Lawn mower Archives - The Lawn Review

August 8, 2022March 15, 2024

The Best Places to Store Your Lawn Mower (2024)

The best place to store your lawn mower is a garage or shed, but if you don’t have those you can get creative and still keep the mower safe.

You have to have a lawn mower to stay on top of your grass. But there just simply isn’t a good place for it. It won’t fit in your garage – can you leave it outside? Can you put it in a shed? Under a deck? INSIDE?!

Many people are so annoyed by trying to find a solid spot for their mower they just give up and hire a landscaper – losing thousands of dollars per year in the process.

But those of us that have been around a while know a few tricks. Thankfully, technology has changed, too. So let’s break down the best ways to store a lawn mower.

Jump ahead:

Best place to store a lawn mower
Best shed for lawn mowers
Where to store a lawn mower outdoors
Other lawn mower storage ideas

Lawn Mower Storage Ideas

Storing a lawn mower has several nuances. First, we need to examine the type of lawn and be realistic. If you have a massive zero-turn mower, this thing is going to need its own garage space or at the very least a well-protected carport. Many zero-turn mowers can be up to five feet across – and those are just the blades. You won’t find a good outdoor location for this and will want to keep it well protected from the elements. Most sheds won’t do either. Landscapers can get by with keeping them on the backs of trailers during the summer, but these need dedicated indoor space during the winter.

Lawn tractors have similar requirements, but can sometimes be stored between cars in a well-spaced out garage. Many folks with large yards also have a lot of garage space and can make use of it for stashing a 3 foot wide mower.

Push mowers are the trickiest. With smaller yards come fewer places to store things. But let’s see what we can do.

Best Place To Store A Lawn Mower

Hands down, the best place to store a lawn mower is in the garage. The garage offers a decently insulated, dry area for storage. While it’s a total luxury, it hands down will be the best way to keep your mower from rusting, fading, or exposing the plastic parts to extreme temperature volatility that would result in cracks.

Personally, I have mine in the garage in the back corner and pull my truck a few inches away from it each time. It is a tight squeeze, but I make it work to keep the mower protected.

If you don’t have the space for a mower to take up a portion of your garage, think again. There are many mowers these days (battery-powered) that allow for you to fold the mower in half and have it in a much smaller space in your garage.

The fact of the matter is that this will still take up at least 20-24 inches of width, with somewhere between 12-16 inches of length.

If you don’t have the space, then let’s move outdoors.

Sheds are great storage spots for lawn mowers

If you don’t have a garage, your next best location to store a lawn mower is in a shed. If you have one already, great. If not, we can help out. Here’s what to look for in a shed for storing lawn mowers.

Well-insulated
- You want your shed to be able to keep out most of the elements. While it won’t do much to protect against temperature, having one that is waterproof will really help prevent rusting. It’s also important to keep the shed close to your house, in a shaded location. This will allow it to stay somewhat protected from the elements and keep it relatively cool.
Secure
- Get a shed for your lawn mower that locks! Lawn mowers can cost upwards of $1,000 – don’t invite thieves by keeping it wide open for the whole world.
Flush with the ground
- You will have a hard time getting your mower in and out of a shed if you have to lift it or somehow get it over a big lip in the entrance. I say this because you are pushing a machine with a blade. You don’t want the blade getting caught on ANYTHING. Get a shed that is flush to the ground that allows you to easily wheel it in and out.
Something with rack space
- Don’t just get a lawn mower storage shed. Get a shed that you can use with a bunch of things. We recommend getting a storage rack for your other lawn tools to go with it.

So what’s the best shed for lawn mowers?

We found a lawn mower shed that has all the things you’re looking for. I did some annoyingly extensive research on sheds (you’d be surprised) and found one on Amazon that comes at a pretty great price point and has all the things I’ve mentioned.

The Rubbermaid Resin Weather Resistant Outdoor Storage Shed is pretty slick.

It comes in a ton of configurations, but honestly the 5 ft by 2 ft version will work for basically all push mowers. I’d say 95% of push mowers are below 22 inches, so the 2 ft version can easily accommodate them without taking up too much space.

Here’s what we like about it:

Weather resistant
- It’s in the name. Has a pretty dang durable outer surface that provides serious protection but is also thin enough to not be bulky.

Durable
- Not just to weather, but looks really durable and will avoid scratches. The big bad wolf will likely not be able to blow this house down.
Well-designed
- Just about perfectly flush with the ground allowing you to roll the mower right in. Is not an eyesore in the backyard, either, with a decent design. It also has a nice spot for a lock, so keep the thieves at bay.
Many functions
- Has a lot of different attachments you can add into the inside for whatever you want stored.

All-in-all, we think it is the best outdoor shed for lawn mowers. You can grab it on Amazon right now for a really good price – it looks like it stays on sale.

Best Place to Store Mower Outdoors

Okay – you don’t have a garage and a shed is out of the question right now – what do you do?

You still have options. Depending on where you live, you might be able to get away with outdoor storage as a temporary solution.

If you have to store your lawn mower outdoors, consider these things:

Try to keep it dry
- Keep your lawn mower dry at all costs. Not only can you avoid rust, but also avoid water building up in places that it shouldn’t be.
- Tuck it close to your house, underneath your deck, on top of a patio, whatever – but make sure to keep it dry.
- Additionally (or alternatively), throw a tarp over that sucker. Obviously it doesn’t have to be big, but something to keep it from getting directly drenched will help.
Try to keep it shaded
- Heat can do silly things to equipment – causing plastic parts to expand, the color to deteriorate, and overall wear down your mower.
- You can use the same methods of keeping it dry to keep it shaded.
Keep it in a non-grassy area
- Sounds counterintuitive since the mower is used to being in the grass, but giving the blades some breathing room can help keep the blades sharpened and also prevent rusting.
- Move it onto a gravel or mulch section where something is not making constant contact with the blades.

Those are our tips. Good luck, Godspeed, and save up for a shed, please. Don’t have the money? Start mowing some lawns for money.

Alternative Storage Ideas for Lawn Mowers

Still looking? Seriously?

Okay, we’ve got some outside of the box and new ways to store lawn mowers that don’t involve garages, sheds, or the great outdoors.

We are talking about the great indoors.

Yep.

A lot of these electric mowers nowadays can fold in half like a dang lawn chair and weigh under 50 lbs.

No, you may not want to store it inside all the time, but during the winter – definitely.

The Toro Lawn Mower stores upright like this and doesn’t have gas that can leak.

Here’s how:

Give it a nice and complete spray down. Not only do you want to get rid of any bugs, but you want to get all the caked on grass completely off of the blades of the mower.
Hand dry the blades quickly after to prevent rusting (be careful).
Fold it in half.
Bring it inside for the winter.

Did we just blow your mind?

You can check out our electric mower guide here for some recommendations.

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

May 25, 2022April 2, 2024

EGO 56V vs Ryobi 40V Mower: Which Is Better?

The EGO 56V vs Ryobi 40V electric lawn mower is the clash of the titans. Two of the most popular mowers on the planet – head-to-head. I like the EGO 56V mower better than the Ryobi 40V mower because it is

In one corner, the stocky, sturdy, heavy-hitting Mike Tyson of mowers – the EGO 56V SelectCut Self-propelled mower.

In the other corner, floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee, the Muhammad Ali of mowers – the Ryobi 40V self-propelled lawn mower.

This battle is a true fight to the finish.

Let’s break down the winner below.

Comparisons:

Battery Life comparison on the Ryobi and EGO mower
Storability comparison
Using the EGO and Ryobi mowers
Comparing the costs on the EGO and Ryobi mowers
Overall Winner

Also – check out the comparison of Ryobi’s 40V HP to Milwaukee’s M18 mower for a premium mower comparison.

EGO 56V vs Ryobi 40V mower: Comparison of benefits

Two of the hottest mowers on the market square off today. Let’s check out how these differ so that you can make an informed decision before ponying up some cash.

For a full breakdown of EGO’s mowers, check our our post highlighting all the different EGO Select Cut and Select Cut XP features.

Battery Life: EGO 56V vs Ryobi 40V mowers

So much to talk about when it comes to battery life. First, if you haven’t already, you should check out our battery guide for commonly asked questions among the biggest lawn tool battery brands.

But today we are here to talk about the EGO 56V vs Ryobi 40V mower batteries. In its simplest form, the EGO 56V *ON AVERAGE* has about 15 minutes more battery life than the Ryobi 40V mower. 60 minutes on the EGO 56V whereas the Ryobi 40V runs for about 45 minutes (in case you couldn’t do math).

There are major factors here that influence battery life in mowers. The first is the density of the grass – obviously more density of grass is going to require more output and a slower pace. The next major factor is blade height – same issue as grass density.

The last major consideration is the self propelled function. We felt that the self-propelled function on the EGO 56V was STRONGER than the Ryobi 40V. And the battery lasts longer.

The winner of this category: the EGO 56V mower.

Storability of EGO compared to Ryobi mowers

I know you’re already sick of me saying this but the Ryobi 40V and EGO 56V mower store folded in half in basically a completely identical way.

So it’s a tie, right?

WRONG!

The EGO mower has a simple snap that you lift, telescope the poles inward, then fold over. The Ryobi 40V has a few other points that you have to tinker with before folding in half.

This is one of those things you just can’t do with a gas mower. You try folding it in half and you will end up with oil all over the engine and the floor of your garage. Another huge benefit to both of these mowers.

But the winner of this category? The EGO 56V mower.

Mowing Experience: EGO 56V vs Ryobi 40V mowers

This is a really dense topic, so let’s break it into chunks.

Mower Deck comparison

The first thing I looked at with both of these mowers was the deck. First eye test for me is whether or not one was metal. Nope, both are plastic.

Second eye test was width. The Ryobi comes in at 20 inches whereas the EGO 56V mower is 21 inches. Advantage: EGO (unless you have a smaller yard).

The last deck portion I looked at was the height adjustment. They are the exact same on both mowers.

Maneuverability

The second thing I looked at with both of these mowers was maneuverability. Maneuverability is huge and this one was pretty clear.

The Ryobi 40V mower is extremely lightweight. It is so easy to maneuver around corners because you can lift it and reset it without trouble. The EGO mower, however, is a lot heavier and bulkier, making it more difficult to maneuver.

Self-propelled function

Next, the self-propelled functions were brought under the microscope with these mowers. The EGO 56V mower’s self-propelled function is like a Ferrari. It lurches you forward and does way more of the work than the Ryobi. The Ryobi’s self-propelled function was a bit delayed and slightly weaker.

Sound

The EGO is WAY louder than the Ryobi. About all we have to say about that.

Overall experience

This is a tough one. On one hand, you have a super lightweight mower that is quiet and easy to maneuver with the Ryobi 40V mower. On the other, you have a heavier, sturdier mower that has a beast of a self-propelled function but is louder.

Both have tradeoffs and can be great in their own ways. It’s a tie!

Cost and value: EGO 56V vs Ryobi 40V mowers

The EGO 56V select cut series is generally $30-$50 more than the Ryobi 40V mower across, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Amazon.

Overall Impression: EGO vs Ryobi Electric Mowers

This one is tough! They are similar in performance and have a ton of the same features.

The EGO 56V mower is sturdier, feels powerful, and has a killer self-propelled function. The Ryobi 40V is a little lighter, more “plastic-y”, and slightly less expensive.

If we had to pick one, we would have to give a slight edge to the EGO 56V mower, but it’s totally our preference.

You can grab the EGO 56V mower on Amazon for a great price, including a tool-only version that’s significantly cheaper.

Similarly, the Ryobi 40V mower is available from Home Depot for a great price.

If you’re looking for something more affordable, check out the budget-friendly lawn mowers (they’re really cheap).

If you’d like to see how EGO compares to Kobalt mowers, you can read more here.

Why we review lawn tools

What to look for in an electric lawn mower

When looking to purchase an electric lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:

Brand quality

Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.

Metal where it matters.

Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.

Battery interoperability.

A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.

Self-propelled or not

I actually don’t like the self-propelled feature as much as others.. It doesn’t help you that much and it can drain the battery some. Older people and those with hills seem to love them, though.

We’ve done a full review of the Ryobi 40V mower (the sweet classic version before they got expensive) and also listed out some really nice Ryobi mowers – where we ranked this one number one.

March 23, 2022April 2, 2024

5 Best Makita Lawn Mowers: Researched & Ranked

Makita electric mowers are bursting onto the scene. Makita, a trusted power tool manufacturer, has decided to bring its quality into the lawn tool space.

It’s about time.

You may have seen these mowers plastered all over your Home Depot or Lowe’s. They are here to compete.

Let’s check out the best electric Makita mowers on the market + our favorite.

**SPOILER**

Best electric Makita mower for small yards: Makita XML05Z lawn mower

Best electric Makita mower all-around: Makita XML03Z 36V cordless lawn mower

The Best Makita Electric Mowers

Makita has a handful of mowers that use 18V batteries either by themselves or two at a time, making it a 36V. Some even take 4 18V batteries, making the math too difficult for me to even say.

Makita XML03CM1 and XML03Z 36V cordless lawn mower

The Makita XML03CM1 and XML03Z are two of the same mowers. The difference between the XML03CM1 and XML03Z is that the CM1 comes with four batteries, whereas the XML03Z comes without batteries (for people that already have them).

The features on this Makita electric mower

The Makita XML03 series are 18 inch lawn mowers powered by two 18V batteries, making it a 36V mower.

It has a steel alloy cutting deck surrounding the blades. This mower can cut over ⅓ of an acre in 43 minutes.

The XML03 boasts a brushless motor that spins the blades at 3,300 rotations per minute. Brushless motors are great because they are durable, long-lasting, and quiet.

These mowers also come with a “quiet mode” that allows for a reduced rotations per minute (2,500) that outputs less noise.

The benefits of this Makita electric mower

A lot to like in this Makita lawn mower. Let’s start with the 18 inch steel deck. 18 inches is perfect for small to medium sized yards (no larger than ⅓ acre). The steel metal deck is a huge plus as compared to other electric mowers. Most have a plastic deck, leaving it vulnerable to cracks and chips. Metal decks prevent this.

I also like the brushless motor that will be a much longer-lasting, quieter, and durable motor than non-brushless. The quiet mode is a nice perk as well, which your neighbors will enjoy.

Potential downsides

These Makita mowers are great for most homeowners, but if you have a very large yard (> 1 acre), this might not be enough mower for you.

Otherwise this mower has all the goods!

How to buy

One of the best places to frequently check the price and compare features is also the most obvious – Amazon. Click here to go directly to these Makita mowers to see if they are still on sale.

Makita XML05Z 36V and XML05PT1 36V electric mowers

The Makita XML05Z and XML05PT1 mowers are 36V mowers that are a bargain. Reminiscent of both Greenworks and Ryobi mowers in design, let’s see how they stack up in comparison.

The features

The XML05 series comes with a 18 inch deck with a compact shape (instead of round). This deck is made of plastic and has a 17 inch cutting width.

The motor here spins the blades at about 3,600 rotations per minute. The mower itself is coated in something called XPT, which is a proprietary protective seal that wards off any debris from getting inside the mechanical components of the motor.

The benefits

The Makita XML05 series is definitely built for smaller yards. Looking at the size of the deck plus the compact design, this is really made for small yards and will do great around a lot of obstacles like garden beds.

Another thing I like about this mower is the price. This one is definitely on the affordable side of the spectrum for Makita products. You can get the quality and brand reputation of Makita without having to get bells and whistles that you won’t use.

Potential downsides

This mower is not going to do as well with medium to large sized yards. Typically, larger yards will require a 21 inch deck or larger.

Another thing I don’t love about this deck is the plastic material. These are prone to cracks, breaks, and degradation – meaning it might not last as long as you would like.

The last potential downside I will call out is the lack of a brushless motor. Again, this is something that signifies a shorter lifespan in electric mowers.

How to buy

The Makita XML05 series is available on Amazon – you can grab the tool-only version for the lowest possible price by following this link.

Makita XML10CT1 36V electric mower kit

The XML10CT1 36V Lawn Mower Kit is a supercharged version of the XML05. Let me break down some of the unique benefits to this electric upgrade.

The features

With a 21 inch cutting deck that still manages to be compact, this is definitely on the larger end of the spectrum for ANY electric mower.

The XML10CT1 can run for about 50 minutes on a single charge and is made of lightweight material. It also comes with a 2 bushel capacity grass collector that can be strapped on to the back.

This Makita mower also has the added feature of being able to fold in half.

The benefits

The XML10CT1 means business. At 21 inches wide, this mower can fit just about any normal residential yard.

I really love that this mower can fold in half as well. My gas mower does not, so it takes up a ton of room in our garage and I’m always worried I am going to hit it with my truck.

Reminds me a lot of some Greenworks mowers.

This mower also takes regular Makita 18V batteries, meaning you can repurpose the 18V batteries on any of your other Makita tools to run it.

Potential downsides

Similarly to the XML05 series, the XML10CT1 comes with a plastic deck. This allows for it to be lightweight, but also opens up the opportunity for cracking, degradation, etc..

While this is a relatively large mower, it comes in at a whopping 82 lbs. It is definitely as lightweight as humanly possible, but it still is going to feel like a mower.

How to buy

If you are wanting to upgrade your existing gas mower to an electric mower, it’s hard to beat the quality of Makita. This one is definitely able to replace a gas push mower of any size and can be found on Amazon – with the 4 batteries and a charger – for a darn good deal. Click here to go directly to the sale.

Our recommendation: Best Makita Mower

After reviewing each series of these Makita mowers, we have to recommend the XML03 series, including the XML03CM1 and XML03Z mowers.

We picked these because of the brushless motor, the steel decking, and the two battery requirements (versus four).

The XML03 series will be the longest lasting, highest quality Makita mowers you can get.

Find yours today on Amazon for a great price.

Why we review lawn tools

Makita is making lawn equipment?

Yep, Makita has been around since 1915 and started making power tools back in 1958. They are best known for their pneumatic tools, their drills, and other construction site tools.

They’ve always had great corded and cordless tools, so I am honestly surprised it has taken them this long to make a push into the cordless lawn tool space.

But not that they’re here, they aren’t going anywhere. With competitors pouring into the space like Dewalt and Milwaukee, it only makes sense to take what they do best (battery powered tools) and put them in mowers, blowers, and more.

Check out our other Makita reviews by following this link to check out some of our top Makita blowers breakdown or this one to our best Makita weed eater comparison.

But why is Makita making lawn equipment NOW?

Good question. One thing I can tell you is that it is currently March of 2022 and Makita has a relatively small presence and market share in the lawn tool space.

Please bookmark this page and see where they are in 2023. We have it on good authority that they are making a massive push into this space.

So – sit back and watch them take over.

What to look for in an electric lawn mower

Brand quality
- Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
Metal where it matters.
- Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
Battery interoperability.
- A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. Ryobi has this, so does Dewalt, and so do some of the Greenworks products. This will save you garage clutter and plug space.
Self-propelled or not.
- I actually don’t like the self-propelled feature. It doesn’t help you that much and it drains battery – I would pass here. This is a marketing gimmick in my opinion.

You can read more about what I recommend you looking for in an electric mower here.