Recommended lawn mower?

RastaManBob · 13 Apr 2017 at 19:27

Hello,

For the first time I'm in a position where I have a lawn to take care of. Until now I've never had a need for a lawn mower. The current garden is medium size. I'm not sure how soon I'll be moving again but when I do move it'll be to another place with a garden and, I'd imagine, of similar size. I don't need anything too advanced, just something to keep the lawn trimmed so that my son can play outside.

A few options that have cropped up, but I'm in no way limited to these if another mower is better:

Bosch AHM 38 G Manual Garden Lawn Mower
~£45
I like the idea of a manual mower for convenience but I'm not sure if it'll actually require more maintenance in the long run.

Flymo Easi Glide 330VX Electric Hover Collect Lawnmower
~£70
Only reason this has caught my eye is having seen it discounted in a local supermarket.

Flymo Visimo Electric Wheeled Rotary Lawn Mower
~£60
As above, only reason this has caught my eye is having seen it discounted in a local supermarket.

I've no idea whether I should go manual, rotary or hover. I know I don't want the hassle of petrol, though. I'm hoping there is the usual OcUK 'go-to' mower (a la the Ford Mondeo!) so, please, give me your recommendations?

Thanks!

Amp34 · 13 Apr 2017 at 19:48

Yeah, no.. Unless you feel like having a workout every time you mow I'd avoid the manual mower. If you leave the grass for more than a week you end up having a nightmare mowing it with a manual one.

Spooter · 13 Apr 2017 at 19:53

Petrol is no hassle. I've had electrics but after owning a petrol I will never go back. I have a mountfield which I use on my large garden!

http://www.diy.com/departments/mountfield-hp414-petrol-lawnmower/197138_BQ.prd

bremen1874 · 13 Apr 2017 at 22:48

I've been happy with my current Bosch Rotak. Far better than the equivalent Flymo it replaced.

NVP · 14 Apr 2017 at 08:26

Avoid Flymo as they're a pain.

A decent cheap Bosch electric mower will be just fine and are usually in sales.

That petrol one linked above looks well priced if you want cable free, although don't know how the brand stacks up.

Richie · 15 Apr 2017 at 07:09

Cant go wrong with a Honda Izy mower... A tad more expensive but mine is now 10 years old and starts every time without fail. The only thing I have needed to replace is the pull cord.

Something like this - https://www.lawnmowersdirect.co.uk/product/honda-hrg416sk-izy-self-propelled-petrol-lawnmower

Yes its more expensive but it will last a lifetime IMHO...

koooowweeee · 15 Apr 2017 at 07:28

If anyone is getting a petrol mower i highly recommend a honda izy. If looked after they will last you a life time

paintguy · 15 Apr 2017 at 10:34

bremen1874 said:
I've been happy with my current Bosch Rotak. Far better than the equivalent Flymo it replaced.

Same here.

I have a bad back and the Rotak is much easier to use than my previous Flymo, with the alternate hand grip / switch positions allowing me to change my posture and relieve the pressure on it.

Amp34 · 15 Apr 2017 at 17:58

Out of interest how big is your lawn? It didn't sound from your first post that you really need a petrol mower.

Dis86 · 15 Apr 2017 at 18:17

Amp34 said:
Out of interest how big is your lawn? It didn't sound from your first post that you really need a petrol mower.

Well the garden is medium size so one imagines medium sized or smaller. Surely that's clear from the OP?

Seriously OP, throw people a frickin bone here.

bazzabear · 15 Apr 2017 at 18:58

I haven't had a hover for a long while - but the reason I moved away from them is that if you miss a mow for a week or two and let the grass get too long, they're a nightmare - they just bog down constantly. If you never let the grass get too long, they're fine.

I have a Flymo wheeled at the moment, but I wouldn't get one again. There were major design flaws with it which Flymo refused to acknowledge (chiefly a very poorly designed height adjustment mechanism which damages itself every time you use it until it will no longer retain a setting - problem overcome with a bungee strap!). Their customer service was non existent.

PhoenixUK · 16 Apr 2017 at 12:01

Whatever you do, don't get a flymo, and especially not a hover one.

Recently got a qualcast 1600w on sale and can't fault it, great quality, great design and works just perfect. Handle and grass box fold down in about 10 seconds for storage.

PhoenixUK · 16 Apr 2017 at 12:01

double post - delete me please.

McPhee · 16 Apr 2017 at 12:39

I bought this a few weeks back:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Bosch-Arm-360-Electric-Lawnmower-37cm/p/153382

The lawn is about 20x10 meters. Does the job great. Absolute steal with another 15% off.

glitch · 17 Apr 2017 at 13:23

+1 for the Bosch Rotak recommendations - and worth the little extra for an Ergoflex model.

RoyMi6 · 17 Apr 2017 at 13:52

I wouldn't say electric ones are a workout... if anything I'd say they're less work than petrol ones!

Of course... it helps that mine's an automatic electric one

Regardless, I'd highly recommend it. Amazing coming back from holiday and your grass is sometimes better than when you left it!

Husqvarna Robotic Lawn Mower is what I've got, but pretty sure my sister got a Bosch one and it also works well.

glitch · 17 Apr 2017 at 14:24

That's got to be the worst advert for an automated mower ever - are you hoping to summon something to help you with the gardening?!

RoyMi6 · 17 Apr 2017 at 14:35

glitch said:
That's got to be the worst advert for an automated mower ever - are you hoping to summon something to help you with the gardening?!

Haha, that photo was from the first day and we noticed the pentagram as well - strangely, it's now scorched into the grass and we've not been able to get rid of it...

Amp34 · 17 Apr 2017 at 18:32

RoyMi6 said:
I wouldn't say electric ones are a workout... if anything I'd say they're less work than petrol ones!

Of course... it helps that mine's an automatic electric one

If that's in reply to my first comment then I'm not talking about electric ones.

Manual as in manual manual - no electric or petrol, but spinning blade as you push. Great for not needing to go to the gym though, although after two weeks it would be basically impossible to push it without it getting jammed.

Participant · 17 Apr 2017 at 20:47

RoyMi6 said:
I wouldn't say electric ones are a workout... if anything I'd say they're less work than petrol ones!

Of course... it helps that mine's an automatic electric one

Regardless, I'd highly recommend it.

Aren't you concerned you'll come back one day and it'll have carved a **** into your lawn?