Choosing lawn and garden equipment

Match the mower to your yard

Small, flat yards are well served by battery or corded electric mowers, which are quieter and need little maintenance.

Larger lots, thick grass or slopes may call for a gas or higher-voltage battery mower with self-propel. Very large properties may justify a riding mower.

Battery, gas or corded

Battery equipment starts easily and needs no fuel or oil changes. As with power tools, sticking to one battery platform across your mower, trimmer and blower saves money.

Gas equipment runs longer and handles heavy work, but needs fuel, oil and seasonal maintenance.

The rest of the kit

A string trimmer handles edges. A leaf blower speeds up cleanup. A hedge trimmer helps if you have shrubs.

For gardening, good hand tools, a hose with a quality nozzle and raised beds or planters often matter more than anything powered.

Quick checklist

• Is it sized for your yard?
• Does it share batteries with equipment you already own?
• Can you store it easily?
• If used, has it been maintained, and does it start reliably?

Compare top picks

• Best cordless lawn mowers for small and medium yards