We finally moved into our new house recently, and I would like to purchase a mower for the yard. I hadn't planned on mowing the lawns since we mowed from an area of California, where the average summer highs were around 82 degrees, to an area outside of Austin, Texas, where the average summer highs are around 96 degrees and much more humid.
But the cost of lawn mowing every two weeks runs about $40 per mow in this area for a house on a lot that is 70'x130' (9,100 sq ft.). So, I've decided to give it a shot. If I change my mind after a summer/fall of doing it, I figured I will have saved enough to have paid for the lawn mower.
I've narrowed down my choices to gas-powered, self-propelled mowers. I used to have a standard push mower in the past, but between the heat, the uneven nature of lawns in this area, and a bit of sloping, I figured a self-propelled mower would be beneficial.
But the question of front drive vs rear drive leaves me stumped. I understand that a rear drive mower would help with the sloping and uneven lawns, but they also seem less maneuverable. It also should be noted that nearly everyone (lawn service or home owner) mulches their lawns. It is rare for me to see anyone bagging their lawn clippings. In California, we almost always bagged our clippings and put those into a yard debris recycling bin. I wonder if the nature of the hard soil in Texas benefits from constant mulching.
Any suggestions?
But the cost of lawn mowing every two weeks runs about $40 per mow in this area for a house on a lot that is 70'x130' (9,100 sq ft.). So, I've decided to give it a shot. If I change my mind after a summer/fall of doing it, I figured I will have saved enough to have paid for the lawn mower.
I've narrowed down my choices to gas-powered, self-propelled mowers. I used to have a standard push mower in the past, but between the heat, the uneven nature of lawns in this area, and a bit of sloping, I figured a self-propelled mower would be beneficial.
But the question of front drive vs rear drive leaves me stumped. I understand that a rear drive mower would help with the sloping and uneven lawns, but they also seem less maneuverable. It also should be noted that nearly everyone (lawn service or home owner) mulches their lawns. It is rare for me to see anyone bagging their lawn clippings. In California, we almost always bagged our clippings and put those into a yard debris recycling bin. I wonder if the nature of the hard soil in Texas benefits from constant mulching.
Any suggestions?
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