A new generation of electric lawnmowers constitutes perhaps the greatest innovation in lawn care since the invention of the lawnmower itself. That’s a Black & Decker one above.

AP

Mowing the lawn no longer has to begin with a nervous tug on a starter cord, or the smell of gasoline and oil.

This happy state of affairs is the result of a new generation of electric lawnmowers, perhaps the greatest innovation in lawn care since the invention of the lawnmower itself.

These new mowers are not like the electric lawnmowers that have been around since the early 1950s. Those had long electrical cords just threatening to be cut and tethering the machines to electrical outlets. Today’s high performance, cordless electric mowers are powered by rechargeable batteries.

Easy starting — by merely flipping a switch or lever — is just one of the advantages of these gardener’s friends. Electric mowers also are much quieter than their gasoline guzzling counterparts, so you can mow early on weekend mornings without bothering your neighbors.

Less noise isn’t the only environmental benefit of cordless electric mowers. Keeping 30 million collective acres of lawn from coast to coast trim and neat each year currently consumes more than 500 million gallons of gasoline. One hour behind a gasoline powered mower spews the same amount of pollution into the air as your car does on a 350 mile drive.

Of course, some sort of fuel is needed to create the electricity for even these lawnmowers, but that fuel is, one hopes, less polluting.

Although you have to reach deeper into your pocket to pay for one of these mowers than for an equivalent gasoline-powered one, weigh this increased cost against never needing to pay for tuneups, gasoline or oil. Electricity for these mowers costs just a few dollars per year.

Consider, before buying a cordless electric mower, where it puts the cut grass and where you’d like it to go. Some mowers drop the grass in place, others spew it into a side or back-mounted bag, and still others do either. When set up to drop clippings in place, these mowers, like most other modern mowers, function as a mulcher, thoroughly chewing up the clippings before spreading them evenly. The clippings quickly decompose, enriching the soil without contributing to thatch buildup.

Other features to consider are cutting width and horsepower equivalent. These two features are related, with the more powerful mowers being able to cut wider swaths. More horsepower costs more but gets the job done more quickly. Some cordless electric mowers are self-propelled. Also check out how easy it is to raise or lower the mower deck.

Different battery technologies are used by different manufacturers. You might want to glance through the owner’s manual or inquire about battery needs before purchasing one of these lawnmowers. Some require that the lawnmower, or at least the battery, be stored at a frost-free location in winter. Some mowers must be constantly charged when not in use, except in winter in the case of some models.

A question that immediately comes to most people’s minds about cordless mowers is: How long can you mow before having to recharge? Generally, these mowers run for 45 to 90 minutes on a charge — long enough to cut one-half to one acre.

But these mowers are so easy to start after stopping, who cares? You mow a little, take a break, then restart with confidence by merely flipping a switch or lever.