Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
cnbc.com
June 21, 2008

http://www.cnbc.com/id/25279086

http://media.cnbc.com/j/CNBC/Section...r.standard.jpg[
When Eric King moved from his apartment in Pittsburgh to a single-family home with a lawn, he bought a manual lawn mower instead of the usual gas-powered kind. He figures he's putting money in his pocket and saving trips to the filling station.

He's got plenty of company. Sales of manual -- or push reel -- mowers with the cartwheeling blades are on the rise this year. Officials attribute the surge to increased environmental concerns because of emissions from gas-powered mowers, the faltering economy that makes the generally less expensive push reels more attractive, and $4-a-gallon gasoline.

"With the way gas prices are going through the roof and are going to stay there or increase even further, that was the main reason I considered one," said King, 29. "I don't consider myself an environmentalist; I consider myself an economist."

American Lawn Mower, a Shelbyville, Ind., manufacturer of manual and electric lawnmowers, says sales are up 60 percent to 70 percent over last year..............

http://www.cnbc.com/id/25279086

"It's unbelievable," said Teri McClain, inside sales administrator. "I think gas prices are playing a part in this

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

no thanks.. I'd rather go out to eat one less time per month and still have money left over after gassing the mower... or get rid of those useless "text message" plans on cell phones, and other assorted things that people 10 years ago did without just fine.

To each their own!

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

What is old is new again.


Amazing what happens when the squeeze is on.

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

American Lawn Mower, a Shelbyville, Ind., manufacturer of manual and electric lawnmowers, says sales are up 60 percent to 70 percent over last year.............


Dam........ maybe someone should by the stock:D


T

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

I only have to buy 5 gallons of gas a year for my gas mower(I only have a quarter acre). A small price to pay compared to how much of a struggle I'm told it is to use a manual mower. Now upgrading to a more fuel efficient car..that's going to happen as soon as i have a down payment

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

Keep them sharp and the grass better not be too tall or forget even using one.

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

less noise,stink. healthy exercise. friend gave us one this spring, oiled it up, filed and adjusted the blades, works just fine.

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

Trim with a machete first, then use the push mower weekly to maintain so it doesn't get that tall again.

Even better would be to dig up the lawn and plant vegetables.

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

Actually they are great, and I find they are much easier to use. Though Victor is correct you can't let the grass get too high otherwise you will have trouble. Easier to push than a regular push mower with engine. No gas, no engine troubles, easy to swing around. Blades are easy to sharpen, much easier than a mower with an engine. Better for the grass (one reason golf courses use them). They don't deal well with alot of sticks though.

I also wouldn't mow large acreage with one though...

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

I'm all for the pushies.
But for the guy in the photo, stop bagging the clippings and leave them lie, you'll save a lot more by letting the grass feed itself and avoiding all the cost of all the fertilizer poisons that the average lawnowner uses, than the $10 a year you're saving in gas. At least compost it.

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

Anyone have luck on St. Augustine? People I know said fuggetabatit.

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

Of course, there is the old school combo lawn mower and self fertilizing model.
http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:...oat/goat_1.jpg

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

I'm amused by the suburban grass-farmers.
They pay good money to apply water, fertilizer, pesticides and fungicides to their acre of grass, then cut it, bag it and throw it into the landfill.

And why?
... because their neighbors do! :D

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

Damn...You beat me to it + when TSHTF you can eat it!

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

I don't. I either let it go back to the lawn or put it in the worm bins. And from the worms to the veggie beds.

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

Very hard to cut St Augustine grass with manuals and electric mowers. Got a Neuton Electric mower and I can't use it unless the grass is only 3 inches or shorter. It overheats and stops. I'm keeping my 7hp self propelled power mower.

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

No--because I have too many weeds right now. Once that gets cleared up then I mulch.

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

Yeah, now you're talking :)

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

WHy not let mother nature run her course and self-seed one year?
Just mow "paths" to get around, ha ha ha, annoy your neighbors, give the bugs a habitat, get a ticket for having your grass too long...have fun.

Just joking, we can get away with it, surburanites can not.

Re: Manual Push Mower Makes Comeback As Gas Prices Rise
 

No plans for a manual over diesel or gas mowing, but I'm mowing much less than past years. Not just less often but also less area. Actually I bag some of my clippings for garden mulch and to entertain the chickens. Some of my chickens are in a chicken tractor which I move a couple times a day. Great little lawn mowers.