Gardener: Eco-friendly reel mowers

In our quest for the perfect lawn, we all too often leave a less-than-perfect environment. Small engines are big polluters. The millions of gas-powered rotary lawn mowers are responsible for spewing carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, nitrous oxides and particulates into the atmosphere. One gas mower emits as much pollution in one hour as a late-model car being driven 350 miles, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Filling gas-powered mowers can be a messy chore, too. The EPA estimates that Americans each year spill about 17 million gallons of gas while refueling mowers, weed whackers and other power tools for the yard. With a reel mower, you eliminate the hazards of storing and handling gas and oil that gas-powered mowers require.

In light of these concerns, the renaissance of the reel mower (the kind you push and doesn't have a motor -- think grandparents) is the greenest, most eco-friendly lawn mower because it runs on the best form of energy: human power. Being the first on your block to go "retro" with a manual reel mower -- complete with some 21st-century improvements in design and functionality -- makes sense once you know a few facts.

Besides helping to reduce pollution, reel mowers are much quieter than noisy gas-powered engines. Reel mowers are generally less expensive, too. In addition, they require little maintenance and are easy to carry and store.

And unlike gas mowers, they always start!

While reel mowers have been around for a long time, the latest models sport lighter-weight designs that are easier to push and more maneuverable. When purchasing a reel mower, keep a few things in mind:

The type of mower you buy depends on the variety and amount of grass. While most reel mowers have a five-blade design, there are exceptions. A seven-blade mower, for example, is suited to low-growing, creeping grasses such as warm-season Bermuda and zoysia grass.

Reel mowers are available in various widths, ranging from about 20 inches down to 13 inches. The smaller width is ideally suited to tight spaces. Most designs allow you to adjust the mowing height from about half an inch to between 2 and 3 inches.

But no matter what equipment you use to mow your lawn, taking more than one-third of the grass blade and mowing with a dull blade will tear and stress the grass, creating additional problems. Don't purchase a model if it doesn't allow you to mow your lawn at the proper height. The newest designs allow for blade settings between 1 and 4 inches --ideal for taller-growing, cool-season grasses.

Except for periodic sharpening, reel mowers require very little maintenance. Like any other tool, if you take care of it properly, it will last a long time. You don't have to worry about tune-ups or oil changes. Just make sure to clean the blades, wash off excess grass clippings and keep the mower in a dry place to prevent rusting.

Make sure to do your homework before you shop, and ask questions. Various Web sites are full of information. They include: www.peoplepoweredmachines.com, www.fiskars.com, http://reelmowerreviews.com and www.cleanairgardening.com.

And if you have the chance to kick the tires before you buy, all the better. You'll find vast differences in handle design and height adjustment as well as overall feel. It's like a new pair of shoes: If it's not a good fit, keep looking.

As good as they sound, however, reel mowers are not for every lawn. They are best suited for smaller yards, level terrain or long, straight runs. But if you do get a reel mower, enjoy the exercise, fresh air and the satisfaction of knowing you're part of the solution.

(Joe Lamp'l, host of "GardenSMART" on PBS, is a Master Gardener and author. For more information visit www.joegardener.com. For more stories, visit scrippsnews.com.)