Scotts lawn mowers are the top selling brand of push lawn mower. They are versatile enough to handle all types of grass: long, short, course and fine. They are surprisingly easy to push and will race through longer grass than most other reel push mowers. New owners are consistently amazed at how little effort is required to use them. In most cases it's easier to push a Scotts lawn mower through tall grass than to guide a self propelled lawn mower. They are a fraction of the weight and while rotary mowers will often choke up and stall on encountering tall grass, Scotts mowers just glide on through.
Apart from ease of use the popularity of Scotts reel lawn mowers can be put down to:
Great looking healthy lawns.
Hardly any lawn mower maintenance required.
No running costs for service, gas or parts
No noise or air pollution.
Excellent value for money.
Scotts lawn mowers are manufactured by the American Lawnmower Company. The two most popular models are the Scotts Classic and the Elite. While similar in most respects there are some significant differences.
The flagship of the range is the Scotts Classic Reel Mower. It has a twenty inch wide cutting reel that is wider than nearly all other reel type lawn mowers. Cutting heights can be adjusted between one and three inches. The unit weights approximately thirty pounds, which makes it easy to handle, but heavy enough to handle bumpy terrain.
The Classic has a second pair of small wheels. While appearing a little odd, they increase maneuverability and stability when chomping through tall stands of grass.
For anyone with a quarter acre or more of grass the Scotts Classic is the way to go. It may take up to twenty five percent longer than using a self propelled mower, but the result will be far better in every way.
Scotts Elite Push Reel Mower
The Scoots Elite is a lighter lawn mower with a sixteen inch cutting reel. The height of the cut can be switched through three settings ranging from half an inch to two and a half inches.
The smaller cutting swathe makes the Elite more suitable for use on small lawns. It's easier to navigate around shrubs, trees, pots and other obstacles. The smaller cutting width also means that pushers encounter some twenty percent less resistance. It's probably a better choice for those with reservations about their strength.
Lawn Mower Comparison
Scotts lawn mowers are more suitable for tackling the types of grass grown in the U.S. than imported European mowers. Blue grass, perennial fescue, St Augustine ... shouldn't be cut any shorter than two inches if deep healthy root systems are to develop. Scotts mowers can be set to cut grass at heights of two inches and greater. Lawns in the U.S. also tend to be larger than those found in Europe, which is no doubt a key reason why the Scotts Classic Reel Mower with it's twenty inch cutting width is the most popular model.
Other features that enable a Scotts lawn mower to make light work of a five to six inch high lawn include: sturdy 10 inch wheels, heat treated steel blades and enough weight to stay in contact with the ground.
It's easy to adjust the cutting height on a Scotts mower via a quick snap adjustment. No tools required. They are ideal for home owners with a mix of grass types. The one mower can be used to manicure a delicate lawn or bring a lush paddock under control. Such versatility explains why Scotts lawnmower reviews are consistently positive.
On taking delivery of your Scotts lawn mower the only thing that needs to be done is to attach the handles, adjust the cutting height and start mowing. The handles arrive in several pieces. It takes no more than 5-15 minutes to assemble and connect them. Everything else is pre-adjusted and ready to fly.
Over time it will be necessary to make adjustments in how the reel turns so that it cuts cleanly along it's full length.There are several screws on the side of the mower that control the distance between the blades and cutter bar or swathe knife. It's not difficult, but you will need to follow the instructions in the manual so don't misplace it. It's worthwhile becoming familiar with how to make these adjustments as they are more likely to correct any loss in cutting efficiency than sharpening the blades.
The Cons
All products have their pros and cons and the same goes for Scotts push lawn mowers. Overall they are excellent, but their shortcomings include the following:
The Scotts grass catcher is a dud. It's intended to work with all models in the range, but doesn't actually fit any of them. If you are persistent and handy with tools you may be able to fix the defect with a piece of wire. Alternatively, affirm your green credentials and let the cuttings stay where they drop.
There are several inches between the end of the cutting reel and the outside edge of the wheels. As a consequence Scotts mowers cannot cut-in close to the edge of garden beds, trees, bushes ... To tidy up these areas you will also need a grass trimmer.
In common with most reel push mowers, Scotts lawn mowers will jam up on encountering sticks and twigs. The answer is to rake them up before you start mowing.
Summary
Scotts Classic and Elite push reel mowers are the benchmark. In their niche they have topped the lawn mower ratings for years. They are solid, versatile and reliable. Furthermore, Scotts lawn mowers are not only good for the environment, but also overcome the stresses inflicted by polluting mowers on homeowners and their lawns.
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