Lawnmower recommendations

[SaraJH]

Someone, not me , cut through the lawnmower cable this afternoon!

We have quite a big garden, front and back, and so I'm thinking that a petrol mower is the way to go, no more cables.

Any recommendations for a mower with at least a 40 cm cutting width, big grass box and, most importantly, a 20mm or lower cutting height?

ETA, self propelling as we have quite a slope to contend with at the front!

[Martin H]

For my previous garden I had a Hayter Harrier autodrive mower. A lovely machine, rotary mower with a rear roller to give a nice finish with a stripe. Ten years of trouble-free mowing, never serviced it but did change the oil two or three times.

Not cheap but a joy to use.

[SaraJH]

Thanks Martin, will look into that. We don't need a back roller, in fact, given our terrain I think 4 wheels would be better, but will have a look at your recommendation.

Mind you, I do love a stripe lol

[SaraJH]

Budget might help, about £500 but it must be something that wil last.

[Mr Growser...]

We needed a mower for very similar circumstances to yours, Sara, and after using a push Mountfield for several years, we bought a Webb R18HW Self Propelled Lawn Mower.

It is a real workhorse, and the real benefit is the big drive wheels, which we need for negotiating paths at home and on The Patch. It's a bit heavy but that also means it's a sturdy but manoeuvrable machine, and very well made. It has seven heights, and a huge grass box.

Ours cost £275.00, and the Briggs and Stratton engine just chugs all day if you want it to!

I'm absolutely delighted with it, and would recommend it to anyone!

(And it's painted dark green, not angry red or Cortina orange..;0)

[SaraJH]

Thanks Mr Growser, I will check that out, sounds ideal!

[ESBkevin]

Briggs and Stratton or Honda engines are signs that things should be well made. A lot of the cheaper mowers are made in China to a price, indeed some more expensive ones are too, but a Genuine Honda or B&S power plant will give easy starting and reliable running with regular servicing. If you can hang on another month the real sales bargains start as the stores clear out the summer stock.

[Stan79]

Briggs and Stratton or Honda engines are signs that things should be well made. A lot of the cheaper mowers are made in China to a price, indeed some more expensive ones are too, but a Genuine Honda or B&S power plant will give easy starting and reliable running with regular servicing. If you can hang on another month the real sales bargains start as the stores clear out the summer stock.

Spot on... And loads of good quality second hand machines on eBay recently... I would always go for Hayter with a Briggs power plant.