Types of mower

Push mowers

Push mowers are a cheap form of exercise and you're not burning fossil fuels. But they're not that practical for large or sloping lawns.

To get a consistent cut with a push mower you need to keep the blades sharp and properly adjusted. Resharpening the blades means a visit to your local mower shop.

Electric mowers

Electric mowers are light, quiet, have no emissions and are easy to manoeuvre and push around. But they are not very powerful and have a narrow cut compared to a petrol mower.

Battery or mains?
Battery-powered mowers are a clear winner where trees or other obstacles have to be negotiated. With mains-powered models the power cord can get tangled on obstacles and has to be dragged around. You also have to plan your mowing pattern carefully, to avoid running over the cord.

Battery models don't have the hassle of a mains lead - but they have a limited cutting time and you have to remember to charge the battery before mowing.

The running time and cutting area of the battery-powered models in our test was measured from full charge until the battery was flat, on short grass without the catcher. Longer or wetter grass would reduce the mowing area and running time.

Battery-powered models tend to be heavier than mains-powered models - not quite so suitable for sloping sections or if you don't have much upper-body strength.

Petrol mowers

Petrol driven mowers are powerful, have a wide cut and can handle long or wet grass. But they are heavy and harder to manoeuvre than electric ones and starting can be a hassle.

Also handling and storing petrol can be hazardous.

Two-stroke or four-stroke?
There are two types of engine, two-stroke and the much more popular four-stroke.

Two-stroke engines are simpler and usually lighter, and require you to mix the petrol and oil. They're more powerful for their size and weight than four-stroke ones, so are better for rough or hilly conditions, but they're not as efficient and cause more pollution.

Four-stroke engines comprise most of the market. They have their oil in the crankcase, like a car. They're more efficient, so you'll get better fuel economy, and the exhaust is less smoky.

Mulching or standard?
Mulching mowers have a specially shaped cutting blade and a catcher-chute plug. With the catcher removed and the plug inserted, the clippings are spun under the body and chopped up further by the blade. They are then blown down into the lawn, leaving a smoothly mown surface.

For successful mulching, the grass can’t be too short or too long. Cut too short and there won’t be a carpet of grass for the mulch to sink into and decompose. Left too long after cutting and the mulch will form clumps on the lawn – especially if the grass is wet. As well, the length of the cut shouldn’t be more than 25mm.

These mowers can also operate in conventional mode with a catcher. 

Price

If you want a cheap mower, buy second-hand. Many local or suburban lawnmower shops do a steady business in turning over second-hand machines, and they should back them with good service.