Get a reel mower!  I have a Reel Mower!  These mowers Reely work!  Reel men push mow!

The list is long for these clever and popular puns.  Huh?  What is a “reel” mower anyway?  For many green industry “professionals”, namely landscape contractors, golf course superintendents, turfgrass managers, etc., the term “reel mower” is common.  But your average everyday American has absolutely no idea.

Let me explain (in brief):

Reel Mower Concept

Reel mowers have curved blades that produce a cutting action alongside a stationary steel plate (like a can of Pringles chips rolling across a table).  The blades form a spiral around the reel axis, and as they spin, the spiral of blades forces grass past the stationary plate.  Reel mowers leave behind clean-cut grass, as if the grass had been cut with sharp scissors.

New reel mower technology has advanced since the days of Grandpa’s old clunker.  Unlike the cutting action of scissors, it is not necessary for the blades of the spinning reel to contact the stationary plate.  A clean cut is possible if the gap between the blades and the plate is less than the thickness of the grass.  This modern reel mower technology is referred to as “contact-free”, “non-contact”, “silent-cut”, and many other terms.  The benefit is a mower that is easier to push, and a mower that does not require sharpening. What, no sharpening?  Nope.  Think about it, there is no metal-on-metal contact to cause the reel blades to become dull.  The blades only come in contact with grass, wood, and the occasional  pebble or two – non of which will cause the blades to lose its edge.

There is a ton to talk about so feel free search around our learning center and read more more about reel mower technology, and how your lawn may benefit by using a reel mower.