Just remember to get something self-propelled. Especially if you've got any kind of slopes. Big mistake on my part.

I bought a Toro a while back (7.5 horsepower, I think). It developed an oil leak last summer, but that was the first problem after 4-5 years of solid operation.

I've got the same problem of mulching wet grass in one section. It's a pain to mow. Can't take much off the top without clumping everything up.

I know a great gardener. There's no way in hell I'm mowing my lawn in 110 degree heat.

I'm with ya. Day labor site. Paisajista por favor.

A hose, hedge trimmers (if there are hedges), fertilizer spreader (if you care enough to fertilize), a pump sprayer for spreading around the weed killer (though not essential if you don't mind using the spray bottles), maybe a wheel-barrow?

A big outdoor broom for clearing leaves and such off the driveway, walkways, deck, patio, etc.

I drool at reel mowers. They are a bit harder to use, but it is well worth it. Your lawn will work so much better. There are both self propelled reels and reel attachments for driven tractors. These are definitely commercial products though.
Pharacon I'll help you a bit here. My list of best items.
1.)toro mower pick the one that fits you best. Reel if you can do it and are serious about your lawn.
2.)echo trimmer Simply the best ones out there. I can edge with mine, but I mowed lawns for a full summer of 8 hour days.

Yes, you need a rake, a shovel, a trashcan, hose, hedgetrimmers(?do you have hedges?) a fertilizer and a wheelbarrow. These are a taste thing. just make sure everything you buy is of good construction. I suggest drop spreaders for fertilizers.

They whine more than your average brassero though.

Thanks for all the suggestions. There is a dealer here in town that does sell Toro mowers, and I just discovered there is a Lawn and Garden show this weekend in town -- talk about perfect timing. I'm going to go peruse the wares!

Unless I see something especially enticing, I'll probably go with Toro. They rank up there with Honda's for mulching. I have quite a big lot -- takes me about 1 1/2 hours to mow everything right now (non-self propelled mower, bagging the grass trimmings) -- really great for listening to podcasts. I like the non-self propelled mowers (for the exercise), but you can't get high end, non-self propelled mowers now-a-days. I assume the self-propelled-ness of the mower is optional to use if you don't want to.

I find mowing to be a very relaxing thing to do. No one bothers me, I don't have to think about anything (except watching out for protruding rocks), and I can listen to Certis and Elysium bicker back and forth. Perfect way to spend a few hours.

Do your homework, look at consumer reports and all that. If you have a small lawn care store in your area, not a Home Depot, etc. ask the guys working there what sells well, what they get a lot of returns or repairs on.

Some key things to note when buying a lawnmower:
Fuel economy. My folks bought a Craftsman rider. It was great, except it went through about 3 gallons of gas with each full mowing. When the spring rains hit and you need to be mowing twice a week, that is a lot of gas money.

Weight: A walker that weighs a ton, without a transmission to help, can be murder.

How easy-hard as well as expensive are new parts and basic maintenance. If you have to spend 6 hours just to get an old blade off to sharpen or replace, that sucks. If replacement blades are an arm and a leg, etc.

Look to the overall size and quality of the engine. I have bought cheap lawnmowers where if you run over an errant rock or stick, you will crack the engine block. I doubt that your lawn is as flawless as Lambeau Field.

Lastly, don't be afraid to buy used. There are some models of mowers that are freaking tanks, and last decades. Look on Craigslist or Ebay for people in your area. People moving, in particular, are quick to sell their mowers and other equipment for cheap. You may find some guy selling his Honda, a year or two old, for a sick price.

Definitely. I certainly look like a dork, but I've got these MASSIVE ear muffs that block out all sound. I can run my floppy ear phones up into them and listen to my podcasts at a volume that is less than I have to use when I'm working out in the gym. Quite nice.

Snapper. Expensive but worth every penny and then some.

Heh, I saw the one unit, the RL1000, and read that one line as "recon". I was wondering how much intel it was going to pickup in my yard. I guess it could tell me when we are going to be assaulted by some gophers ala "Red Dawn".

I've got a tough lawn. Relatively gentle slopes, lots of underbrush, hardy plants, big nuts and seedpods, fallen twigs and branches, random dog toys, mysterious golf balls, hidden stumps, protruding roots. Less than half of it is really conventional soft green grass. Total regular mowing area is probably somewhere around half an acre, but there's a bunch more areas that I have to go into and grind down regularly so that they don't become impassable.

I've been mowing it for the last couple of years with a low-end Craftsman. By the end of the season, the blade is deeply notched where it isn't perfectly rounded. This year, due to mishaps with the stumps and roots, I've already had to replace the blade twice. But, the thing has started to vibrate a lot and I think the crankshaft may be bent.

So, does it make more sense spend $150 on a low-end model knowing that it will only last for 2-3 years or $500 on a high end model that may be facing conditions well outside its operating range?

Jeez folks. Are you folks going to milk your own cows and grow your own corn next?