Lawnmower recommendations

Annie1960

I have moved into a new house, with a much bigger garden and lawn than I had previously.

I have always used an electric hover mower, which did the job well. Now, the lead won't reach anywhere near the end of the lawn.

Can you recommend alternatives? The previous people in this property used a petrol mower, but I'm unsure about how heavy that will be to push, and how easy it is to use. Also, where do you get the petrol from? Is it the same as you use in a car?

Alternatively, would a cordless, rechargeable mower be a good idea?

Any suggestions, including pros and cons of alternatives would be interesting to help me decide what to do.

shays_mum

If it still works & does the job, why not just invest in an a long extension cable like they use on construction sites?:
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p28287?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&mkwid=zhr0dAEI&pcrid=46305662783&gclid=CMzG-riwh8UCFQn3wgodaxsAPA.

In saying that i'm in the same dilemma, i had a tiny garden before which was all brick so had no grass. Now have a 100ft lawn to maintain!!.

WestonDave

I've got a petrol mower - bog standard cheapo homebase one with a Briggs and Stratton engine on it. Being wheeled I find it easier to push than the old small (but grass collecting) hover mower we had in our old house. (The problem being that as the grass box on the hover fills it doesn't float as well). It was second hand when we got it (from a relative) and other than having to change a gasket on it when it started to run rough, it has started first or second pull every time.


Petrol is standard unleaded - just keep a car type petrol can in the garage - when you are running low you can fill it up when you fill the car up.


You can get more expensive petrol mowers that are self propelled (in these the engine drives the wheels as well as the blade) which are easier again and another thing to consider (which I may well go for if mine would only die to give me an excuse!) is a mulching one which chops the grass up and returns it to the ground - this avoids having to dispose of loads of grass cuttings.


However other than the occasional need to lift the mower (they are heavy for that) a petrol mower really isn't that much harder work unless you have a steep slope to push it up.


Edit to add - think about grass box capacities as well if you aren't mulching it back in - a big lawn and a small grass box will mean a lot of trips to wherever you dump the cuttings.

jbainbridge

I'd start by looking at an extension lead!

Failing that Screwfix have petrol mowers starting at £150 with a self propelled one at £175. It would use normal petrol.

Annie1960

shays_mum wrote: »

If it still works & does the job, why not just invest in an a long extension cable like they use on construction sites?:
http://www.toolstation.com/shop/p28287?utm_source=googleshopping&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=googleshoppingfeed&mkwid=zhr0dAEI&pcrid=46305662783&gclid=CMzG-riwh8UCFQn3wgodaxsAPA.

In saying that i'm in the same dilemma, i had a tiny garden before which was all brick so had no grass. Now have a 100ft lawn to maintain!!.

Concerned I might get tangled up in such a long extension cord.

xyz123

WestonDave wrote: »

Edit to add - think about grass box capacities as well if you aren't mulching it back in - a big lawn and a small grass box will mean a lot of trips to wherever you dump the cuttings.

Or get a "mulching" accessory which shreds grass in small sections and puts back on turf. these inturn become feed for turf. this way u save trips to dump cuttings and provide feed to grass at the same time..

Annie1960

xyz123 wrote: »

Or get a "mulching" accessory which shreds grass in small sections and puts back on turf. these inturn become feed for turf. this way u save trips to dump cuttings and provide feed to grass at the same time..

This whole mulching issue sounds interesting. I'll look into it more thoroughly.

Does the mulch look unsightly, or is it not noticeable?

Davesnave

If you are in this for the long term, look at mowers with a Honda engine.

I was previously using a Briggs & Stratton powered Mountfield of 2003 vintage. Last year, I changed to a Honda and found the difference in efficiency quite marked. It actually filled-up the bag....fully, even when the grass was damp.

The age of the Honda?....... Mid 1980s!

Reece_

Davesnave wrote: »

If you are in this for the long term, look at mowers with a Honda engine.

I was previously using a Briggs & Stratton powered Mountfield of 2003 vintage. Last year, I changed to a Honda and found the difference in efficiency quite marked. It actually filled-up the bag....fully, even when the grass was damp.

The age of the Honda?....... Mid 1980s!

Agree with this, Honda engines are one of the best, and whilst a brand new mower may cost 4-5 times that of a budget brand it should easily out last them, but well worth looking out for a second hand one, around my way there's quite a few local businesses that service and sell on mowers, and have seen a few hondas freshly serviced for around £150-200.
Hayter are also a good brand to look out for although most of theirs are briggs and stratton engines, the bodywork tends to be high quality, but having got both, the honda is head and shoulders above the hayter imo and actually cost less.

Ebe_Scrooge

I'd go for a petrol mower every time, and pay the bit extra for a self-propelled one ( that doesn't mean a ride-on tractor type, just one where the engine drives the back wheels, meaning less effort to push it - a godsend on sloping lawns ).

Downsides - noisier, heavier, more expensive than an electric one.
Upsides - more powerful, not restricted by a lead, no danger of cutting through a lead, longer lasting, easy to repair & maintain ( it is, in essence, a very much simplified car engine ).

Most petrol mowers these days run on 4-stroke ( standard unleaded that you use in your car, with a separate oil reservoir, just like a car ), you still see some 2-strokes ( unleaded mixed with special oil, which is easily available from garages, Halfords, B&Q etc. )

There are any number to choose from, ranging from about £150 or so up to several hundred. The cutting width is a big factor in the price, obviously a bigger width means a faster cut, but no need to go overboard - choose one suitable for your size of lawn. Personally I've had one for about 15 years now that I bought from B&Q ( their own brand with a Briggs & Stratton engine ). Can't fault it - at the end of each season I just change the oil and give it a good clean, starts first pull next Spring

Annie1960

OK, I'm coming around to the idea of a petrol mower. I remember my father used to use one of these, but my concern is that it will just be too heavy - I'm not as young as I used to be!

Also, I have a bit of a slope to the lawn.