Best Push Mowers

Would you prefer an electric or petrol push mower?

Petrol push lawn mowers offer longer running time, a greater mowing range, better reliability and more power. This makes them more suitable for bigger jobs with tough grass. However, they aren't as eco-friendly as electric mowers.

Electric push lawn mowers can either be battery-powered or corded. They're a greener option, but there are also limitations. Corded push lawn mowers have a limited range and battery push lawn mowers are always at a risk of running out of juice before you've finished the job. This makes electric lawn mowers better for smaller lawns.

Which push mower features should I look for?

• Cutting diameter: This is controlled by the size of the blade cutting the grass. If you have a larger lawn to tackle, a petrol lawn mower comes with a wider cutting diameter of 45-50 cm, which can not only cut your lawns faster, and cut down the time you spend in the hot sun.
• Type of ignition: Some lawn mowers start with the push of a button while others require pulling a cord. If you have strength and dexterity limitations, you should be aware of this.
• Size of wheels: Lawn mowers with big wheels handle rough ground easier, but smaller wheels on more lightweight models can be easier to manoeuvre and turn.
• Handling: It's also important to make sure your lawn mower is easy to handle. Choosing a push lawn mower gives you precision, but controls that aren't user friendly defeat the purpose. A self-propelled mower can make that weekend slog less labour intensive, as you just walk behind the mower and guide it, instead of having to propel it forwards.

When is a push mower unsuitable?

While tight corners and tricky edges aren't a problem for a push mower, if you have uneven or hilly ground, a push mower might be too inconvenient to push, since you're providing the momentum. For a larger area, you may want to look at a ride-on mower.