Look at the perfect green lawns of Wimbledon or the outfields at Lords and the Oval and you will realise that you need a very special mower to cut your lawn so short and so even.
So here are three mowers to give your lawns the perfectly Wimbledon finish, good enough for croquet and any other summer sport you wish.
Classically British: Hayter Harrier 48 lawn mower
First is from a British manufacturer, and it’s the Hayter Harrier 48 Autodrive Lawnmower, a mower with variable speed drive.
It has a 48 cm cutting width and cut right down to 13 mm while the longest length of grass it can trim to is 60 mm.
The engine is a 190 cc model from Briggs & Stratton made to start easily and to last. A cutter bar friction disc minimises damage should you hit something solid.
The deck is lined to give quieter mowing and better collection of the clippings. And the chassis is from aluminium for lighter weight and corrosion resistance.
It has an extra-large 70-litre grass box to prolong the time spent mowing.
The maker’s recommended price is £979 but we have it for sale for £849. It is delivered free the next working day and there is a five-year warranty from Hayter.
Now two from Allett, makers of the archetypal British mower.
The Allett Kensington 17K Petrol Cylinder Lawn Mower
Terrific finish: Allett Kensington mower
is the classic mower, green and gold livery and a puttering 98 cc engine fuelled by a 1.6-litre tank.
Being a cylinder mower it gives a much better finish with a perfect stripe. A front rake ahead of the front roller smoothes the grass and, together with the split rear roller, are the secret to the finish which few other machines can match.
This one has a 17 in cutting width and can cut right down to 6 mm, just right for tennis courts and bowling greens.
It has been designed to be easy to use with adjustable handlebars which fold away for easy storage. And there is a 62-litre grass box.
You can buy a 10-bladed cutting cylinder for an even smoother finish.
Extras with this machine include a scarifier cartridge, de-thatcher and an aerator. Delivery is free the next working day and there is a two-year warranty from Allett.
It costs £1199.
Jolly good show: Allett Westminster 20h cylinder mower
And finally the Allett Westminster 20H Petrol Cylinder Lawn Mower, a top quality 12-bladed machine, the choice of leading tennis, cricket and football clubs and greenkeepers the length and breadth of Britain.
This has a 20 in cutting width and a 196 cc engine to move it sedately along the perfect greensward.
An adjustable rake between the rollers clears the way for the blades and this mower can cut right down to 2.4 mm. Heights are adjusted by a simple knob.
The grass box can hold 84 litres, important for when mowing larger areas precisely.
An optional wheel stand kit is also available for £198.
This mower costs £4139, and can be delivered free the next working day. Plus there is a two-year warranty.
Updated June 2018
