Choosing a hand push mower

Have you got the right lawn?

Cylinder mowers need an even surface for the scissor action of the blades to work well, so your lawn must be fairly bump free and 250m² or below. Simpler shapes are easier, unless you opt for a compact model with a smaller cutting width that can be manoeuvred more easily around trees and island beds and under shrubs.

Do you like mowing the lawn?

Hand push mowers clearly take more effort than powered mowers, but are easier to push if the grass isn’t too long. Cylinder mowers work best on fairly short grass and will struggle or not cut long grass at all. So you need to cut regularly or choose a mower with a high height of cut to let you catch up if you miss a mow now and then.

Can you look after your mower? Cylinder blades need regular checking and adjusting to ensure a precise cut and prevent the mower chewing the grass rather than cutting it. Adjustment isn’t difficult, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you’re not mechanically minded.

Do you need a grass collector?

Most mowers come with one, but some are sold separately. Nearly all the grass collectors failed to catch clippings well, particularly when windy. Although front collectors work best, they block your view. If you’re happy to mow regularly (twice a week in the growing season), you may not need one at all and can simply let the short clippings fall down onto the grass and act as a mulch.

Do you have storage?

These mowers must be kept indoors to prevent the blades rusting, so if storage space is tight, choose a model that is light enough to hang up or has folding handles.

Cut in long straight lines, walking briskly – the faster you walk, the better the mower will cut.

To create stripes, mow around the edge of the lawn first, then start in one corner, mowing up and down. When you finish a stripe, turn and line up the mower with the completed stripe, as a guide for the next one. You can mow straight up and down, or diagonally, or even in a circle!

When adjusting or cleaning the mower, stand it on a flat surface with a block in front of the wheels so it can’t roll forward.