When push comes to shove, what’s the best mower for you?

Spring has definitely sprung, which only means one thing for garden owners across Ireland: the grass is waiting and ready to be cut. If your lawnmower had its final season last year, it can be hard to know what your next purchase should be. Here are some tips to help you decide.

1. Garden size and terrain: Determine the size of your lawn and the type of terrain (flat, hilly, rough) to choose a mower that suits your needs.

2. Power source: Decide between petrol, electric, or cordless push mowers based on your preference, convenience, and access to power. Most electric cords are now obsolete as battery charged lawnmowers have taken over.

3. Cutting width and height adjustment: Choose a mower with a cutting width suitable for your lawn size and an adjustable cutting height to achieve the grass length you want. Sometimes, a longer cut is needed if you plan to leave your grass to grow longer or to avoid having to cut it as often.

4. Manoeuvrability and storage: Consider the mower’s size, weight, and its ability to manoeuvre and navigate around obstacles. If you have a difficult lawn, you might need something more lightweight that can be moved easily.

5. Maintenance requirements: Evaluate the maintenance needs of different mower types, including blade sharpening, oil changes, fuel requirements and battery charging/replacement.

6. Budget: Set a budget and compare prices, considering long-term costs such as fuel, maintenance, and potential repairs. Most petrol lawnmowers will need to be serviced every year. Some lawnmowers come with a warranty, which can be an added benefit.

Cordless mowers

On the up in popularity for small garden spaces is cordless mowers; these battery-operated devices ease the hassle of messing around with petrol.

As a result, they are also lighter to lift in and out of your storage space as the battery can be placed in them once they are on the grass. They also allow ease for mowing as it doesn’t take much to push them around your lawn.

The STIHL RMA 239 cordless lawnmower is an affordable option currently on the market. It has 40-litre grass collection box with an easy-to-empty catch mechanism for gathering the clippings. Coming in at €523, it is a higher end cordless mower for those looking for reliability.

The EINHELL GE-CM 43 is another cordless mower that is similarly priced at €580. It is suitable for lawns up to 600m2 and has a 63L grass box. The battery lasts 75 minutes which, for a small garden, is usually enough to get a full cut done without having to recharge.

Petrol mower

Sometimes, you can’t beat the power of a petrol mower. There is something about cutting your grass with a powerful engine. If you have thick grass and a larger surface area, the petrol mower gets the job done more efficiently.

Although they are heavier to move out of the shed and require more energy to push, petrol mowers provide a nice finish and are extremely reliable.

The STIHL RM 453 Petrol Lawn Mower is more suited to large areas of lawn with a 55L collection box and 51cm cutting width. This model is good for wet grass collection and has an easy-start system, which means you’re not pulling on the string trying to get the engine to start. The price comes in at €832.

A more basic model is the Mountfield SP185 46cm 139cc self-propelled rotary petrol mower with a 46cm cutting width. This model is suitable for lawns up to 1500m² and comes in at €419.

Electric mowers

The cheapest push mowers on the market are cord electric mowers, providing an affordable alternative for gardeners with smaller areas of lawn to maintain. They are lightweight, meaning they can be moved easily.

The downside is remembering to avoid running over the cord with the blade. In general though, these have been taken over by battery-run models in recent years.

The Mountfeild Electress 38 1400W electric rotary lawn mower comes in at €196, making it one of the cheapest options. It has six cutting heights that can be adjusted depending on what length of grass you want.

With a 38cm cord, the Hyundai HYM3800E corded electric lawnmower is ideal for small to medium-sized lawns. It weighs only 12.5kg, making it easy to move.

The 10m power cable reduces the need for an extension cable, and with no petrol or oil needed, plug it in and off you go. Priced at €149, it is a good starting mower for someone who doesn’t want to make a big investment starting off.