brook, you automatically have lots to work with to enhance your garden. It is almost like having a bridge over water is an automatic invitation to walk across it.

Bridges are self-inviting for people to cross. Look a bridge. There must be something interesting on the other side.

A bridge could be as simple as a single flat round that is high enough to keep one’s feet dry. This rock should be stable and have a flat top big enough for someone to comfortably stand on. Such a rock with it will draw people to it. Of course, it should be uber stable as you do not want it to surprise the walker and have them question whether or not they might get wet.

Of course, your bridge should match the feeling of your garden. If you have a very formal garden, a very clean bridge will fit in naturally. The babbling brook could be just a few well-placed rocks that don’t even give away that they have been designed into the landscape.

Are you lucky enough to have running water in your backyard? Perhaps down the hill, under some heavy tree cover to a small stream. A rough path leading to the shaded bridge will bring a sense of calm to the walker like they know they are welcome there to explore the bridge to see what is on the other side.

The variety of gardens is quite wide. Perhaps you have gone for the bright open yard with beds of bright flowers.

I envy those with a nice running brook that meanders through their backyard. There is so much peace to be found in any garden. The bridge can just add another dimension that will naturally broaden the appeal of the garden.

The post Water bridges in your Garden appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Take a walk around your property. It is best to do this in reality, but if you are at the office just do it in your mind. Start from up the street and approach your yard. Ask yourself, what is the role of my fencing? What is its primary function? Perhaps it is to contain the dogs. Perhaps as a dividing line between properties or even design elements within your own yard.

Then walk completely around your house. Not how the landscape changes and how the fencing contributes to your goals. Is it working? Are there some small changes that could enhance your yard?

I am primarily a function over beauty can of person. So, I sometimes need to think, what will this look like to my mate. This opens up a world of possibilities for fencing. A fence that really serves no other purpose than to divide areas can be quite interesting in the yard.

Fences as Decoration or Background

Is the fence going to be the dramatic effect of the garden or could it just be a backdrop for some flowers or other design elements?

I generally like the more simple designs. Not overrun with plants or features. A nice plain weathered cedar fence can be a great backdrop for other elements.

And those elements do not have to be flowers. We have all seen beautiful flower beds and hopefully, we all have some that we are proud to show in the neighborhood. But are the flowers required? How about some static elements like rocks, stumps, or even some simple manufactured items like in the picture above. That frog is so cute!

A fence can also serve as a place to hang a basket or to install a bird feeder. Perhaps you’d like a vine-covered fence. Once you start thinking about a fence as more than a divider, the possibilities soar.

Color is another consideration. Are you going for the natural wood look? Perhaps the formal wrought iron? Often a white fence can be quite dramatic and really set off a flower bed or other growing plants.

Other Fence Considerations

In my spare time, I sometimes deliver food and packages. This brings me in contact with lots of front yard fences. You may want to take a look at your yard from the viewpoint of a delivery person.

These days of Amazon Primer nearly instantaneous delivery, Grub Hub and Uber Eats, and even the old standby pizza delivery makes our homes often visited to drop off “stuff”. What does your home look like to them?

If you have a fence preventing me as a delivery person from accessing your front door, I’m left wondering what to do. And if there is a “Beware of Dog” sign, I really start to wonder. I will call and text but those rarely go answered.

Should I drop the package outside the gate? Should I let myself in and hope Fido is either inside or actually friendly? Perhaps, I just need to return the package and mark it as undeliverable.

It is worth considering how your house looks to the delivery person and how you want to receive your “goods”.

Many people who want or need their front yard fenced off, will leave a delivery box on the outside with a sign indicating to leave packages there. This works very well. It is clear. The packages can be out of sight to potential thieves and can be protected from the weather.

Fence gates can also be left open. This shows that people are welcome to enter. Or even a sign that helps direct the delivery person.

Let’s have fences be for beauty and function rather than to divide us.

The post Your Garden Fence: Beauty Divided appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Many others find it fascinating in how dramatic of a landscape it can create. The house or fence covered in ivy is often used to represent the passage of time and evoke the feeling of oneness with the natural world. I am not one of those people.

Gardeners have often dealt with intrusive ivy as they prepare a new garden. The good news is that if ivy is not present, it does not seem to initiate growth in new areas super easily. It mostly propagates by growing shouts from an already established area. But once, established it can grow at an alarming pace. For example, English Ivy can grow at up to 9′ per year PER vine.

Dramatic Effects of Ivy

Ivy seems more alive than other plants. It is as if you can see it growing. This can be great if that is what you are looking for, but can quickly become a nuisance as ivy can take over and push out other plants.

If you plan to use an ivy as part of your landscape, you show know that it will require continual care. Unlike other plants which often need care to continue to thrive, ivy will need the continual care to keep from taking over. In the first year or two, ivy may seem like healthy ground covering, but once it gets established watch out. It will want to expand and take over as much area as you let.

Many ivies have become a nuisance in the United States and many are labeled as a noxious weed, like English Ivy. So interesting to me that you can still buy them at many local nurseries, but then find out later that they are near the top of many “bad plant” lists.

Any gardener will probably have some history with ivy. Some may have even used it to dramatic effect in landscapes. There are places and species that could make sense to use, but as a general rule, I just try to avoid Ivy and look for natural alternatives.

Beautify Vines and Ivy

If you are willing to take on the continual battle of controlling your ivy, there are some varieties that can be used. At one of my homes in Ohio, when I bought it there was trellis on the side of the front porch with Wisteria growing.

Such a beautify flowering vine. I knew though that it would grow to become a nuisance, but decided to wait and enjoy it for a year. Then another year passed and it had grown out of control and was tearing off my gutters and trying to gain hold of the power line. Not good!

I still loved its smell and super dramatic colors when it bloomed. So, I cut it way back and move the vine off of the porch to a new free standing arbor about 6′ from my house. It took to it. And thrived. But once it was re-established it had no problem jumping back to the house.

In the end, I decided I could not control it and took to remove it completely. This started a multi-year battle to kill the plant. I dug out all the roots, or so I thought, but it came back. I tried using a strong herbicide on the growing plants. That only slowed it down. With a second attempt at digging out the roots, I finally won the battle. But for now, I’m done with ivies and vines.

The post Ivy is it Good or Bad appeared first on Garden Consumers.

With my continuing efforts to move away from fossil fuels and clean up my act, this year I bought an Electric Vehicle (EV). Also, ever since Ohio had free choice of electric suppliers I have always selected a 100% renewable source.

It seems battery-electric mowers really started to make it into the mainstream around 2005. But, they were expensive and often underperformed their gas equivalents. As Lithium-Ion batteries became more prevalent their prices eventually started to fall. The previous Nickel-Cadmium batteries were really just horrible for any heavy-duty use.

Corded electric mowers have been around for quite a while and have been my mower of choice for the last few years.

Not only do I get a nice walk in the yard, but I also get an upper body workout trying to manage the electric cord.

Now with high functioning and great batteries available, the prices have fallen to where for most smaller yards, a cordless mower is really the way to go. You don’t even have to be a green tree-hugger like myself because they are just a better choice even without considering the environmental benefits.

As a long-time environmentalist, it has been sad for me to see that people have not moved more quickly to “green” choices. It seems the vast majority of people put little value on the environmental benefits of their choices. Why do so many people drive those HUGE cars?

Mowers Compared to Tesla

I continue to thank Tesla for “accelerating the world’s transition to sustainable energy.” The prime contributor to this transition has not been people’s consideration of the environment. It is that Tesla has shown that electric vehicles (and a renewable grid) are just a better option. Pound for pound. Feature for Feature.

Their cars are faster, more economical, safer, more reliable, and way more feature-rich than the gas equivalents. They are also stated as being lower total cost of ownership, which I also believe to be true, but think we need them to stand the test of time to really prove this out.

The same has come true for electric cordless mowers.

Frankly, Corded Mowers are a Pain

I have been a corded electric mower owner and user for quite some time. It is the green in me that made this so. I wanted to get away from those stinky, polluting, noisy, troublesome gas mowers. But, previously the cordless battery mowers were so expensive and often underpowered and narrow and not well constucted.

With the batteries being the technology which needed to catch up, the prime benefit of the corded mower was the lower cost. Also, since they could draw up to 15A, they can be very powerful.

What I did not realize is that even with my small lawn, cord management is a pain. For years I kept thinking I’ll figure out a mowing pattern that will allow me to spend more time mowing than dealing with cord management.

Yeah, I have become better at mowing without putting the cord at risk of getting cut. Start near the plugin point and mow across moving away from the house. Turn this way or that so you don’t have to jump the cord. On and on.

I even went through a phase where I said to my son, not only do I get a nice walk in the yard, but I also get an upper body workout trying to manage the electric cord. It was about this time when I realized it was getting a bit silly.

Moving to a Battery Cordless Mower

I’m so excited that I have made the move to a cordless mower. The price is right. Not really a used market for them though. The newer mowers with the better batteries just continue to get used. The majority of used cordless mowers are those ones with tired old-technology batteries that are not worth using.

There are additional considerations for cordless mowers as you need to pay attention and get the right battery size and mower for your yard. And if your yard goes much beyond an acre, you might just not have cost-effective options.

Just like my electric car, I assume it will quickly become just a normal thing. For now, I’m very excited and look forward to reporting more on how it goes.

What about Push Mowers

I have tried push mowers several times. And perhaps I never spent enough money to get a really good one. I a nice workout, and actually have enjoyed using the push mowers, but the results have always been underwhelming. I’m glad the cordless mowers are here as they can supply excellent results without the pollution downside.

The post Corded Electric Lawn Mowing is a Pain appeared first on Garden Consumers.

Whether you prefer to use granules, liquid fertilizer, or something that the barnyard animals created, you have many options in front of you when it comes to plant nourishment.

Not sure which unit to choose? Our gardening experts are here to make your search for the best fertilizer spreader walk in the park.

Join us as we highlight the top models that they trust and to see their detailed reviews of the top three models.

Broadcast Spreaders Come in Different Styles

When it comes to dispersing dry fertilizer granules, you have a few different options.

Your best bet is to go with a broadcast spreader, also known as a “rotary spreader.” In these units, the granules are dispersed from a spinner wheel and spread out into your lawn or garden. The amount of fertilizer released is easily regulated in all of these spreaders. So, you don’t have to worry about choosing a model based on the flow quantity.

You can choose from handheld, walk behind, or tow behind models.

• Handheld. You’ll find handheld spreaders that come in various sizes.

You can choose between larger handheld units that you would use for fertilizing a lawn or a smaller spreader that you can also use for seeding and disperse salt on slippery surfaces in the winter months.

There is more control with the handheld units and, since there are no wheels, you don’t have to worry about running over any healthy plants or vegetation. You control where you walk and where you sprinkle the fertilizer. Be careful though because large handheld units are often unbalanced and will put a strain on your wrist. If you only have a small space to fertilize this will not be a problem. But for a larger lawn, definitely go with a wheeled model.

• Walk Behind. Many homeowners find the classic walk behind models to meet their average lawn care and gardening needs.

These are most useful if you have a medium-sized lawn or area to fertilize and in areas where it is safe for you to roll the spreader over the surface without damaging anything.

• Tow Behind. If you already have a riding lawn mower and you have a large area to fertilize, then the best solution is to purchase a tow behind model so that you can cover more ground in a shorter amount of time.

What About Dispersing Liquid Fertilizers?

The most common types of fertilizers are for granules, but we did include one option for liquid dispensers. It is mostly a matter of preference if you prefer to use liquid or granular fertilizer. Either way, you’ll want the best spreader available to make the job quick and easy.

Chapin International All Purpose Hose-End Sprayer

A simple unit like this is attached directly to your hose and allows you to spray your fertilizer on plants or grass.

Sample Dry Fertilizer Spreaders

Solo 20-Pound Capacity Portable Spreader

One of the nice things about this handy spreader from Solo is that you can use it to fertilize your lawn and garden in the warm months. And then use it to spread deicer in the winter. It is always nice to have a multiple purpose tool. Many homeowners appreciate a versatile object in the tool shed. We consider this to be one of the best fertilizer spreaders on the list.

The hopper, which is the tank where the fertilizer is added, can accommodate up to 20 pounds of fertilizer granules. The fertilizer spreader has a crank arm that you turn when to spread the fertilizer. The faster you turn, the greater the distribution area.

What we liked about this unit is the fact that you can sling it over one shoulder as you walk. This helps distribute the weight load and makes it easier for you to finish lengthy fertilizer run without stopping for a break.

You’ll see on that just above the dispenser, there is a little lever that allows you to dictate which direction the fertilizer shoots out. Also, using the flow rate control, you can choose how much fertilizer it dispenses.

A few things we have to say about this to the potential buyer. This spreader requires a bit of physical strength since you’ll be carrying it on your shoulder. For some, we know that lugging around 20 pounds of product isn’t possible.

We also wouldn’t recommend this type of unit for large medium or large lawns simply because a push model would allow you to disperse granules more accurately.

Overall, we found it to be most useful for small lawns, flower beds, shrubs, and other small areas that you want to fertilize. Remember that it also works great as a salt dispenser in the winter!

Scotts Wizz Hand-Held Spreader

If you needed something a little bit more lightweight than the Solo, try Scotts’ Wizz Spreader that can handle up to 2,500 square feet of lawn areas.

We like how this spreader (compared to the Solo) is crankless. No handle to that you have to turn. It is battery-powered!

As Scotts reminds you, this unit is not only good for spreading fertilizer, but also for spreading seed, weed and feed, as well as a deicer in the cold weather.

When you turn it on, you will be surprised at how accurately it spreads the fertilizer. You will love how lightweight it is. Of course, it can’t handle as much fertilizer as the previous product. But if you didn’t want to lug around a 20-pound unit, this is a great compromise.

We are surprised to see how affordable it is compared to some of the other manual units. While it may not be the best solution for every homeowner, those with a smaller area to fertilize will appreciate its convenience and affordable price tag.

Scotts Turf Builder EdgeGuard

Our favorite walk-behind model was from Scotts because of the quality and affordability. These are so popular you might even find some used ones.

The capacity of the hopper on this bad boy is huge. It can accommodate a whopping 50 pounds of fertilizer granules, and all you have to do is push it. You don’t have to carry it or sling it over the shoulder.

The tires make it seem more like a mini go-kart with their large circumference and thick tread pattern.

What we noticed: If you get a quality unit and everything assembles perfectly, you won’t be disappointed. Some products, on the other hand, seem to be a bit out of line when you put them together. This is frustrating as a consumer since it takes longer to assemble and can be frustrating.

Overall regarding performance and quality, we still wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it as one of the best fertilizer spreader models on our list!

It also comes in some smaller and larger sizes to perfectly match your yard. And if you want precision control, you can select the drop spreader. Drop spreaders give the most precise distribution of fertilizer.

The post Fertilizer Spreader Knowledgebase appeared first on Garden Consumers.

I have been a supporter of electric lawn tools for a long time. I will admit though that I previously used plug-in electric devices (mowers, blowers, trimmers, etc) because the cordless units were SO expensive and also less performant. Neither of those deficits is true today.

Cordless batteries have come a long way. They now pack enough power and energy (run time), that they compete very favorably with gas devices. And with them being, so much cleaner and pleasant to use, why would anyone choose anything else?

Cost of Cordless Mowers

As I mentioned above, I used to use corded mowers. It is a pain to deal with a 100′ (or more) cord. I’m so glad that those days are in the past. Electric mowers are really cost equivalent to gas mowers now. And they seem to last longer and have a much lower total cost of ownership.

Batteries and RunTime

The old NiCad batteries were… not good to put it politely. Never buy a device with NiCad batteries these days. The Li-Ion batteries are so good. They are what power our laptops, cell phones, and every other important device.

You will find 2 primary ratings on mower batteries: Voltage and Amp-Hours (Ah)

Voltage: The voltage will determine how much instantaneous power mower can provide. Larger will generally be better, but also more expensive.

Amp-Hours(Ah): You will find amp-hour ratings like 4Ah. This means that the device could deliver 4 Amps (amount of electric current) AT THE RATED VOLTAGE for a continuous hour. A 40V 4Ah battery will have twice the total energy of a 20V 4Ah battery.

You must take these 2 measures (V and Ah) together when considering how much energy a mower has. You will want to match the mower to your mowing needs. If you have a larger yard and/or heavier mowing needs, you will need a higher voltage and more energy.

More energy can be supplied by a larger (as measured in Ah) battery, or by having multiple batteries. Two batteries might be required if you have a really large yard. Generally, batteries will drain a fair bit faster than they will charge. Some batteries are made for fast charging and you can achieve continuous operation by swapping batteries on and off the charger.

One word of warning. Some manufactures overstate the runtime of their batteries. Be on the watch out for this. No manufacturer wants to state that their batteries are not as good as their competitors so they may misrepresent the real-world capacity of their batteries.

Top Benefits of Electric Battery Powered Mowers

Electric mowers are so much nicer to use than their gas equivalents. Here are what I see as the top benefits you will find in the best cordless lawnmowers.

Clean and Easy Run

An electric mower has no exhaust fumes. There is no oil to worry about. Need to sharpen the blade, just flip the unit over. With a gas mower, you will cause all kinds of problems if you flip it over. First, it will leak gas: unpleasant and HUGE safety hazard. Then, it will not want to start because the engine will be flooded and the oil could be misplaced.

For electric, as long as you have a charged battery to install, you will be good to go.

Very Quiet Running

I never like the noise of a gas mower. Each Spring is marked with the weekend hum of gas mowers as all your neighbors start their spring yard cleanup. We seem to have come to accept this obnoxious sound, but there is no need. Electric mowers are much quieter and give off more of a hum than a roar.

Immediate and Consistent Power

Gas mowers grow old and finicky. They may not want to start. They may idle poorly. And when mowing sometimes they will just stop. Electric drive gives much more consistent and reliable power. You pull the lever, they go. It is really that simple.

Almost immediately after you start using a cordless mower, you will wonder why you ever used anything else. (I actually feel the same way about my electric car, but that is another story.)

Easy Storage

Since electric mowers do not have gas and oil to worry about, you can store them in many configurations. This leaves room in your shed or garage for more important things.

I am always amazed by the number of houses that have garages that become storage sheds and are not used for your expense (or even not so expensive) car. Every house I have bought has a garage. And job one after the purchase has been to install proper storage racks and a garage door opener.

Pleasant to Use

I can overemphasize how pleasant it is to switch from a gas mower to a cordless electric mower. They run clean. Are reliable and trouble-free. Make less noise. And really deliver a great-looking lawn.

They are not right for all lawns. Especially as you get beyond 1 acre you will probably want to still consider a gas-powered mower. At that point, you are probably looking at a lawn tracker anyway. Although there are battery-operated lawn tractors available, they really have not yet gone mainstream.

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Top 3 Best Cordless Lawn Mower Reivews

Here are 3 of the best cordless electric lawnmowers to get you started. I have selected what I see as the best from 3 different sizes.

This is a great mower for a smaller lawn. It has been out for almost a decade and has really stood up well as a reliable performer. If you have a yard less than 1/2 acre, this would be an excellent choice.

Currently on Sale

Greenworks 40V 16" Cordless (Push) Lawn Mower (75+ Compatible Tools), 4.0Ah Battery and Charger Included

• CORDLESS LAWN MOWER – Get more done, faster, with Greenworks electric lawn mowers. This 40v push lawn mower provides the power you need with up to 45 minutes of runtime on a fully charged 4.0Ah battery. The battery completely charges in 120 minutes.Brushless motor : No
• LIGHTWEIGHT, EASY TO USE – A lightweight 16” cutting deck allows for easy maneuvering through small to medium yards (up to ½ acre) more efficiently. Easy push button start and lighter weight make it a great choice for your lawn.
• VERSATILE – Battery powered lawn mower has a single lever 5-position height adjustment with a cutting height range from 1-1/4" to 3-3/8" for the best cut in all environments. The 2-in-1 feature offers versatile use with mulching and rear bagging options.
• MAINTENANCE FREE – This walk behind lawn mower is virtually maintenance free, with no gas, no oil and no emissions. It starts instantly and is quiet but delivers gas-like power for your toughest projects.
• INCLUDES – Battery operated lawn mower comes with mower, grass collection bag, 40V 4.0Ah battery, charger and operators manual. It offers a 3 year tool and 3 year battery warranty.

$299.00 −25% $224.25

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*Price from:  2024-03-28 at 11:15 EST

This mower does have a 16″ cutting size which is on the small size. If you have a large yard or what to get done quicker, you might do well to move up to its larger brother at 20″.

This mower has a 45 minute runtime and comes with 5 cut height positions. I think the 45 minutes of runtime is a bit optimistic. You may be able to get this if have a flat yard and cut very frequently.

Makita 18V X2 (36V) LXT Lithium‑Ion Brushless Cordless (5.0Ah) 18 

This Makita is a much more industrial-strength unit than the GreenWorks above. Please note that this mower comes with 4, yes FOUR, 18V batteries. It will use 2 batteries at a time for a net 32V of power. These batteries are interchangeable in the full line of Makita battery-powered tools and devices.

Makita XML03PT1 36V (18V X2) LXT® Brushless 18" Lawn Mower Kit with 4 Batteries (5.0Ah)

• No gas, emissions, oil mixing or pull starts with reduced maintenance and low noise levels
• Cuts up to 1/2 acre in 53 minutes or less with four 18V LXT 5.0Ah batteries
• Commercial-grade steel deck
• BL Brushless motor delivers up to 3,300 RPM
• Quiet mode reduces noise by providing constant speed control at 2,500 RPM

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*Price from:  2024-03-28 at 06:09 EST

It is the addition of the extra batteries that make this specific selection more expensive. You can get it in other configurations depending on your needs.

Sun Joe 28V 5 Ah 14 

Okay, this mower is really just for very small yards. But I wanted to include it because of the price/value ration. Sun Joe has really tried to push the value of electric devices. This mower shows that if you have a small yard, you do not have to pay very much to get into a good cordless mower.

Sun Joe MJ401C-XR 14-Inch 28-Volt 5-Amp Cordless Lawn Mower w/Brushless Motor, 10.6-Gallon Detachable Collection Bag, Lightweight, Green

• [POWERFUL]: Perfect for Small to medium lawns, battery-powered mower's durable Steel blade cuts a crisp 14-inch wide path with precision in a single pass
• [PERFORMANCE]: The 28 volt rechargeable lithium-ion battery for up to a quarter acre of continuous mowing per charge
• [ADJUSTABLE]: Tailor cutting Height with 3-position manual height adjustment
• [ACCESSORIES]: Detachable 10.6-Gal (40 L) grass catcher for easy disposal
• [POWER SOURCE]: Battery powered

$233.92

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*Price from:  2024-03-28 at 06:09 EST

This is an INEXPENSIVE unit. Don’t expect too much. The cut height is adjusted by manually moving the wheel axles. There are no removeable batteries, you just plug in an adapter. And, it will take a while to fully charge.

This unit shows that you can get into a cordless mower at a very low price. If you have anything more than a small yard, this will NOT be the unit for you. But, if you have a small yard and want a very good, functional, and lightweight cordless mower, this one will serve you well.

The post Best Cordless Lawn Mowers 2021 appeared first on Garden Consumers.

These phenomenal devices are not cheap, but just imagine the time savings that they give. As I investigated the history of these automated mowing machines, I was amazed to learn that they were first patented in 1969.

All the robot lawn mowers we reviewed had some basic features in common. They change the way you care for your lawn. Rather than mowing when the grass gets too high, the robots are designed for continual lawn care.

The will run several times a week during the growing season. This makes their job easier so they do not have to worry about cutting long grass. This also makes them more reliable. They drop short pieces of cut grass into your yard for nourishment.

They will NOT mow your yard in an organized pattern. Rather, just like the indoor vacuums, they will wander randomly around your yard. With the frequent mowing, they will be able to visit all areas of your lawn and keep it look sharp.

If you are someone who likes to see nice mowing patterns at the end of a mowing session, then these will not work well for you. The combination of frequent mowing sessions and random pattern will keep you lawn looking uniform throughout the year.

Reliability of Robotic Mowers

They all have a base station to which they return after each cutting session. They will charge and be ready to work again. The base station will be along the laid out perimeter, in the shade, and will power available.

You lawn will really determine how successful your robotic mower will be. A flat yard few obstructions will certainly be best. Also, it seem that the boundary wire will need to be installed at a nearly flat area.

These mowers run very slowly, like 1 mph. Since they are all designed to run unaccompanied this will work out fine. Just do not expect really quick work of you yard.

Before you can use your robotic mower, you will set up a wire boundary that will define the area that the mower will stay within. This is much like a dog fence. The wire and attachment stakes are included. I’d suggest using a manual edger to set the wire into the ground where you will not need to worry about it again.

Lots of advanced features are included

These are pretty high tech devices and pretty costly as well.

Communication

Most of these mowers directly communicate with an app so you can keep track of their progress. They may have WiFi, Bluetooth, or Cellular connections. Or, in the case of one unit, no communication at all.

Some are also GPS enabled so you can know if they have gone missing.

These mowers have logic to try to get themselves out of tight situations. They will back up and spin as they try to get free. Occasionally though, they will get stuck. At that point, they will shut down and notify you of their problems.

Mowing Pattern

Most of the mowers to designed to run fairly frequently to keep your yard always nicely manicured. They run a random pattern that over time statistically covers your whole yard.

It may not seem like a random patter will work, but it does.

Mower Specifications

Runtime: These are battery-driven mowers and will have the clean running benefits of all battery mowers. The size of the battery will determine the runtime and size of the yard that they can adequately handle.

Maximum Incline: The mower designs allow for different levels of hilly yard handling. The less expensive models will do better on a flat yard and the more expensive ones are listed to handle up to 24 degrees of incline. 24 degrees is a steep slope!

Safety: The mowers are designed to stop the blade if picked up or the wheels otherwise are not in contact with the ground. You should not have to worry too much about safety. I assume that cats will stay away and dogs will learn to ignore the mowers.

Other considerations

If you do have dogs, you probably have fences. These are going to be a bit problematic for your mower. If you just want to mow the enclosed area, you will be fine. But, if you have an enclosed rear yard and open front yard, you will have to arrange to get the mower into the front yard because it will not be able to open the fence gate.

Also, dog poop can be a bit of a messy problem. The mower is not going to avoid the “doggy dirt” and it is going to get all over things. It is highly recommend that you pick up before turning the robot loose.

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Current Top Selling Robot Lawn Mowers

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		LUBA 2 AWD 5000H Robot Lawn Mower, Perimeter Wire Free Vision Robotic Lawnmower for 1.25 Acres Lawn,...	$2,899.00	View on Amazon*
2		GARDENA SILENO Minimo Automatic Robotic Lawn Mower with Bluetooth app, Boundary Wire - For lawns up...	$649.99 $529.99	View on Amazon*
3		ACFARM 20V 4.0Ah Robotic Lawn Mower 1/4 Acre / 10,890 Sq. Ft, Automatic Lawnmower APP Control with...	$699.99	View on Amazon*
4		Segway Navimow i110N Robot Lawn Mower Perimeter Wire Free 1/4 Acre RTK+Vision Robotic Lawnmower,...	$1,299.00	View on Amazon*
5		Husqvarna Automower 430XH Robotic Lawn Mower with GPS Assisted Navigation, Automatic Lawn Mower with...	$2,499.99 $1,874.25	View on Amazon*

*Price from:  2024-03-28 at 10:57 EST

*Price from:  2024-03-28 at 11:14 EST

You will be the talk of your street with your automated lawn mowing machine. They have taken all the lessons from the years of development of indoor robotic vaccuum cleaners and applied it to the outdoors. This required creating a very smart and robust product.

WORX Landroid M 20V Power Share Robotic Lawn Mower 

You will need to do a little setup once your “Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower” arrives. You will outline the perimeter of you lawn with the included boundary wire and setup the base/recharging station. Once it is fully charged, it will be ready to go.

WORX Landroid M 20V Power Share Robotic Lawn Mower 1/4 Acre / 10,890 Sq.Ft Power Share- WR140(Battery & Charger Included)

• [FULLY AUTOMATED] The Landroid M cuts lawns up to ¼ acre all by itself. Just set the charging base, lay down the boundary wire, measure your lawn with the app, and let it mow
• [WI-FI & APP CONTROLLED] There are many things you can do from the Landroid app: measure your lawn, check mowing progress, keep software up to date, update your mowing schedule and more
• [SAME BATTERY, EXPANDABLE POWER] The same battery powers over 75+ 20V, 40V, and 80V lifestyle, garden, and power tools in the Power Share family
• [NAVIGATES NARROW PATHS] Patented AIA technology allows Landroid to navigate narrow passageways too difficult for ordinary robotic mowers
• [CUSTOMIZED MOWING SCHDULES] Have Landroid mow every day, every other day, it can even recommend an auto schedule based on your yard’s size and conditions

$2,220.82

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*Price from:  2024-03-28 at 10:57 EST

We like that the electric mower is quiet and cuts very close to obstacles. You will still need to do some touch up from time-to-time, but your lawn will stay looking well kept. Let's get it NOW! 

Husqvarna Automower 115H Robotic Lawn Mower 

This is the smallest of the Husqvarna “Automowers” and we are impressed. Its large wheels and tight turning circle make quick work of your lawn.

Husqvarna Automower® 115H Robotic Lawn Mower (Bluetooth)

• Husqvarna Automower 115H Robotic Lawn Mower uses smart technology from the world leader in robotic mowing(1) so you can have a beautifully cut lawn 24/7 at the touch of a button
• Easy Control From Smartphone: Husqvarna's smart technology lets you control scheduling, adjust settings, and start and stop your automatic lawn mower from your smartphone
• DIY Installation: Set up your Husqvarna robot mower with the self-installation kit (included); place the charging station, bury or lay the boundary wire around the perimeter of your yard, install the guide wire, choose your settings, and start mowing
• Theft Protection: To reduce the risk of theft, the automatic mower is equipped with a built-in alarm system that will sound if it is lifted and is only deactivated with your unique PIN code
• All Lawns and Weather: The compact robotic mower is weatherproof and can navigate narrow passages, objects and 17-degree slopes with a cut width of 8.7 inches and an area capacity of 720 square feet per hour, making it perfect for lawns of up to 0.4 acre

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*Price from:  2024-03-28 at 10:57 EST

They designed the large wheels to be closer to the center of the mower. This makes it able to handle uneven lawns more easily.

Husqvarna has been becoming very popular across many tool segments because of their attention to product quality. They have several models to choose from with the larger ones having the ability to handle larger lawns. As a company, they seem to be the leaders in robotic mowers. I'm sold, let's get it! 

Gardena 4069 R80Li Robotic Lawnmower 

The mower is a bit more expensive than the two above but has received high praise from its owners. Unlike the other mowers which avoid the rain, the Gardena Robotic Lawnmower is designed to work even in the rain.

Gardena 4069 R80Li Robotic Lawnmower

• Cutting Height of .7" to 2" (2 to 5 cm) can be easily set with a rotary knob. Different mowing times or days can be set on a large selection panel and display
• Excellent cutting results, works during rain, Anti theft protection, low noise, emission free
• Robotic lawnmower perfect for all garden types. Autonomous, quiet, energy efficient and emission free!
• Easy to use, easy to install, easy to maintain. Perfectly safe and perfectly customizable!
• Easy to Place Boundary wire shows mower where to mow

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*Price from:  2024-03-28 at 10:57 EST

This mower is quicker to set up because you do all the setup on the mower itself. There is no app to need to install and learn. Show me more! 

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