A mower from either Toro or Honda will do what you need, which is chop long blades of grass into short ones. Look for a machine with good mulching capability like the Super Recycler and the cuttings will be spread much more evenly than with a side discharge. Keep the height under control and the job will go easier and the finished product will look much better.

For one acre of field grass, you probably need a heavy duty model from a mower shop. I doubt if the department store mowers will hold up. Look for ball bearing wheels, sturdy handlebars and a strong deck. If possible, avoid extra control cables.

I can't speak to brand because I haven't owned a Toro or a Honda. I did own a Craftsman w/Tecumseh 6.75 HP engine for 12 years that had plenty of power for tall tough weeds and thick grass. It was front wheel drive, which was the main reason I finally got rid of it. On bumpy ground FWD is a pain in the rear. Every bump throws the mower off line and you constantly have to fight the mower to keep it going in a straight line. Due to an injury I had to get a riding mower to cut our big hilly bumpy yard and just used the Craftsman for trimming where the rider wouldn't go. I decided to trade it in at the local used mower/repair place for an almost new lightweight push mower because the heavy FWD Craftsman just didn't suit my needs any more.

It's laughable to talk about throwing a new premium mower at these crappy conditions. Just get the absolute cheapest push mower you can find, or look around for a good buy on a used premium.

What you will find is that the cheapest lawn mower will give up in a laughably short amount of time and you will be replacing it several times over the life of a much better built and somewhat more expensive one. You stated that the small machine is to be used for close in work around trees and the house. That would be a perfect application for a well made machine like a Super Recycler.