Cuts that cost a lot of green
Whether your yard is 5 acres or the more typical fifth of an acre, there's a luxury machine to manicure your lawn. USA TODAY looks at a few of the coolest mowers on the market.
The Robomow is like the outdoor cousin of the Roomba vacuum cleaner and requires no supervision.
Lone ranger
It mows and you can go. The RobomowRL1000 by Friendly Robotics ($1999.99 on sale) is a great choice for vacation homes as well as those who are time deprived. Just place a perimeter wire around the yard and program the mower to trim your grass on a set day throughout the season. You don't even have to be there to supervise: The mower departs and returns to its docking station automatically. Skeptical? Don't be, says Ames Tiedeman, vice president of sales and marketing at Systems Trading Corp., the mower's North American distributor. "The return rate is almost nil." To buy: www.envi-ro-botics.com for information, and to buy.
Inhale this
Cut grass quietly and be environmentally friendly. That's the idea behind the E-Plex by Jacobsen, a battery-powered mower that's free of noxious emissions. The all-electric drive also eliminates many maintenance problems, says Bud Muser, a sales representative for Kilpatrick Turf Equipment Inc. in Duluth, Ga. It's a homeowner's dream, but because of its bank-breaking price ($22,000), it's typically reserved for the largest lawns, such as golf courses. To buy: jacobsengolf.com.
Leverage
Instead of a steering wheel, the ZD Zero Turn mowers from Kubota ($11,280-$13,180) are equipped with two levers, which allow for excellent precision because you move the front and back wheels separately. A cup holder and arm rests make for more relaxed driving. "I had a fellow buy one of these so he could cut his grass real quick and spend more time playing golf," says Tim Chupp, salesman at Lashley Tractor Sales in Lithonia, Ga. To buy: kubota.com.
Mulch obliged
If tractors and robots are too extreme for your smaller yard, try a simple walk-behind mower from the Honda HRX series ($639-$854). To buy: hondapowerequipment.com.
