Lawn mower for sloping garden?

stphnstevey

Are front garden is on a slope, with a tree in the centre and fairly small (size of four cars). Are rear garden is flat, again fairly small (about the same size as the front).

I hate mowing, so the grass often gets quite long before I end up doing it. I am not bothered about the finish, as long as it's cut, so hover or rotary sounds best?

I think a hover mower might be good on the slope? I have seen them from £30- £70 - are the more expensives ones worth it?

Not sure if the plastic blades of a hover are any good though and the metal blades on some rotary mowers might be better? However, they seem to be more for going in straight lines, which is a bit more difficult with the obtacles and fiddlyness of our garden?

Any advice appreciated!

Broadsword

Like many situations, it all depends. The lawn is tiny but it does depend how steep it is and it also depends on how long it gets before you cut it. No lawn mower copes well with long grass, particularly if wet. The more expensive hovers/rotary's are really for bigger areas so they tend to be heavier and more durable with a bigger grass collector. With the size of your lawn, and the slope, small and lighter (and therefore less expensive) is best. This is a good time to pick up a cheap mower, end of season.

If you are not concerned about the finished look, and given the size of the lawn, a strimmer might be best. Easy to carry and use on a slope and copes really well with long grass. However the finish will not be "bowling green" more roughish field until you perfect technique

stphnstevey

Thanks

Been researching since posted and the larger hovers don't appear to be very good at collecting grass anyway.

I have a cylinder one at the moment, but when the grass gets long, it's not easy to use. Also on the slope it doesn't do well. So I have been using a strimmer - but afterwards my arms are hanging off.

Vibrant

Hi,
cylinder mowers don't like long grass, so it would be hard work and the area is a bit big for a strimmer.
A wheeled rotary mower would probably be best, as you could put it on high for long grass. But no domestic mower copes very well with long grass, even my large petrol one struggles.
It's much easier to cut the grass more often, in which case a flymo would be easiest to maneuver. I wouldn't bother getting a Flymo that collects the grass, as they only work if you trim very regularly.
If you get a wheeled rotary mower, look for one with a large hole in the back, where the cuttings go into the box, the bigger the hole, the better they work.

Inactive

I have a similar situation, all that works well for me is a small Flymo with a metal blade and no grass box.

These are very hard to find these days as most have plastic blades.

stphnstevey

Inactive wrote: »

I have a similar situation, all that works well for me is a small Flymo with a metal blade and no grass box.

These are very hard to find these days as most have plastic blades.

What model do you have with metal blades?

bubblesbonbon

I've got the bigger 42cm version of this Bosch due to the size of my lawn.
The Bosch is far better at cutting than the two Flymo's that I had and knackered previously.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Electric-Rotary-mower-Rotak/dp/B0007VHMQW/ref=pd_cp_hg_1?pf_rd_p=149895791&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0007P20WO&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=1YKXV0CV56ACYQYYHM4W

Inactive

stphnstevey wrote: »

What model do you have with metal blades?

Not sure of the model number, it is about 10 years old now.

Your best bet would be to try a Car Boot Sale, new Flymo's are rubbish compared with older ones.

stphnstevey

Inactive wrote: »

Not sure of the model number, it is about 10 years old now.

Your best bet would be to try a Car Boot Sale, new Flymo's are rubbish compared with older ones.

Thanks, I am not adverse to carbootsales, but the trouble is you never know what their working like and their never cheap enough to just chance it.

jblack_2

You could just change the wheels on your current mower. 2 large wheels on one side, 2 small wheels on the other.

Or maybe get a goat (Perfect when tethered in the middle of a circular lawn).

HTH, J