On test: hand push mowers

If you’ve got a small lawn, an eco-friendly push mower could be just the thing. Kay Maguire tests eight models to find our Best Buys

Push mowers are a simple, traditional way to mow your lawn without the worry of engines or cables. Cylinder blades rotate as you push the mower, there are no fuel or electricity costs, and no emissions. They’re kind to your neighbours too, as they’re much quieter than powered mowers.

Cylinder mowers generally give a smoother, sharper finish than rotary mowers, while the rear roller can create elegant stripes. But a quality cut needn’t cost the earth. Hand push mowers can cost as little as £50, about half of the price of a budget electric mower.

Usually small, they’re easy to store, light enough to manoeuvre well around the garden, plus they keep you fit. You need to push, and walking briskly gives a better cut so you’ll get a workout and burn calories each time you mow.

But push mowers aren’t for every garden – they’re only suited for small to medium-sized (up to 250m²) lawns on flat ground with few bumps. Most also don’t work well on long grass.

All the mowers in our test were cylinder-type, with five blades and a rear roller. We tested eight models on a flat, circular lawn and on a sloping, less even, shaped lawn to see how well they performed. The mowers were rated in four key areas, with equal marks attributed to each:

Setting up & storage Ease of assembly and clarity of instructions, weight, portability and storage features.

Ease of handling How simple it was to use, its weight and the effort needed, manoeuvrability and the height of cut adjustment.

Cutting performance The range of cutting heights, cutting width, grass collection, capacity and the quality of cut.

Value for money The price was weighed against the quality and design, materials, special features and the length of warranty.

August 2020

Handle Ideally adjustable to suit your height. Padding makes it more comfortable when pushing the mower.

Cutting width The greater the cutting width, the more grass it will cut in one go. But wider mowers can also be heavy.

Cutting bar Works together with the cylinder blades to trap and slice the grass. Can be adjusted to ensure an even cut.

Cylinder blades Usually five sharp carbon steel blades that pass across the cutting bar to slice through the grass with a precise scissor action.

Mower body Covers and protects the cylinder blades.

Rear roller Flattens the grass as you mow to give a professional, striped finish to the lawn.

The gap, or clearance, between the blades and the cutting bar must be right – too wide and the cut will be rough and uneven, too narrow and it will be noisy and hard to push the mower. To check, turn the mower over,

Grass collector

A mesh bag or solid plastic container, attached to either the front or rear. A higher capacity means fewer trips to the compost heap.

Height-of-cut adjuster Determines the grass cutting height, usually according to set heights on a defined scale or infinitely by eye. insert a strip of paper between the bar and blades and slowly turn the cylinder wheel. Check both sides and if the paper hasn’t cut evenly, adjust the clearance bolts with a spanner or Allen key.