With findings from the EPA that power mowers and other lawn and garden power tools produce 5 percent of the nation’s air pollution, how can gardeners be environmentally correct and still have the necessary equipment to do their jobs?
Manufacturers are responding to those concerns: One has introduced an automatic solar-powered mower and others are striving to meet new standards-proposed first by the California Air Resources Board and then by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-that are designed to reduce the harmful exhaust emissions of gas-powered equipment.
“About four years ago a battery-powered trimmer, for example, was almost like a toy,” explains Frank Coots, a spokesperson for Ryobi, which manufactures outdoor power equipment. “It was put together cheaply and would do an adequate job for real small areas, but if you got into any kind of heavy grass it didn’t perform.”
But electric tools have been improved since then and additional features have been added, Coots said. “You can find very powerful cordless trimmers now and they are ergonomically designed so that they are well-balanced and feel good to hold.”
In addition, electric lawn and garden equipment is a welcome new kid on the block for another reason: noise. Susan Amey, a product manager for Black & Decker’s Outdoor Products Division, points out that battery-powered lawn mowers, for example, run at about half the noise level of gas mowers.
While the power behind new lawn and garden equipment can help lessen pollution in the air we breathe, these tools, whether powered by gas, electricity or the sun, also can give something back to the environment: New mulching mowers and blower/vac/shredders make it possible to recycle grass clippings and yard debris instead of hauling them away to already overflowing landfills.
Besides being environmentally friendly, these new tools are user-friendly. Echoing the mindset of other manufacturers, Charles Hodges, a spokesperson for Poulan/Weed Eater, says, “We have seen the coming of the aging of America and have designed tools that are lighter weight, easier to start and easier to use in order to reduce user fatigue.”
The prices listed for products featured here are suggested retail prices. You can contact the listed manufacturers for help in finding a retailer in your area who carries a specific item.
Cordless mower
Black & Decker launches the battle against back yard pollution with a new battery-powered lawn mower. Model CMM650 is a cordless, electric mower that has the ability to mulch the grass. The mower can also be converted to operate as a traditional side-discharge mower and the clippings can be bagged if the grass is too long to mulch. It features a 12-volt battery with the power to cut 10,000 square feet. In addition, Black & Decker manufactures the Hedge Hog, an electric trimmer that can cut branches up to 3/4-inch thick, compared to traditional trimmers that cut stock up to 3/8 inch thick. Price: $355 for the mulching mower, $63 for the Hedge Hog. Black & Decker, U.S. Power Tools, Communications Department, 701 E. Joppa Rd., Towson, Md. 21204. Phone: 800-762-6672.
Battery-powered
Ryobi has introduced a battery-powered mulching mower that is self-propelled. It features a variable speed, front-wheel drive that can be set at anywhere from 0 to 3 1/2 miles per hour-the equivalent of a very brisk walking pace. In addition, Ryobi has developed a grass trimmer with a four-cycle engine rather than the two-cycle, which is the standard. It was one of the tools that the EPA used to demonstrate cleaner technologies when it proposed the new regulations to clean up the emissions of lawn and garden engines. According to the manufacturer, this trimmer, which is available in three models, is also easier to start, vibrates less and is quieter than two-cycle models and does not require mixing gas and oil. Price: $449 for the mower, $185 to $225 for the trimmer, depending on model. Ryobi North America, P.O. Box 1207, Anderson, S.C. 29622-1207. Phone: 800-525-2579.
A wide swath
For homeowners with large lawns, Troy-Bilt has designed a gas-powered mower that cuts a 33-inch-wide path instead of the standard 22 inches wide. This walk-behind model includes a mulching deck and a design that allows it to cut under shrubs and fences. The new Troy-Bilt Chipper/Vac is also designed to get into hard-to-reach places. It features not only a walk-behind vacuum to collect leaves and lawn debris, but a hose attachment as well. The housing is made out of a special plastic, which reduces the unit’s weight to only half as much as previous versions. Price: $1,199 to $1,399 for the mower, depending on model, $1,099 to $1,259 for the Chipper/Vac, depending on model. Garden Way Inc., 102nd Street and 9th Avenue, Troy, N.Y. 12180. Phone: 800-828-5500.
Run the vacuum
The Super Blower Vac from Toro was designed with safety in mind. It has a switch that prevents the machine from running while it is being converted from the blower mode to the vacuum mode. In addition, it can be easily changed from blower to vacuum without the use of tools. This electric-powered tool features an ergonomic design and dual speed control. It weighs about 6 pounds and its stream of air reaches 190 miles an hour. A special feature on the extension cord prevents it from accidentally coming unplugged. Toro also has introduced the Super Recycler gas-powered mower, which is able to cut longer, thicker grass and still mulch the clippings. Price: $75 for the Super Blower Vac, $420 to $700 for the Super Recycler Mower, depending on model. Toro Co., 8111 Lyndale Ave. South, Bloomington, Minn. 55420-1196. Phone: 612-888-8801.
Robotic mower
As a preview of power equipment of the future, Poulan/Weed Eater has introduced the VIP Robotic Solar Mower. This emissions-free mower looks like an aerodynamic disc on wheels. To put the mower into operation, a special wire is installed around the perimeter of the yard. The automated mower is then placed within this boundary. A sensor in the machine makes it stop and turn around when it comes into contact with the wire as well as change directions when it bumps into objects such as lawn furniture or trees. The mower may take a few hours or a few days to completely mow a lawn, leaving behind small clippings that do not need to be removed. Other new lawn and garden tools from Poulan/Weed Eater include the light-weight, gas-powered FeatherLite lawn trimmer, which weighs 7.5 pounds; and the battery-powered VIP HandyStik cordless trimmer, which weighs 9.4 pounds and uses a 12-volt battery that allows it to cut for up to 25 minutes on a single charge. Price: $1,995 for the solar mower, $74.99 for the FeatherLite, $79.99 for the HandyStik. Poulan/Weed Eater, P.O. Box 91329, Shreveport, La. 71149-1329. Phone: 800-554-6723.
