Let your lawn go cordless--and gasless.

• Position: WHAT'S NEW? - Cordless Mulching Mower - Brief article

One of the most labor-intensive of our springtime chores is the initial yard cleanup. It's a task we dread every year. From raking out the last of the dead leaves to picking up all the fallen twigs and branches, we're amazed at the toll winter can take and the amount of debris it leaves in its wake.

This year, though, we had something to look forward to once all the back-breaking work finally was finished: we at last got a chance to try out our Cordless Mulching Mower from Black & Decker, Towson, Md. With considerable environmental benefits over the gas-powered alternative, this rechargeable mower does not emit harmful emissions, produces half the noise, and is Energy Star rated by the EPA because of its energy-saving charging system.

In addition to its ecological benefits, we love the performance. The powerful battery has enough run-time to cut a typical 1/3-acre home site on one charge, while offering the freedom from needing gasoline, oil...