Rotak 320 Lawnmower + 'grass/weed cutter'.

Infidel

Greetings green fingered ones - I do hope you're all enjoying 'summer' and possibly even the Euro Championships (or at least England Rugby team winning in Australia :j)

The old lawnmower blew up yesterday (it had basically been in a shed unused for 2 years+) as I was attempting to cut a relatives lawn that has gotten out of hand (1 foot long grass and weeds). Anyway I obviously need to buy a new one asap.

I've never ever bought a lawnmower before as I've always lived in rented accommodation without a garden (or with a landlord that 'occasionally did it).

I was having a quick look and noticed this one for £74 (in B & Q) which seems to have decent reviews:


Bosch Rotak 320 ER Rotary Lawnmower

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Rotak-Electric-Rotary-Mower/dp/B0007VHMQW


Has anyone got any input? Could I get a better one for this price or slightly higher (limit around £120-140)? or will this do the job? The garden is a bit of a strange shape but more or less the size of 1.5 tennis courts - not postage stamp but not massive either. Main concern is that it can handle long grass - as It's likely I'll be turning up every few weeks where it might have potentially got a bit 'wild'.

Also, I could ideally do with getting one of those long handled 'grass/weed cutter' things to use where a lawnmower is impossible (such as where there are paving stones/concrete etc.). Sorry I don't even know what they are called. So any help with that would be grand.

Meanwhile, enjoy your Pimms

Silver-Surfer_2

If you've never used it for two years plus why do you now need one asap?

Paradigm

Infidel wrote: »

I was having a quick look and noticed this one for £74 (in B & Q) which seems to have decent reviews:


Bosch Rotak 320 ER Rotary Lawnmower

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Rotak-Electric-Rotary-Mower/dp/B0007VHMQW


Has anyone got any input? Could I get a better one for this price or slightly higher (limit around £120-140)? or will this do the job? The garden is a bit of a strange shape but more or less the size of 1.5 tennis courts - not postage stamp but not massive either. Main concern is that it can handle long grass - as It's likely I'll be turning up every few weeks where it might have potentially got a bit 'wild'.

The Rotak is an excellent mower, I've had mine for 2 years + & it's never missed a beat. If you're cutting very long grass raise the cutting height to it's max, not many domestic mowers will cope with foot long grass on a short cut setting.

Infidel wrote: »

Also, I could ideally do with getting one of those long handled 'grass/weed cutter' things to use where a lawnmower is impossible (such as where there are paving stones/concrete etc.). Sorry I don't even know what they are called. So any help with that would be grand.

I think you may mean a Strimmer?

Infidel

Silver-Surfer wrote: »

If you've never used it for two years plus why do you now need one asap?

Because there was an expensive and sometimes incompetent 'gardener' for a while. Next . . . .

Infidel

Paradigm wrote: »

The Rotak is an excellent mower, I've had mine for 2 years + & it's never missed a beat. If you're cutting very long grass raise the cutting height to it's max, not many domestic mowers will cope with foot long grass on a short cut setting.

Yeah. They seem to have decent reviews in the main. Above 4/5.

All I have to think about now is whether it might be necessary to get the more powerful model 1 or 2 up from the 320. Like this one at £186 (the very limit of my budget):

Bosch Rotak 430 Ergo Rotary Lawnmower

I think you may mean a Strimmer?

Yeah, probably . No wonder I couldn't find it on the product search :rotfl:

Any recommendations? Bearing in mind if I get the more expensive lawnmower I'll be after a cheap one. Just to cut the weeds down mainly. Cheers.

Paradigm

This would do the strimming job for not much money http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/2878852.htm

[Deleted User]

Infidel wrote: »

The garden is a bit of a strange shape

Mowers with wheels can be a PITA if the lawn's an awkward shape. I have a Rotak and a Flymo, and the Flymo does the job in a fraction of the time it takes with the Rotak because it's more manoeuvrable. The Rotak wins when the grass is long, because it's more powerful.

d0nkeyk0ng

I have a Rotak 37-14. It's not as fancy as the other Rotaks with a black motor cover and black/green collection box.

It covers 50sqm without any problems. Even when the grass is long, it hasn't bogged down or cut out. Bought mine for £100. But knowing what I know now, I'd probably pay a little extra and buy Bosch Rotak 40 Ergoflex which has more positive reviews and appears to be better in terms of build quality.

glasgowdan

For that size I'd definitely want a petrol mower, so get on ebay and look for a decent used machine

anotheruser

I have a Bosch, although mine is the 34" Ergoflex version.
Wish I had bought the bigger meatier 40" version.

They're pretty good. Lasted me over 5 years so far. Easy to maintain, easy to use.

Only one problem is the wire that goes from the handle to the motor is permenant, meaning if that broke - busted mower

Kiran

I had the 32 in a previous house and have now upgraded to the 43 as I've moved house and have a bigger garden. Both have been excellent. My mother has the 32 as it is lightweight and powerful enough to cut through long grass.