If you’re blessed with a grass-covered garden, firstly, this apartment-dwelling writer envies you; and secondly, you’ll know that having a lawn is both a blessing and a curse.
Sure, it’s great to have your very own beautiful green space, but they do require regular maintenance to keep them looking pretty.
So it goes without saying that if you have a lawn, you need a mower to keep it from becoming overgrown and scaring off visitors. If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got you covered.
BEST LAWN MOWER GUIDE
We’ve rounded up our picks of the top traditional petrol and manual-powered lawnmowers to make garden upkeep a breeze – including the self-propelled models that take out all the hard work.
BEST PETROL LAWN MOWER
BAUMR-AG 660EX Series II 16 Inch Petrol Lawn Mower, $459, Edisons
With a five horsepower, 139cc, durable four-stroke engine, the BAUMR-AG 660EX is powerful yet lightweight and easy to manoeuvre. The 35-litre catcher and 16-inch wide deck are ideal for navigating around modest-sized lawns, and the double-tooth blade allows for precision cutting, with seven adjustable heights available to select via a simple lever.
With a four-star average rating from reviews, you can trust that its quality will live up to expectations, with one reviewer calling it “light and simple” as well as “easy to use”.
BEST SELF-PROPELLED LAWN MOWER
BAUMR-AG 780SX Petrol Self-Propelled 220cc 18” Lawnmower, $659, Edisons
Self-propelled mowers feature a driving motor that moves the mower for you – so all you have to do is guide it in the right direction. This one from BAUMR-AG has a powerful 220cc four-stroke engine that promises to be surprisingly easy to start. It offers four-in-one functionality with the ability to catch, mulch, or discharge clippings to the rear or side. Seven-stage height adjustment, an 18-inch steel deck, a 55-litre catcher and integrated drinks holders(!) are just a few extra features that make this pick so enviable.
POWERBLADE VS900 225cc 20” Self Propelled Mower, $759, Edisons
The POWERBLADE VS900 has a class-leading 225cc four-stroke engine for durable power, with a seven-stage height adjustment system. Similar to the BAUMR-AG, it has four-in-one capabilities that allow you to catch, mulch, or discharge clippings to the rear or side, and it has cup holders too. It’s suitable for slightly larger gardens though, thanks to its larger 20-inch deck and 65-litre catcher.
BEST MANUAL LAWN MOWER
Bosch Manual Garden Lawn Mower AHM 38G, $125, Amazon Australia
If your yard is particularly small, why not save money and space by buying a manual mower? This one from Bosch allows for fast and convenient mowing of small areas, with variable height-of-cut adjustment and a 25-litre grass box capacity.
It has dozens of five-star ratings from happy reviewers, with one writing, “This little beauty is great for a female senior citizen! So lightweight and easy to use. I had difficulty with starting a petrol mower and now I can mow when I want and how I want. No fuel to buy and I get exercise at the same time. Best buy!”.
HOW DO I CHOOSE A LAWN MOWER?
Here’s what to consider when purchasing a mower:
• Catcher capacity: If you have a large lawn, a larger capacity means you won’t have to constantly pause to empty the catcher.
• Deck size: The deck on a mower houses the cutting blade – so a wider deck above 20 inches can help you get through a large garden more quickly.
• Power type: Lawnmowers are traditionally manual or petrol-powered (like the options mentioned above), although you can also get electric or even robotic mowers now, if that’s your preference.
• Adjustability: Mowers with “multistage adjustable height” allow you to select the cutting height of your choice.
• Push type: You can choose from a push or self-propelled model. The former requires you to push it around the yard, while the latter has driving wheels that move it forward so all you have to do is guide it.
• Engine size: The engine size you choose depends on your lawn conditions. A larger engine is suitable for tough cutting conditions, including tall and wet grass, bagging, leaf mulching, or weed cutting. The engine size is referred to with “cc”, which stands for “cubic centimetres”. Higher cc means higher horsepower, which translates to a greater ability to tackle tough conditions.
IS A SELF-PROPELLED MOWER WORTH IT?
Self-propelled mowers have powered driving wheels to take some of the effort out of lawnmowing, so you only have to guide rather than push it. Self-propelled mowers are ideal for large yards or for anyone wanting to save time, energy, and added back strain from pushing their mower around.
WHEN SHOULD I MOW MY LAWN?
The rule of thumb is to mow your lawn once a fortnight in summer, and every two to five weeks in winter. That said, the frequency of your mowing depends on a bunch of factors, from the climate you live in to the type of grass you have. Just keep an eye on your lawn and mow it whenever it begins to look unruly. Also note that mowing a wet lawn isn’t ideal, as the clippings can clump up and clog your mower, so wait until it has dried off to be safe.
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Originally published as No-fuss lawn mowers for tidy yards
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