There are many different grass that people can grow in their yard. One of the more common types is Bermuda grass. While it can be tricky to keep this grass healthy, it also has its upsides. For example, it is an ideal type of grass for hot weather and also makes for a good lawn for golf courses or other sports fields.
If you have Bermuda grass in your yard, you need to find the best mower for it. However, not all lawn mowers are created equal for dealing with Bermuda grass. Some models might struggle with the finer leaves and hollow stems, while others might not have fast enough speeds or sharp enough blades. With that in mind, here are some of the best mowers for Bermuda grass on the market today.
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Top 5 Best Lawn Mowers for Bermuda Grass
Bermuda grass will easily go to seed if you mow it tall. Scalping will result in brown patches in your lawn if you mow it too short. It’s crucial to get the mowing height just right. This also applies to lawnmowers. Bermuda grass grows best when it is cut at a height of 3/4′′ to 1.5′′, so make sure your mower’s height setting is in that range.
The five best power reel mower for bermuda grass lawns are listed below. Check out the links I’ve provided for user reviews and the best prices.
1. Fiskars Lawn Mowers
Fiskars lawn and gardening tools are designed to help you reclaim your yard, with smart technologies and award-winning, ergonomic features that make it easier and more enjoyable to transform your outdoor space.
Cutting performance that is best in class thanks to advanced technology: The StaySharp Cutting System eliminates the cost and inconvenience of manual blade sharpening, giving the InertiaDrive Reel twice the cutting power of standard reel mowers.
Superior Ergonomics: The reversible grass chute can direct clippings away from your feet, making it easier to mow difficult patches while reducing mess. The ability to adjust the handle height with a single touch improves your comfort and control.
First and foremost, reel mowers are my preferred method of mowing Bermuda grass lawns. Why? Because you don’t want to scalp your lawn and create brown patches (reel mowers won’t). A reel mower will simply scalp the areas if you have a few dips here and there, regardless of the setting you use.
One of the best mowers for Bermuda lawns is the Fiskars Stay Sharp Max Reel Mower. This advanced push-mower, formerly known as the Fiskars Momentum Lawn Mower, is ideal for cutting Bermuda grass, even when it becomes extremely dense during the summer months.
Although it does not leave a thick layer of clippings on the grass, this mower does an excellent job of mulching your lawn. I wouldn’t recommend heavy mulching anyway because if you use a reel mower to cut your grass, pushing through the mulch the next time you mow will be a major task.
The Fiskars 18″ lawn mower’s only disadvantage is that it struggles to cut anything taller than 6 inches. If you want to enjoy your Bermuda lawn’s work, make sure you mow it frequently enough to keep it from growing too tall for an easy cut.
- It can now cut grass without touching it thanks to new technology.
- When mowing Bermuda grass, there is a lot less friction, which is ideal for pushing.
- Has a 1-4-inch cutting height, which is ideal for Bermuda grass.
- It has high-quality blades for long-term performance without the need for costly annual blade sharpening.
- The Fiskars reel push lawn mower is easier to push and turn because it only weighs 52 pounds.
- This mower is quiet and will perfectly cut 99% of your grass.
2. Scotts Outdoor Power Tools
If you have a Bermuda grass lawn, the most important thing to consider when mowing is getting a clean and healthy cut. The Scotts 200-20 push reel lawn mower provided one of the healthiest cuts in this regard.
The 2018 Scotts manual walk-behind reel mower includes a sharpening kit as well as a grass catcher, which I consider to be a significant value addition.
Unlike most other mowers on the market today, this reel lawn mower did not jam during testing and review. You’ll notice that each wheel has a lever to adjust the cutting height. This results in a precise height setting, which is critical when mowing different Bermuda turfgrass varieties.
On the downside, as with all reel mowers with a push-behind feature, you must keep an eye on your lawn to avoid grass. When I pushed the Scotts 2000-20 20-Inch Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower through an overgrown, dense patch of Bermuda grass, it struggled a little. That’s to be expected, given that it’s designed to be used on well-kept grass that’s mowed at least twice a week.
Here’s a quick rundown of the benefits and features of this Bermuda grass mower:
- The blade width and cutting path are the widest: 20 inches.
- It is extremely light and maneuverable, weighing only 34 pounds.
- Allows for a mowing height adjustment between 1 and 3 inches, which is ideal for Bermuda grass.
- Produces a clean cut with blades that snip evenly across the board and no torn blades.
- For a 34-pound lawn mower, it has excellent maneuverability and stability.
- The quick-snap adjusters make this mower the easiest to adjust.
3. Greenworks 18-Inch Reel Lawn Mower 25062
I wasn’t expecting much when I tested this one because most push lawn mowers can be difficult to maneuver in a large area. On the large areas of Bermuda grass I pushed it over, however, the Greenworks 18-Inch Reel Lawn Mower impressed me.
This mower is great because it can cut Bermuda grass lawns down to 1.75 inches, which is ideal. It also includes a grass catcher bag, which I thought was a nice touch. The other lawn mowers we looked at didn’t include it in the overall cost.
Here are a few of the benefits and features of this Greenworks reel lawn mower for Bermuda grass lawns in a nutshell:
It comes in a variety of deck sizes ranging from 18 inches to 20 inches.
The 20″ version moves quickly.
What I didn’t like was how easily the mower became tangled in twigs and sticks.
It’s very easy to adjust the cutting height, as it is with most top push lawn mowers for Bermuda lawns.
It’s incredibly light and easy to move around the yard. Overall, this is a great Bermuda grass push-behind reel lawn mower. However, there were a few aspects of it that I did not enjoy.
The amount of noise it makes is one of the most significant concerns. While it is simple to push, I discovered that it produces far more noise than I prefer. The blades cut easily, but the faster you push them, the louder they get. This is a big turn-off for me because I prefer a quiet lawn mower.
If you only need to mow a small Bermuda lawn, the Greenworks 18-Inch Reel Lawn Mower 25062 is a good option. For a lawn of an acre, this might not be the best option for guys who prefer a quiet mowing session.
4. Great States 415-16 16-Inch
Here are some of the great features of this lawn mower:
- Cuts grass blades cleanly while causing no damage to Bermuda grass.
- Cutting height is precise and easy to adjust.
- The reel mower is extremely light, weighing only 27 pounds.
- The highest model in the range has 10″ composite wheels, making it easy to maneuver.
Anyone looking for a solid performance in cutting tough grass with a push reel lawn mower will love this handy yard tool. 14-inch 4 blades, 14-inch 5 blades, 16-inch 5 blades, and 18-inch 5 blades are the four deck sizes available.
This has to be on your list when looking for the best reel mower under $100, and not just because of the price. It has some good features that are worth considering.
The clean snip is the most important feature that makes this reel mower suitable for Bermuda grass. After mowing, you won’t notice any brown crowns on your Bermudagrass lawn because the cut is so clean.
The inability of this Great States push lawn mower to cut some tough weeds is one of its main flaws. It also has a narrow 18-inch cutting deck when compared to some of the best models and brands on this list. To mow a 2000 sq. ft. lawn with this, you’ll need a lot more passes than you would with a 20″ model.
It also doesn’t do well in lawns with a lot of sticks. It will frequently become stuck. If your lawn is shaded and littered with sticks, you should consider a gasoline mower rather than a push reel.
5. Earthwise 1715-16EW 16-Inch 7-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower
The Earthwise push reel mower comes in second place in my reviews of the best lawn mowers for Bermuda grass lawns. Not only for Bermuda grass, but also for paspalum, zoysia grass, St. Augustine grass, and centipede grass, I highly recommend it.
The following are some of the outstanding features that make this lawn mower ideal for Bermuda grass:
- It has a cutting height adjustment of 0.5″ to 2.5″ and is ideal for Bermuda grass turfs.
- 16-inch 7-blade, 18-inch 5-blade, and 20-inch 5-blade options are available.
- It’s very simple to put together and doesn’t require any tools.
- While mowing Bermuda lawns, I found the handle to be well-cushioned for comfort. Hand fatigue is reduced as a result of this.
- Heat-treated alloy steel blades stay sharp for a long time.
- The 7 blades make mowing and getting a clean cut in one pass a lot easier.
For Bermuda grass lawns, the Earthwise push lawn mower is a great choice because it produces a very precise, clean cut, which is exactly what we want when mowing lawns.
It’s a lightweight lawn mower that weighs only 29.5 pounds, so you can easily mow a small to medium-sized lawn without getting tired. However, I must remind you that you must mow on time and cut your grass before it grows taller than 6 inches.
One of the major drawbacks I discovered with the Earthwise 1715-16EW 16-Inch 7-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower is that you can’t adjust it without unscrewing both wedges. This is not the case with the 5-blade model. This means that adjusting the deck will take a long time. They should’ve made everything here a lot easier to adjust.
Another issue I noticed with the 7-blade model is the rollers locking up when mowing areas with heavy mulch from the previous cut. The rollers on the reel mower, I believe, are to blame. Even in areas with dense Bermuda grass, I prefer wheels to rollers because they rarely lock up while in use.
The Best Rotary Lawn Mower for Bermuda Grass
Because rotary mowers tend to hack and chew up grass blades, they aren’t ideal for Bermuda lawns. After a few days of mowing, they simply leave your lawn looking terrible.
If your lawn is too large (as is the case with golf courses), you’ll need to cut it with a rotary, gas-powered, or electric lawn mower.
The Greenworks 16-Inch 40V Cordless Lawn Mower is the best rotary mower for Bermuda lawns. You charge this device and are ready to mow your lawn.
If you have a smaller yard, say less than 1000 square feet, this is a good option.
Greenworks 40V 16″ Cordless Electric Lawn Mower
If you have more than 1000 square feet to mow, here’s something more powerful but still environmentally friendly. Every year, I’m more and more impressed by electric mowers.
- CUTTING SHOULD NEVER BE STOPPED. With two fully charged batteries, you can get up to 60 minutes of run time.
- 2.0AH Battery Includes a 2.0AH battery and charger.
- 7-inch front wheels
Brushless motors are more reliable and provide performance comparable to a 160cc gas engine.
What Is The Difference Between a Reel Mower and a Rotary Mower?
A reel push mower is the best option for creating a soft and inviting lawn. Corded, gas-powered, or battery-powered rotary mowers can give your lawn a “chewed” look at the tip, causing it to brown.
The precise cut of the rotating reel along the bed knife at the bottom of the mower is one of the advantages (and the one that interests me the most). It has the ability to cut like a pair of scissors.
The reel cut is more clean and gentle on the grass than a rotary blade, which can tear the grass blade if not properly maintained.
Buying Guide
Although reel mowers are best for Bermuda grass, a rotary mower can also be used. The best lawn mower is a combination of personal preference and, more importantly, factors to consider.
When selecting a lawn mower for Bermuda grass, keep the following factors in mind:
Adjusting the cutting height
When looking for a great mower for Bermuda grass lawns, the grass cutting height is perhaps the most important feature to look for.
You should be able to cut your grass as short as one inch. Too low of a cut can easily scalp the lawn, resulting in bare spots.
Choose a mower that allows you to adjust the cutting height from 0.5 to 3 inches. This will allow you to maintain complete control over the care of your Bermuda grass at all stages.
The lawn’s size
Your lawn mower choice is largely determined by the size of your lawn. You’ll be so exhausted after each mowing if it’s larger than 2000 sq. ft. that you won’t mow often enough.
For the best health and growth, Bermuda grass needs to be mowed frequently.
Is the lawn sufficiently level?
If your lawn has bumps and uneven ground, reel mowers can easily leave swirls. If your lawn isn’t level enough, you might want to invest in a rotary mower to avoid this. However. A push reel mower is an excellent choice for level lawns and yards.
Cutting width (blade width)
The width of the reel mower’s blades, or any other mower’s blades, determines how many passes you’ll need to mow the entire yard.
The blade width of the best push mowers for Bermuda lawns is between 14″ and 20″. Choose the widest blade width for the fastest cut.
Wider cutting decks, on the other hand, may not always be the easiest to push. It means you’ll have to push and cut more weight, which may limit your maneuverability.
The mower’s weight
You’ll want to get a lightweight mower because all of the reel mowers on this list are self-propelled. This will ensure that you are less tired while mowing your lawn.
The weight of the mower has an impact on maneuverability as well. If your body is well-built, a slightly heavier model in the 30 pound and above range may be appropriate. Most people, however, consider the best reel lawn mower to be under 28 pounds.
Maneuverability
How easy is it to maneuver the lawn mower, turn it, and twist it? Bermuda grass is tough, and you want to be able to move the mower around the lawn with ease.
Mowers that are lighter in weight are easier to maneuver. However, you should consider the following factors that affect maneuverability:
- Number of blades
- Size, type, and quality of wheels
- Quality of the handle
Read and watch reviews to get a better idea of what to expect when you buy a lawn mower.
Durability
Needless to say, models that provide the best bang for your buck are the most popular. The majority of the mowers I reviewed above have excellent strength, durability, and affordability.
Consider the material used to make the blades and other important parts, such as the wheels, when assessing durability. Some blades are made of tempered steel alloy, which ensures that they stay sharp and long-lasting.
Warranty
A two-year warranty is a strong indication that the manufacturer believes in their product. So, before purchasing a push reel mower for Bermuda grass, make sure it comes with a warranty.
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