What kind of lawnmower do I want?

[Albrecht]

We have a garden for the first time and need to get a lawnmower but we are totally clueless.

What are the pros and cons of petrol vs electric? Push vs. self-propelled?

Front garden is small and fiddly, back is larger and bumpy.

Thanks for any thoughts.

[jollydiane]

I have had every sort of lawn mower and my favourite is a flymo.

I always had a job trying to get the petrol one going, pusing is very "green" but sorry I could not really be bothered with it.

[Tangle]

Do you want one mower to do both?

We got a petrol mower as the lawn where we used to live was just too big to do with a flymo - the cable wasn't long enough and we got fed up of having extension leads trailing around. DH was a VERY happy boy when his parents upgraded and gave us there old mower :) That said, I find trying to start this one such a pain I never mow the lawn - whereas I would do it occasionally with the flymo.

From what I've seen, petrol mowers tend to be a bit beefier - they'll cope more happily with long grass and weeds - but they're heavier and can be more awkward to maneuver. And there's a risk you'll run out of petrol. Electric mowers are small and lighter and easier to push around, but the one we had struggled if the grass got too long and I was always paranoid I was going to wind up mowing the power cable .

It sounds like you'll need a relatively small mower for the front or it won't get round the fiddly bits - but that might make it take a while to do the back. Or you could get something more substantial for the back and use a push-mower on the front... Could you borrow a couple from friends to try and see how they cope?

[BeenBeta]

We dont drive so getting petrol is more or less impossible for us but we have a big lawn and I agree about the power issue with electric mowers and given the size of the lawn we have one of these.

It is powerful enough to handle wet grass but works on a smallish lawn just as well as a big lawn and not too hefty to handle. You will be wise to invest in an orange coloured extension cable so you dont mow over it by accident.

[GrendelsMum]

I have a vast petrol mower which no doubt cost a fortune and a diddy push mower costing £30.

The petrol mower is too heavy for me to get to where the lawn is, and I can't start it if I get it there. Even my dad commented on how unwieldy and difficult it is to use - althogh it allows no weed or grass to stand in its way. I literally can't use it.

I use the push mower instead and find it works surprisingly well. Well worth trying.

[ChristinedePizan]

I have a flymo which was perfectly adequate for my last garden (about 60 x 40 foot). I have an extension cable with an RCD on it so the cable thing doesn't worry me. A tip - always put the cable over your shoulder. I wouldn't go back to a petrol mower unless I wanted really nice stripes which are difficult to achieve with a flymo

[Albrecht]

Thanks everyone!

The thing with electric is that we don't have a back door so the cable would have to go out the front and round the house, over flower beds, bushes etc. I can imagine that being annoying.

And the back area is not a lawn exactly so needs something quite powerful I think.

Unfortunately we can't borrow one as just moved to a new area and don't know anyone yet but that is a good tip!

[BrigitBigKnickers]

We have a mahoosive back garden which is additionally bumpy and fiddly. We have a honda mower with a big grass box a bit like this which we have now had for nearly 7 years and has proved very reliable and easy to use..

It's not too heavy and does not need to be pushed. Also don't have to worry about cables being wrapped around trees or being run over.

[ChristinedePizan]

Oh if you haven't got electricity near the garden then electric is hopeless :o Go for a petrol one

[Tangle]

Do you have a big compost bin? If not and if you're not trying to create a bowling green then you might want to consider getting a mower that mulches - chops up the bits it cuts up really small and spits it back down again. That way you don't have to worry about what to do with all the grass cuttings...

[Albrecht]

That's the one we are looking at Brigit! So glad to hear you like it

Yes the previous owner had a bigish compost bin that we have taken over. So don't think clippings will be a problem.

What do you do about the bits say around the corner of the path etc. that you can't do with the lawnmower? Not looking for a perfect finish so not planning to get my scissors out...

[ChristinedePizan]

Get a strimmer for the funny edges - you will need electric for that

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Would love to try a push mower (but suspect it would kill me) Silent grass cutting would be fab!

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

For awkward bits I sit down and use grass shears!

[BeenBeta]

Real grass cutting afficianados go for a Suffolk Punch. Pricey but it drives itself and you will die before it does.

[Tangle]

BeenBeta:

I thought you meant one of these. Also pricey, also drives itself and could also outlive you - plus you get free manure for your flower beds :o

[BeenBeta]

They are lovely those but a tad big for our garden.

My Dad does keep some sheep to cut his lawn.