Six must-have features on today's cutting-edge lawn mowers

Ask anybody who toiled in the back yard in the '60s, '70s or '80s: Mowing the grass used to be an exercise in frustration. People struggled with equipment limited by the technology of the day. They yanked the starting cord on less-than-reliable engines, trudged through the yard pushing tough-to-maneuver mowers and wrestled with awkward bags of grass clippings.

You can now find innovative outdoor equipment that will make mowing a lot easier than it used to be. Here are six high-tech features to look for when choosing a mower.

• Easy-to-use bag. "For many people, bagging has long been the worst part of the whole mowing process," says Joe Hager, senior engineer at outdoor power equipment manufacturer

Gardening

Lawn-Boy. Lawn-Boy responded to that challenge by developing a bag that can be removed or replaced with just one hand and fits into a convenient cradle on the back of the mower.

• Self-propel system. Mowers with self-propel systems can take much of the strain out of mowing the lawn. Some of the newest models feature an innovative system that automatically senses and intuitively adjusts to the user's walking speed.

• Adjustable handle. If several people will be mowing the lawn, consider a mower that can be easily adjusted to fit a wide variety of operator heights.

• Quick storage. Look for a mower that can be quickly and compactly stowed in a garage or shed. Some models have a lever that folds the handle with a simple step

• Blade control system. If you find yourself stopping and starting your mower's engine to clean up branches or other debris, look for a mower with a blade control system, also known as a blade brake clutch. The system stops the blade when you release the mower's handle, letting you pause to empty the bag, pick up debris or roll across a driveway without having to stop and restart the engine.

• Easy-to-start engine. Today's mowers are much easier to start than their predecessors. Look for a mower with a recoil system with an oversized, padded grip or an electric starter.

With the variety of features available on today's mowers, how do you know which combination of features is right for your particular situation? To help make the decision-making process easier, Lawn-Boy has created an online shopping guide. On www.FindYourMower.com, you can enter information such as who will be doing most of the lawn care and the size and terrain of your yard. The guide then takes that information and helps you select a model that best meets your needs.

More information is available at www.FindYourMower.com or www. Lawn- Boy. com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent