You can find a small riding mower for under $2000 at any Lowe’s or Home Depot. It’s not very physically demanding. Just get familiar with its maintenance, and you’re good. The biggest effort is using a gas can to fuel it.
My property is half an acre. I’ve got a gas push mower. I’m able-bodied, wear comfy sneakers, and though I enjoy doing it, I still feel wiped out afterward. I’m thinking of getting either a ride-on mower or a self-propelled mower. It can wear on you after some time.
If you’re not mowing frequently enough to avoid killing parts of the lawn by leaving clippings, you might struggle with emptying the catch bag where all the clippings go
Like others said, don’t completely count on the self-propelled feature of many mowers. You’ll still have to maneuver it around tight spots and with a 20-pound lifting limit, I bet you will be surpassing that.
Additionally, trimming can be exhausting too. You might need to lift the trimmer more than what would be comfortable for your height. My wife, who is shorter than you, can manage the trimmer but it can be uncomfortable for her.
Lawn care services can be more affordable than you’d think for many. Just look for a house with an easy-to-maintain lawn.
I track my exercise with a Fitbit. I can see my steps and heart rate. I do an hour on the elliptical each day. When I mow, I move at a quick pace. My Fitbit says mowing is actually a better workout than the elliptical. My heart rate goes up a bit more. I also have a small slope and a couple of garden areas to work around, so I’m always turning and maneuvering.
In conclusion, it’s a workout. My wife, who’s about 5 feet tall and 110 pounds, finds it to be quite tiring as well.
So I’d suggest that, unless your lawn is completely flat and mostly square with few obstacles, mowing alone may not be feasible for you. If the lawn is flat and square, you could take a leisurely walk back and forth and might make it. Or maybe find someone else to handle it sometimes. I know a neighbor who does that. They go out more frequently but have less physical strain on any given mowing day.
I own a self-propelled Toro Super Recycler that I can maneuver easily with one hand.
Consider getting a small zero-turn mower or hiring someone else to do the mowing. It costs more but makes the job much easier.
I have a disability that limits my left hand use. I manage to mow the lawn with a Ryobi electric mower, but if it was on a hill, I couldn’t handle it. Edging is a challenge for me too.
However, lawn care isn’t terribly expensive if you have the budget!
It really depends on the size of the lot. It might not be worth it for you to do it yourself.
You’ll have trouble finding a weedeater that you can operate easily if you can’t lift 20 pounds.
Most weigh around 10 pounds, but you need to handle them with dexterity while holding 10 pounds away from your body.
A self-propelled mower could manage the actual mowing while you walk behind it, but if you get one that collects the grass, that’s definitely over 20 pounds. A mower that doesn’t bag the grass might break HOA rules.
You could consider paying a teenager $40 every two weeks for the job. If you factor that into your living expenses, it’s not too bad.
Some rental homes include lawn care, as many tenants struggle to keep up with it.
I’m 66 and I still mow my 3/4 acre lawn. It’s mostly flat but has about 10% which slopes down towards the neighbor’s fence.
I plan to keep doing it this coming year as well.
Bought an electric mower to avoid pulling cords on gas mowers. Very pleased with that decision.
A self-propelled mower should be fine for you. Or you can hire someone. A riding mower is another option.
If it’s flat, you could probably handle it with a self-propelled mower. If there are slopes, you might have difficulties. And since you’re looking at a 3-4 bedroom house, that suggests there will be others living with you. You might ask them for help with the mowing.
Finding kids to mow is harder these days, but there are plenty of independent workers out there. You’ll see many trucks with mowers. Either track one down or post on the Nextdoor app if you’re in the USA. Many workers are just starting out and are affordable.
This might not be something you should take on. Unless you get a ride-on mower, even a self-propelled one could be difficult for you.