Every spring people begin pulling their lawn mowers out of the back of the garage, some with eager anticipation of the smells of summer and new cut grass and a cold drink, and others with the dread of a hated chore. Either way, a lawn mower is a common sight and sound of summer.

Just as there are different kinds of lawns, there are different kinds of mowers. To choose the right mower, there are a few things to take into consideration. One is its size. Is it very small, half an acre, more? Another is the grade of the lawn; whether it is flat, steeply inclined or rolling. A third consideration is whether the yard has many trees or flowerbeds, or if it’s wide open. A wide open expanse can afford a much larger cutting path from the blades of the mower, while a yard with scattered trees or a smaller space will require a narrower cutting path.

From the smallest non-motorized push mower, to the largest garden tractor, there are five basic sizes of lawn mower available today. Beside those just mentioned, there are walk-behind mowers, riding mowers, and lawn tractors. The only one that is not motorized, the reel push mower, is the oldest style still in use today. It has a scissor motion from its five to eight spiral blades. They are lighter than their predecessors and easier to handle, but are best suited to small yards of about 8,000 square feet or less.

Probably the most commonly seen mower in city and suburban neighborhoods is the walk-behind push mower. They are best suited to yards up to half an acre, and have engines starting at 5.5 horse power. They generally have from 18 to 22 inch cutting paths. Some are self-propelled, meaning they assist in moving forward. This can be helpful in yards with steep inclines, or a lot of rolling smaller hills, or simply to make the job a little easier. While usually gas operated, these mowers come in battery and electric versions as well.

Riding mowers are a big step up in size and power. Their horse power goes from 11.5 to 13, and they have a significantly larger cutting path of 28 to 36 inches. With this amount of power and wide swath, they are well-suited to yards that are more than half an acre. It has the added benefit of being entertaining to operate. The kids who previously disappeared at lawn mowing time will begin volunteering for the job.

The next size up, the lawn tractor, is very similar to the riding mower, but is a class bigger. Again, the horse power jumps up, this time to 18 to 24, depending on the machine. It is suitable for one to three acres with its cutting path of up to 46 inches. They cost more than riding mowers, but have the advantages of being able to take attachments like spreaders or carts, and are more stable.

Garden tractors are more commonly used by commercial lawn and landscaping companies. They are the largest mower with the highest horse power and widest cutting path. They can be equipped with tools such as professional tillers, plows or even snow blowers for winter use. Professional landscapers often rely on these machines.

Although there seem to be a lot of options, they can be sorted if the person simply considers their budget and their lawn’s arrangement and size. There is a right mower for any lawn.

Kevin Young owns a best lawn mower blog. He enjoys gardening and writing blogs. He has few recommendations for the best cheap lawn mower in his lawn mower reviews blog.