The hot months of summer have arrived, which means tackling the much-needed duties of cutting grass and keeping lawns lush and maintained. With current lawnmowers able to push themselves and be powered by automatic functions, keeping your yard maintained this summer has never been more convenient.

A good, sturdy lawnmower can be expensive, but the result of having an attractive lawn is worth the price. Lawn experts say keeping a well-maintained yard this season is imperative.

“It’s absolutely important,” said Central Alabama Farmers Co-op Co-manager Taylor Gwaltney. “Your lawn is there to show off, and if you don’t keep it up, it will take a long time to shape it back up. Make sure you have lime, fertilizer…and that your lawn is well-watered.”

Gwaltney said the Co-op offers a variety of push and riding lawnmowers, and depending on the size of your yard and how much time you desire to spend on upkeep, will determine what kind of lawnmower is best.

“If you have a larger yard, you may want to use a riding lawnmower because it cuts down time on cutting grass,” Gwaltney said. “And if you have a small yard, a push mower might be best.”

Gwaltney said the store offers Poulan brand push lawnmowers and Hustler brand Zero Turns Mowers, which take up less space, make smaller turns on the yard and is better to maneuver.

“It’s (Zero Turns) been popular in the last couple of years,” Gwaltney said. “It cuts down on cutting time and steers differently.”

Lawnmowers can be a sizable investment, so experts say choose wisely.

“You should decide which features you really need before you buy,” said Home and Garden writer Elizabeth Hannigan.

And if you’re having trouble choosing which is the best type of lawnmower to purchase for your money, experts offer a list of the “Best Lawnmowers of 2011.”

Best cordless electric lawn mower: Because they are environmentally friendly, they are the most popular types of lawn mowers in the U.S. The Toro e-Cycler 20360 cuts evenly and will cut your grass as tall as four inches if you want. It has an easy to use mulch function and fast charging batteries. Five-year warranty, $400.

Best self-propelled gas lawn mower: This is a new self-propelled gas powered mower. The Honda HRX217K2HXA pushes itself and is fast, sturdy and quiet. Environmentally friendly and you can set a desired speed. Two-year warranty, $800.

Best manual reel mower: If you’re looking for a truly green lawn mower, check out the Fiskars Momentum 317736. Not powered by gas or electricity, but by you. Price: $250.