Anyone who’s tried using a standard hand-propelled mower on a rough lawn comprising tussocky, lumpy grass will understand what hard work it can be, even across flat ground.
That’s where a self-drive mower will come into its own, with its powered rear-wheels – or in some cases, powered roller – propelling it over the lawn under its own steam, leaving you with only the steering to manage.
So, here are some of the best self-propelled lawnmowers on the market, including domestic models, professional models, and everything in between!
Firstly, one designed and engineered in Japan.
No need to push: Harry LMG42S-A Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower
It might be one of the most affordable self-propelled mowers on the market, but don’t let that fool you into thinking the Harry LMG42S-A Petrol Lawnmower in any way compromises on quality!
Surprisingly for a machine in this price bracket – it costs only £239 – the Harry LMG42S-A is capable of mulching. Instead of being bagged, clippings are retained under the cutter-deck where they’re shredded, before being deposited onto the lawn surface. They’ll quickly rot and become invisible, with the decomposition process feeding the turf with free organic nutrients.
A working-width of only 42cm makes it easy to guide between closely spaced obstacles; a steel chassis means you can rest assured when it comes to durability.
This one has a cylinder-displacement of just 99cc, so you can expect excellent fuel economy.
Second up, a mower from a US brand gaining increasing traction in the UK.
Powered by Briggs & Stratton: Snapper NX-40 3-in-1 Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower
The Snapper NX-40 Petrol Lawnmower will prove a great investment if you’d like to do your bit for the environment, as it’s powered by a cutting-edge Briggs & Stratton engine with the American manufacturer’s emission-reducing EVE™ technology.
Also a 42cm, mulch-capable machine, the Snapper NX-40 benefits from simple, single-lever height-of-cut selection; and even features an electronic low-oil alarm, which lets you know when a top-up stop is imminent.
The cylinder capacity is a sizeable 140cc.
You can get hold of the NX-40 for just £359 through MowDirect.
Thirdly, a mower from Italy’s number-one garden-machinery brand.
Designed and built in Italy: Oleo-Mac G53-VK AllRoad Plus-4 Petrol Lawnmower
The forward-speed on the Oleo-Mac G53-VK AllRoad Plus-4 Petrol Lawnmower is adjustable, which allows to mow at the pace you feel most comfortable with, as well as enabling you to adapt to the grass-length you’re tackling (for example, you might want to mow longer grass at a slower speed).
As if it weren’t flexible enough, the G53-VK AllRoad Plus-4 also offers four cutting-modes – collection; mulching; rear/side-discharge – with all the relevant accessories supplied as standard.
This 51cm machine has a 196cc engine – that’s the largest you’ll find in this price-bracket.
Next, one for the environmentally conscious gardener.
Clean, green battery power: Redback E142CV Cordless Lawnmower
If you’re budget’s tight and you’d rather not deal with the dirt, noise, vibration, starting-hassle and maintenance issues that come with petrol power, this high-quality but affordable cordless mower from MowDirect-exclusive brand, Redback, is well worth a look!
It utilises cutting-edge lithium-ion battery tech, so you can expect rapid charge-times and extended runtimes, with no self-discharge or memory effect.
There’s a premium brushless motor for superior torque and a longer product-life; and a foldable soft-grip handlebar for convenient storage and enhanced user-comfort.
This one is available for an incredible £160 less than the suggested selling-price.
And remember, you won’t find it anywhere else in the UK!
Finally, something a little bit different!
Supremely manoeuvrable: Feider FTDT511ZT Zero-Turn Petrol Lawnmower
Unusually, the Feider FTDT511ZT Petrol Lawnmower has a single front castor-wheel, rather than the standard twin fixed wheels. This means you’ll be able to manoeuvre almost effortlessly, without having to push down on the handlebar in order to lift the front of the machine when realigning – in fact, you’ll be able to turn on the spot!
A single-piece sheet-steel deck works to maximise machine-life; a ‘bag full’ indicator helps to prevent spillages and blocking of the discharge chute by alerting you when it’s time for a trip to the compost bin.
Another MowDirect-exclusive, you can get your hands on this one for a full £126 below the RRP!
