Gas push mower Craftsman 38905 *Est. $225
Budget self-propelled lawn mower Toro Recycler 20333 *Est. $400
Best luxury lawn mower Honda HRX217K2HMA *Est. $900
Electric lawn mower Black & Decker MM875 *Est. $250
Cordless lawn mower Black & Decker CMM1200 *Est. $400
Manual reel mower Scotts Green Classic 2000-20 *Est. $140

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Scotts Green Classic 2000-20

*Est. $140

Manual reel mower

Easy cutting-height adjustment
Minimal maintenance
Wide 20-inch cutting path

Works well only for small, flat lawns
Flimsy handle, plastic gears
Not suited for all types of grass
Heavier than most manual reel mowers

Where to Buy

for $109.00
for $130.99
for $179.99

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May 2009. The 20-inch Scotts Green Classic 2000-20 is one of the widest manual reel mowers available, and one of the easiest to find. Reel mowers store easily and require little maintenance, and are the only lawn mowers that don't pollute at all. Most owners say they're pleasant to use, as long as the lawn is relatively small, flat and well-maintained. Reviews recommend the Scotts Green Classic 2000-20 for upright grasses such as fescue. For low, tough grasses like Bermuda, zoysia or St. Augustine, a seven-bladed reel mower cuts better. Because the 20-inch model weighs 30 pounds, some owners prefer a lighter 18- or even 16-inch reel mower, which also costs less. One drawback is that reel mowers mow only between the wheels, so they can't mow very close to a curb or wall. If that's a problem, reviews recommend another alternative for a small lawn, the corded electric Black & Decker MM875 (*est. $230). It's easy to use and limited only by the range of a 100-foot electrical cord. .

More than 400 owners review the Scotts Classic Green 2000-20 mower at Amazon.com. The owner-written reviews at HomeDepot.com and CleanAirGardening.com are also useful. Treehugger.com and an article from the (Minneapolis) Star Tribune also provide valuable insight.

Where To Buy

Store Rating	Notes	Total Price
1651 store reviews	In Stock. Get free shipping on orders over $25!	$109.00	See It
6497 store reviews	In Stock. New Your entire order ships for $2.95 or less!	$130.99	See It
0 store reviews	In Stock. New	$179.99	See It
		See All Stores

Our Sources

1. Amazon.com

Over 400 owners review the Scotts classic reel mower here, giving it an average rating of four out of a possible five stars. Ratings range from five stars down to one, with some owners reporting serious quality-control problems and flimsy plastic parts.

Review: Scotts 20-Inch Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com

2. HomeDepot.com

Nearly 30 owners review the Scotts Green Classic mower, giving it as high an average rating than push gas mowers sold here. Owners warn that it doesn't cut weeds or tough grass well.

Review: Scotts 20 In. Green Classic Reel Mower Model 2000-20, Contributors to HomeDepot.com

3. CleanAirGardening.com

As the name suggests, this retailer sells only electric and manual reel mowers. The Scotts Classic reel mower gets high praise from most of the handful of owners reviewing it here, but one the handle is judged flimsy.

Review: Scotts Classic reel lawn mower package, Contributors to CleanAirGardening.com

4. Consumers DigestDetails/Subscribe

This review recommends the Scotts Classic 2000-20 as the best buy among manual reel mowers, but the review depends more on features than on any actual testing.

Review: Lawn Mowers: The Changing Landscape, Steve Trusty, April 2008

5. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

Consumer Reports give short shrift to manual reel mowers, testing only two models. The magazine devotes far more attention to gas and electric mowers, and the 2009 report doesn't cover any reel mowers at all.

Review: Lawn Mowers, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, May 2008

6. StuffThatHappens.com

Very disappointed with the effort required, blogger Eric Burke quotes and contradicts some of the reviews of the Scotts Green Classic mower posted at Amazon.com. Quite a few readers weigh in on both sides: quite a few defend manual reel mowers, while others prefer electric models.

Review: Reel Mower Review, Eric Burke, May 14, 2008

7. TreeHugger.com

This Canadian reviewer says he's surprised that mowing with a reel mower is not only pleasant, but can also be as fast as mowing with a push gas mower because the reel mower is lighter. More than two dozen readers add useful comments; one notes that a drawback is the inability of a reel mower to mow close to a wall or curb, so more trimming is needed.

Review: Testing a Human-Powered Lawn Mower, Michael Graham Richard, July 2005

8. About.com

This review doesn't recommend any specific manual reel mowers, but it is a useful buyers' guide. (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)

Review: Reel Lawn Mowers, David Beaulieu

9. Star Tribune

This article covers the pros and cons of the most environmentally friendly types of lawn mowers. The article notes that the Environmental Protection Agency prefers manual reel mowers, but that more homeowners prefer corded and cordless electric mowers.

Review: Dollars and Sense: Choosing a Green Mower: Will It Be Battery, Electric -- or Goat?, John Ewoldt, June, 7, 2008