Budget-Friendly Lawn Care
Having the best yard on the street doesn’t have to drain your savings account. Here are some budget-friendly lawn care tips to have and maintain a great lawn.
DIY Budget-Friendly Lawn Care
Hiring a landscaping company can be pricey; it’s much more affordable to do as much as you can on your own. The basic equipment you will require depends on your yard, but typically you will need a mower, weed-eater, and some basic gardening tools.Pick the Right Mower
The type of lawn mower you need is determined by the size of your yard and how much time you are willing to spend cutting the grass every week or two. There are five basic types of mowers and each uses a rotating blade to cut grass at an even height.- Push Reel Mower– These are the mowers that have been around since the 1830s and feature prominently in the “back in my day” stories that elders tell. These mowers do not have an engine and are powered solely by human force. These are an economical option if you have a small, flat yard.
- Walk-behind Mower– Also called push mowers, these are the most popular type of lawn mower. They can be gas or electric and come with a variety of features, such as self-propelling or wide-area options, which can help you find the best one for your lawn.
- Riding Lawn Mower– This type of mower is best suited for a large yard and is more expensive than the push reel or walk-behind. This mower features a large engine with a transmission and has a seat and gears which can be switched to fit the terrain of the yard and desired length of cut grass.
- Hover Mower– Hover mowers are used mainly by commercial landscapers on steep slopes, waterfronts, and areas with lots of tall weeds. The mowers work by pushing air downwards, which lifts the mower off the ground, so it can float over the grass while cutting.
- Robotic Mower– The most recently invented type of mower is the robotic mower. Much like there are robotic vacuums that will clean your house at the push of a button, the robotic mower will cut your lawn. This mower uses a wire buried a few inches underground, which defines a boundary of areas to be cut. Robotic mowers are powered by electricity and need to be docked prior to use, and the most recent models can be controlled remotely by a smartphone.