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Author Message   Bob K Supporter Username: Bobk Post Number: 10879 Registered: 5-2001 Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 2:28 pm:        Now the kiddies are out of the house and my weekends are no longer a continuing saga of soccer, lacrosse, baseball and softball games, I have decided to go back to doing my own lawn work and am looking for a lawn mower. Basically, we have around a quarter acre and I want a mower that is self-propelled. What is the difference between front wheel and rear wheel drive? Is it worth it to buy a Honda or at least a mower with a Honda engine? Do mulching mowers really work? Thanks for the help. And, for the neighbors, I promise I wouldn't be mowing before 8:00am.   Cynicalgirl Citizen Username: Cynicalgirl Post Number: 2428 Registered: 9-2003 Posted on Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 2:48 pm:        Our old yard in Delaware was 1/3 acre and we used self-propelled. I do not know which sort of drive it was, but it was a mulching mower with optional bag. Toro as I recall. Anyway, I learned two things from Cooperative Extension about mulching mowers: 1. keep the blade sharpened; depending on how nice v weedy your grass, any blade will go fast; 2. during prime growing (May, June, early July down there) don't be surprised if you need to mow twice a week. If you slack off, you'll have a fair amount of dead grass laying on top, which will just kill what's under (and look ugly). Also, mow when the grass is dry, dry, dry -- both to keep the roots from being pulled up and so that the mulching action doesn't get glommed up with wet grass clumping together. I don't know exact inch recommendations, but I don't think mulching mowers work optimally if you're looking to cut off 4" of grass. If ours got too long, we'd put the bag on to avoid the clumpy grass business. We were largely happy with it. I think a lot of the effectiveness lies with keeping the blade sharp and mowing at the right time of day/number of days more than the mower brand. We had the one in question for 10 years, and got it tuned up every Spring at the University. Worked on leaves, too.   Pdg Citizen Username: Pdg Post Number: 594 Registered: 5-2004 Posted on Monday, March 6, 2006 - 12:44 am:        Get a Toro - I researched this purchase to death last summer and hands down recommend Toro. P&P Lawnmower in Maplewood, sells and services them. They have terrific door to door service!