So we’ve moved into our dream house, with its massive garden, all is lovely,…………

Kin hell ! , ive just spent all day mowing the the garden, with our naff little flymo now n vac

Not too pricery but something that’ll make my life easier

Just bought this, not overly pricey, does the job 100 times beeter than my old flymo!

Mountfield

Big lawns, best variable speed Honda with a big bag that you can afford.
Spend the money, if you value your free to ride time

Buy a good one with a cast (not pressed) deck. It will be the only one you buy. Take a trip to your local grassland/garden maintenance suppliers and find something in budget. Taking this option also ensures that you can get spares for it when you need them.

“Buy a good one with a cast (not pressed) deck propper robust ABS deck. It will be the only one you buy.”

Cast rots out just like pressed…… 3-5 years out of our 1200 quid hondas at an old job.

ABS decked etasia lasted till the end of my days – and my ABS allen flymo we used to dangle off a rope for the bankings is still going strong – its 20 years old.

Whatever you go for, consider a mower that can mulch as well as bag (or just a mulching mower) – you mow slightly more often but time and hassle saved in not having to get rid of the cuttings is worth it…. better for the lawn too.

A lot depends on how big the lawn is.

Whatever you go for, consider a mower that can mulch as well as bag (or just a mulching mower) – you mow slightly more often but time and hassle saved in not having to get rid of the cuttings is worth it…. better for the lawn too.

A lot depends on how big the lawn is.

propper robust ABS deck

This – my 15 year old plastic-decked Mountfield is in better nick than my 5 year old metal-decked Hayter. And get one with a decent engine (e.g. Briggs & Stratton or Honda) if you value your time and sanity (I’m assuming if it’s a big garden you’ve ruled out electric). Then think about things like whether you need a roller for stripes, cutting width, self-propelled or push etc then go down to your nearest shop with a decent range (probably a specialist, not B&Q, Homebase etc) and compare prices.

Does ABS = plastic? My brilliant old Mountfield – bought secondhand in 1998 – seems to have had its base suddenly turn into lace over the winter and I am assuming I won’t be able to replace it. Shame as apart from smoking a bit the motor’s still going strongly.

More love here for the Hondas – like this one (can run without spinning the blade). Expensive, but like a decent bike, paid back in longevity and reliability.
Think Honda are doing some trade-in deals at the moment.

Have you considered paying someone else to cut it, and riding your bike instead ?

After 20+ years with cylinder mowers followed by a few years with a rotary mower I’ve found the lawn getting more and more bumpy so I’ve just bought an Atco 14″ cylinder mower (I like stripes). 😳