Spring Lawn Care Tune-up

With spring in the air, it’s time to think about backyard lawn care. Here’s our picks of trimmers and mowers that are a cut above the rest.

Black & Decker Grass Hog Trimmer/Edger
String trimmers, commonly known as weed whackers, have been around a long time. What makes the $55 Black & Decker Trimmer so good, is it’s automatic string feeder. No more “bumping” the bottom to drag out more string. It automatically keeps a perfect amount spinning in its Groom ‘N’ Edge cutting radius to cut a 14-inch swath in difficult to reach areas. If your trimming needs to be precise, the flip-down edge guide gives you a perfect cut every time. There are many string trimmers on the market, so when choosing one make sure they have the safety features and ergonomics that are right for you. www.blackanddecker.com

Craftsman EZ-Walk Lawn Mower
The Sears Craftsman EZ-Walk is perhaps the safest push mower. The EZ-Walk feature lets the user walk at his or her own pace. Most power-propelled lawn mowers move at 2.6 mph. The EZ Walk’s trigger handle adjusts speeds from 0 to 3.24 mph. Whether it’s a teenager mowing or a senior citizen, each operator can mow the grass at his or her speed. Also features Honda’s 5.5 hp engine (America's quietest and lightest), a Blade brake clutch, Single-point wheel height adjustment, a 21-in. deck and mulches, bags or discharges grass clippings. Available only at Sears (model #37779). $599.99 www.craftsman.com

John Deere L110 Riding Mower
If you have a large lawn to cut or just want to graduate to a riding mower, think of the John Deere L110 as the Rolls-Royce of lawn mowers.

Tall grass doesn’t stand a chance with it’s Edge cutting system which easily converts to mulch or bagging mode. And with a tight 18-inch turning radius and reverse cutting, no patch of grass will be left uncut.

But the biggest joy of working in the yard on the John Deere is comfort. No job is too big. At a top speed of 5.8 miles per hour, you can cover a lot of ground in a short time without the usual fatigue. If your cutting area requires a riding mower, check out the L110. It’s priced at $1799 and from where I sit, it’s built to last. www.johndeere.com

When you’ve got a great lawn mower and a great set of garden tools, a half hour of work actually becomes a half hour of pleasure.