Gas, electric or push: A look at lawnmower options

And after decades of making lawnmowers bigger, more powerful and easier to push, manufacturers now are touting self-powered mowers and electric models just big enough to get the job done.

Why? Many customers want to cut the grass without cutting a bigger hole in the ozone layer.

"There's a little bit more work involved," said Lou Manfredini, Ace Hardware's Chicago-based spokesman. "People who are more environmentally conscious understand that it takes a little bit more work."

To satisfy green customers, companies have made changes to electric mowers, such as improving the engines and developing battery-operated equipment. The manufacturers of gas-powered mowers also have addressed concerns by creating engines that run cleaner.

"The green initiative is more evident and more pronounced in a lot of products," said Joe Newland, group product manager for Black & Decker in Towson, Md.

With the current economic downturn, Peter Sawchuk, lawnmower expert for "Consumer Reports" magazine, expects more homeowners will be in the market for a mower this spring. The industry saw an uptick in sales in the fall, which many attributed to homeowners cutting their lawn care service to save money.

Here's how some experts rated the pros and cons of various styles of mowers:

Push reel mowers:

History: This non-motorized mower is the original lawn cutter. It cuts the grass by pulling it up and snipping off the top.