In the market for a mower? They come in all shapes and sizes

Some have a cup holder and a padded seat, but most require manual labor. Others have a shiny motor and a bold black-and-red color scheme. Many are gas powered, but electric is an option, too.

All have one thing in common - they cut grass.

Whether it's a row house or a free-standing home, there is a mower for every lawn.

'Lawn mowers are kind of one of those necessary evils - nobody really likes to think about mowing their lawn,” said Gus Gerken, Menards general manager in Cedar Rapids.

Gerken noted mowers fall into four general categories - push-reel mowers, battery mowers, electric mowers and gas-powered mowers, which includes push mowers, self-propelled mowers and riding mowers.

Powered solely by human energy, push-reel mowers are known as the traditional mower with a spiral of blades and only two wheels.

'This would be for somebody with a really small lot, maybe like a row house,” Gerken said.

While gas-powered mowers are still the industry leader, Gerken said electric mowers have made strong gains over the past years with longer run times and smaller, more compact units.

There are two types of electric mowers - battery powered and electric powered. Electric-powered mowers are plugged into an electrical outlet while mowing whereas a battery-powered mower is charged beforehand and is not plugged in while in use, Gerken said.

'The more expensive ones kind of have a bigger battery, it's going to have a longer battery life and usually a little bit bigger cut,” he said.

Gerken said people who buy electric mowers usually have smaller lots because electric mowers have a chord that can limit the mowing range or a battery that has a limited run time.

Gas-powered mowers, Gerken said, have the most variety and continue to be more popular with consumers.

Regular push mowers have a gas motor that requires a person to push the mower over the lawn as it clips the grass, whereas self-propelled mowers power the wheels to make it easier to mow.

Then there are the riding mowers, also known as lawn tractors. They are the most expensive type of lawn mower with prices for name-brand models going well above $1,000.

And with riding mowers, colors often distinguish the various brands, such as John Deere's unmistakeable green-and-yellow color scheme that continues to attract consumers.

Gerken said buyers should consider a mower that is versatile and has adjustable wheel height, which allows a person to cut taller grass gradually and avoid stalling the mower.

'You can damage that mower pretty quickly,” he said.

He recommended people with a suburban home with a good-sized lawn should take a look at a three-in-one mower. They have a side discharge, a rear-bag collection and mulch capabilities that cuts the grass into smaller pieces to help the soil and the decomposition process.

The side discharge blows grass clippings out the side of the cutting deck where as the rear bag collection allows a person to collect leaves or grass clippings without hassel of picking up the waste around the yard, Gerken said.