Push lawn mowers are not as popular as they once were, with the manually operated mowers being overlooked in favour on electrical or petrol-powered lawn mowers instead.
It’s easy to see why people don’t tend to use push lawn mowers – they lack the power of electric or petrol lawn mowers so surely push mowers are not as effective?
The truth is that a push lawn mower is still a fantastic tool for lawn maintenance. Yes, there is no power source to operate the machine, so it may not be as suitable for removing large areas of thick, long grass, yet these lawn mowers certainly have value for the right gardener.
Also known as cylindrical lawn mower, push mowers consist of a series of horizontal blades fixed to a large cylinder at the front of the mower. When pushing the lawn mower, the cylinder rotates against a fixed blade to produce a very fine and precise cut.
The action works similar to a pair of scissors, snipping and clipping away at the grass rather than shredding it away with a rotating blade like petrol or electric lawn mowers.
Push mowers produce a very clean cut and can reach much lower than other types of mowers, making them very effective for creating well-manicured lawns.
For instance, push mowers are typically used on bowling greens and golf courses. These are beautifully tailored lawns that are highly desirable by many gardeners, yet the only way to achieve an ornamental lawn is by using a push mower.
Additionally, push mowers are very simple to operate – providing the grass isn’t overgrown – because they weigh much less than other lawn mowers.
They are silent too, so you don’t need to worry about making too much noise (great for earlier risers), while they can also improve lawn health as they only remove a short amount of length and leave a clean cut, making the grass less susceptible to disease, scalping, and weed growth.
The Einhel GC-HM 30 is a lightweight push lawn mower suitable for small lawns and most medium sized lawns, offering a clean and precise finish from a range of cutting heights. If your lawn is up to 150sqm then this is a great little push mower that can provide a wonderfully attractive finish on your lawn.
Silent to operate and weighing just 6.7kg, the GC-HM 30 glides through the grass with ease. It rarely struggles to move through the grass, even if on the longer side, thanks to the impressive range cutting heights that make it easier to get the right finish on various grass lengths.
For instance, the lower cutting heights range from 15-20mm, which are perfect for producing a clean cut on short lawns – a go-to setting for getting that much-desired ornamental finish.
Of course, this means regular mowing, so if you’re less likely to mow several times a week then the higher cutting heights work well, letting you remove more length from longer growth while still maintaining a clean finish and keeping the lawn healthy.
The 30cm cutting width is quite standard for most push mowers and is fine for small and most medium lawns. Anything larger than 150sqm will take a bit longer to mow, although there is a GC-HM 30 with an 40cm cutting width if you have a bigger lawn.
Even if you need to use it for a little longer, the GC-HM 30 is simple to operate, never feeling too heavy or clogging with grass. The only time it will struggle is with long, thick, or wet grass, which is the case for every push mower!
Pros
- Five steel blades with a 30cm cutting width
- Very lightweight and easy to operate
- Variable cutting heights ranging between 15-42mm
- 16L grass collector
Cons
- Might struggle with lawns larger than 150sqm although a model with a wider cutting width is available
- Wide cutting width (30 cm) for a speedier finish when cutting the lawn
- Strong and light weight hand mower
- Large 16 L collection bag for grass cuttings
Bosch AHM 38 G Manual Push Lawn Mower
Despite being known for power tools, Bosch can also produce decent manual tools that don’t require any power, much like the very impressive Bosch AHM 38 G push mower.
Compact and lightweight, the push mower comes with a nice range of cutting heights and rear rollers, allowing you to get that perfect cut on your lawn every time.
With a 30cm cutting width the AHM 38 G is suitable for small and medium sized gardens, working best on anything up to 150sqm.
Fitted with a robust and razor sharp five-blade cylinder, the mower cuts through grass with ease and precision, with the scissor-like cutting action producing a wonderful cut on the grass.
It provides a very nice finish, cutting the grass blades rather than shredding them, resulting in a well-trimmed and vibrant lawn. The large side wheels are high geared to ensure easier manoeuvrability, while the lawn mower produces virtually no sound whatsoever.
As mentioned, the wheels have rear rollers that allow you to get a lovely stripped effect. When combined with the precise cutting finish, it’s easy to get a beautifully manicured lawn that will be the envy of your neighbours!
You can select from various cutting heights, ranging from 15mm to 43m, with the lower range being especially effective for creating an ornamental finish. Just remember not to let the grass grow too long, otherwise the cutting height may not be high enough and could make mowing a bit tougher.
That said, the 25L grass collector does make it easier to maintain lawns that a bit bigger or have longer grass, as you don’t need to spend time constantly stopping and emptying the grass. It can be slightly tricky to attach and remove at times, although should be easy enough after a few tries.
Pros
- Five blade cylinder with a 38cm cutting
- Variable cutting heights ranging between 15-43mm
- Rear rollers for creating a striped effect
- 25L grass collector
Cons
- Grass box can be tricky to attach and remove initially but easy enough to learn after a few tries
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WEBB H30 30cm Hand Mower
The H30 is a push lawn mower from Webb that offers a good selection of cutting heights to get the desired finish on small and medium size lawns. It’s also quite effective at removing longer grass, which isn’t always the case with push mowers, thanks mainly to its large wheels that help better navigate through tougher lawns.
That said, the H30 still thrives when mowing shorter grass, offering the upmost precision and perfectly clean cut. It easily cuts away as little or as much length as needed within the 10mm-40mm cutting range, with the lowest height setting offering one of the closest cuts around.
This makes the H30 a great buy for gardening aficionados that love to regularly mow their lawn for the perfect finish. With the 10mm setting you can simply remove the slightest amount every few days to easily maintain a beautiful lawn.
The higher settings are useful too, being great for removing longer length for those that mow less frequently but still want a nice finish. As mentioned, the larger wheels help to improve usability if mowing in longer grass, so it’s a versatile push mower that performs well in most conditions.
With six blades made from hardened steel, you can expect the lawn mower to last for many years and need virtually no maintenance, all while producing a healthy and precise cut on the grass. Storing the lawn mower should be easy as its relatively compact, although the handles don’t collapse so bear this in mind if you’re lacking much storage space.
Pros
- Six hardened steel blades with a 30cm cutting width
- Cutting heights ranging from 10mm to 40mm
- Rear rollers for stripped effect
- 18L grass collector
Cons
- Handle doesn’t fold so storage may an issue if tight for space (although it is still quite compact)
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AL-KO Soft Touch 38cm Hand Lawnmower
While not all push mowers are suitable for larger gardens, models such as the AL-KO Soft Touch 380 HM Premium Hand Mower are designed with bigger lawns in mind. This makes it one of the most versatile push mowers around, as it’s great for lawns of varying sizes, functioning well in lawns as large as 250sqm – not many push mowers can do this.
This is thanks to the larger cutting 38cm width of the 5-blade steel cylinder. It’s as precise with its cutting and smaller push mowers but its larger size means you can make fewer passes, making it ideal for larger lawns that many push mowers struggle with.
With a four height settings ranging from 14mm to 35mm, the mower is suitable for shorter grass, making it a popular option amongst garden lovers that want to achieve that perfect looking lawn.
Better still, getting that amazing finish is easy for most, as the mower weighs under 10kg so very easy to use, while the extra-large wheels help further improve manoeuvrability. It even performs well on uneven lawns, with the single axle design improving balance and stability on hilled or sloped lawns.
There is also a rubber bumper attached to the front of mower to reduce damage taken when impacting fences or walls, while a collapsible handle means you can easily store the push mower even if tight on shed space.
The only real drawback of AL-KO Soft Touch 380 HM Premium Hand Mower is that there is no grass collector included. It’s certainly not a deal breaker, espiecally if you mow regularly so won’t have much clippings to deal with. Plus, leaving grass trimmings on the lawn provides it with additional nutrients!
Pros
- 5-blade cylinder with a larger 38cm cutting width
- 4 cutting heights ranging from 14mm to 35mm
- Collapsible handle design for easier storage
- Includes two-year warranty
Cons
- Doesn’t include a grass collector
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- The cutting height can be set as low as 14 mm making the AL-KO 380 HM Premium...
- The high-quality 5-blade mowing cylinder made of hardened special steel ensures...
Buying Guide
Thinking of buying a push lawn mower but are unsure of what to look for? Buying the right push mower can be difficult as there are so many makes and models available, some of which are great and highly recommended, while others are less reliable.
So, you want to do some research to ensure that you choose the best push mower for your garden. After all, there are many factors to consider when shopping for a push mower, otherwise you may end up choosing something that doesn’t get the desired result!
Check the buying guide below for advice on how to find the best pus mower for your garden:
Weight
Push mowers are the lightest type of lawn mower as they lack any sort of engine or electric motor. This is one of their biggest benefits, as people that may struggle to operate heavier lawn mowers, especially petrol lawn mowers and larger electric lawn mowers, will find them much easier to operate.
However, not all push mowers are as lightweight as you might assume! While most weigh less than your average petrol or electric mower, there are still models that are on the heavier side. Plus, with not self-propulsion feature like with some electric and petrol mowers, you won’t have any assistance moving the mower.
So, be sure to look at the weight of the push mower and ensure that this is light enough for you to operate for prolonged periods. The larger the mower the heavier it will get, so bear this in mind too and choose something you can comfortably use.
Cutting Width
The cutting width is an important feature of any type of lawn mower. It determines how many passes you need to make when mowing, with wider cutting widths meaning fewer passes so less time spent mowing.
Most push mowers have a minimum cutting width of 30cm, which should be fine for most smaller lawns, although may not be the most suitable medium sized lawns. This is because you’ll need to make many more passes to cut wider lawns, in which case a cutting width of around 40cm is recommended.
Cutting Height
The more options you have for cutting heights on a lawn mower the better, as it means you can use the mower when your grass is at various heights, letting you get the best finish no matter the grass length.
Remember, push mowers are designed to remove short amounts of grass for a clean, precise finish, so the height ranges are often smaller than with other lawn mowers. For instance, push mowers cutting heights that reach as low as 10-12mm, which is ideal for getting a very precise, ornamental finish.
Look for a nice range between cutting heights, with lower heights suitable for regular lawn maintenance and higher heights being a good option for when the grass has been left to grow a bit longer.
Lawn Size
The consensus is that push mowers are ideal for small lawns and most medium sized lawns, yet anything too big and it might become too much work. Remember, these are mostly manually operated (there are some electrical models available but these cost a lot of money) so using them on a large lawn may take you quite some time to finish mowing. If you are need of power for extra coverage you may be best going for a cordless mower that allows more cutting but without the wires.
That’s not to say you can’t use a push mower on large gardens, just bear in mind it may require a lot of time and effort to complete.
Lawn condition
Take a look at the overall condition of your lawn before buying a push mower, as it might not be the best lawn for this type of mower. For example, if your lawn is generally unkept and has a lot of long, dense growth, then a push mower is not advised.
Push mowers are best when removing short amounts of grass from a well-maintained lawn, as they lack the power to shred away large swathes like with electric or petrol mowers. You’ll find the mower will clog up a lot and you’ll likely need to mow it several times just to get the desired length if the grass is too long and thick. If your lawn requires scarifying, it is best to use a good lawn scarifier prior to mowing to ensure the best finish.
Also, bear in mind that hilly and sloped lawns will require more effort on your part to mow, as push mowers are manually operated, so be ready to exert more energy if your lawn isn’t too flat.
Last update on 2024-12-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
