NJ Lawns Community

Hey everyone - I'm in Paramus and just bought a house with about a 1/4 acre lot but it's got some really weird angles and tight corners around the patio and fence line. My neighbor recommended I go battery powered since I'm mostly doing an organic lawn care approach now. My big concern is torque - these battery mowers don't seem as powerful as gas ones. Has anyone used a battery mower on a tricky shaped lot in Bergen County? Will it handle tall fescue when it's gotten a bit long? I'm torn between going back to gas or sticking with the eco-friendly route. Any advice from the group?

Hey WeedWarrior! Fellow organic gardener here in Ridgewood. I made the switch to battery two seasons ago and honestly won't go back. I've got a similar situation - weird corners around my deck and planting beds. The key is getting a quality battery mower with a brushless motor. I have an EGO 21-inch and it handles my KBG and tall fescue blend just fine, even when I've let it go a bit longer between mows. The torque isn't an issue anymore with the newer models. Plus you can swap batteries if needed!

I'll be honest - I work for a landscaping company in the area and we still run gas on most jobs, but that's because we're cutting 1/2+ acres every day. For a quarter acre in Paramus? Battery is totally fine. Your real issue with tight corners is going to be the mower deck size more than torque. Get a 21 inch or smaller and do some trimming with a string trimmer after. Trust me, your neighbors will appreciate the quiet operation anyway. Those gas mowers echo pretty bad in neighborhoods like ours.

That's really helpful, thanks both! @CompostQueen - do you mind sharing which EGO model you have? I've seen them at the Home Depot on Route 17 but wasn't sure what to get. Also curious - how's the battery life holding up after a couple seasons?

I've got the LM2102SP. It's the self-propelled version which is clutch when you're dealing with any slope or inclines. Paramus yards tend to be pretty flat though so you might get away with the non-self-propelled. Battery life has been solid - I can do my whole yard (about 18,000 sq ft including the awkward spots) on one charge no problem. Just make sure you got a fresh blade sharpened at the start of season. Dull blades kill your cut quality and make the mower work harder which drains battery faster. I take mine to Cliff's in Maywood - they're good about sharpening.

One tip I'd add - if you're really worried about torque, look at the Ryobi 40V HP brushless line. They're actually more powerful than some of the older gas mowers and they use the same batteries across their system. Just be aware Ryobi batteries are a different platform than EGO so you're committing to one ecosystem. Also worth mentioning - spring here in Bergen County is rough for lawns. I'd hold off on your first mow until the ground dries out a bit. Nothing kills a battery mower faster than trying to cut wet grass.

This is exactly the info I needed, appreciate it! Think I'm going to go with the EGO self-propelled version based on your recommendation CompostQueen. The idea of having extra power when I need it sounds good for those thick summer cuts. Quick question though - anything special I need to know about maintaining the battery through our winters? I know the cold can affect lithium batteries. I usually store my tools in the garage.