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G'day from down under :smile:

I need some advice on the best options for mowing my lawn. We half half an acre of garden which has 4 main sections of lawn all are sloped (probably approx a 1:10 slope on average) with some much steeper embankments, the lawns are all irregular shapes with plans and vegie beds in them. Up until recently I've just been pushing the standard petrol push mower around however I have developed issues with my right foot (halux rigidus - stiff big toe, it's basically arthritis in the toe joint which means I can't bend it properly and about the worst thing I can do for it is push heavy object uphill - other than running which I had to give up as well ) and it's getting worse which means I need to find an alternative solution. Other than paying someone else to do it for me or moving house what would people recommend?

I'm considering a ride-on but I'm concerned about maneuvering it around all the plants and irregular shapes, I imagine I'll end up going back around with a trimmer a lot? The other alternative is a self propelled mower but I haven't heard great things about them on slopes and I don't know how maneuverable they are when you need to push them around things and pull them backwards to cover awkward spots.

Any advice much appreciated?

Thanks

Zarniwoop

I would say do away with all the plants and what ever and make it into lawn.

My rear wheel drive self propelled Toro is very powerful, but I do not not like the "Personal Pace" design where you push the handle to engage the self propel. (So I added a handle on the back to engage the self propel.) I would suggest a rear wheel drive or all wheel drive self propelled mower, but get one with a lever or butterfly throttle to engage the self propel, not one on which you push the handle down. Swivel wheels might also be good. mowersdirect.com has a wide selection. The Husqvarna HU725AWD might be one to look into.

As I read the thread he is having problems walking up hills anymore which he has to mow with a lot of things to mow around. Also he said its getting worse. My wife has a walking problem and I can see what he is going through. He still wants to be independent and mow his own lawn which I can well understand. As for my wife she can operate a rider just fine but could never operate a walk behind. As I see it he will have to give up some things because life can be hard for a handicap person sometimes and they just have to change. So if he can use a rider he may have to adjust things so they work for him like readjusting his yard. Also one of my customers lives from a wheel chair and still mows his lawn with a riding mower and trims from the seat of the mower with a string trimmer. Now also we live a half a world apart and I am just guessing about his situation?

The best would be a zero turn mower. Very good to go around many obstacles and depending on the hill they can handle it. All tho, ztr are not the best on big slopes. All tho, I don't know how bad your slope is.
Other option is redo your yard. Put all the veggies and plants in one big garden and the rest all lawn. That way there is only one big obstacle.

If you could also give us your budget it would be helpful.

Hi All,

Thanks for the input, unfortunately it's more the shape and number of lawns rather than the plants that are the biggest issue and the major problem plants are larger shrubs and trees that would be tricky to get rid off without a lot of work.

The budget is a little tricky to say, I hadn't anticipated this issue so about $0 would be good :laughing:, failing that about AU$1500 (probably ~US$1300), I'm unsure how well this translates as products in Oz tend to be a lot more expensive than the US. After considering the options I'm thinking that a small second hand ride on is probably the way to go. Before I start my research are there any features you would recommend for this type of small fiddly work?


Cheers

Zarniwoop

Not knowing very much about Australia no idea what is available. 1300 will buy you a cheap new rider in the US. If it was me I would buy something used and up grade to a better model. Maybe a ZT if you can find one? Don't know if or how well you can walk but you can always trim with a string trimmer, they make cheap eclectic models that do a good job.

reynoldston said:

Not knowing very much about Australia no idea what is available. 1300 will buy you a cheap new rider in the US. If it was me I would buy something used and up grade to a better model. Maybe a ZT if you can find one? Don't know if or how well you can walk but you can always trim with a string trimmer, they make cheap eclectic models that do a good job.

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I'm still very mobile (i.e. I walk normally if you don't know what to look for) but it just limits some of the high impact stuff like pushing a mower up hills.

Don't know how you measure land in Australia but a 1/2 ac. in US that is about 100X200 foot. Just a nice work out on a hill with a push mower. Seeing you can still walk fairly good a self propelled would work for you also.

reynoldston said:

Don't know how you measure land in Australia but a 1/2 ac. in US that is about 100X200 foot. Just a nice work out on a hill with a push mower. Seeing you can still walk fairly good a self propelled would work for you also.

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True that.

Self propelled do good on hills that are not to steep. If they are, it will be hard on you and your feet. I can mow 1/4 acre which about 75% of the yard is on a slope in 38 minutes trimming included.

reynoldston said:

Don't know how you measure land in Australia but a 1/2 ac. in US that is about 100X200 foot. Just a nice work out on a hill with a push mower. Seeing you can still walk fairly good a self propelled would work for you also.

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Sounds about right size-wise. The problem is with my foot and that I can't push against it very well (the big toe doesn't bend anymore) so I end up either hurting the foot or compensating by changing my foot placement which ends up inflaming other parts of my leg. Trust me I'm fit enough (I road cycle 50-100km several times a week plus swim a couple of kms so no issues there) but it's just the actual movement required in pushing a mower up-hills that's the issue.

Just came across the petrol hover mowers (HUSQVARNA GX 560 - Lawnmowers), just wondering if anyone has any experience with these? If they require little effort to push and are maneuverable they could be an option?

Zarniwoop said:

Just came across the petrol hover mowers (HUSQVARNA GX 560 - Lawnmowers), just wondering if anyone has any experience with these? If they require little effort to push and are maneuverable they could be an option?

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I have heard of them but never seen one. It sounds to me like a experiment. As for myself I don't like to spend my money on something that hasn't been proved that will work. run forest run

Zarniwoop said:

Just came across the petrol hover mowers (HUSQVARNA GX 560 - Lawnmowers), just wondering if anyone has any experience with these? If they require little effort to push and are maneuverable they could be an option?

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That is a flymo. Popular in the UK. I have never tried one, but they are good on slopes since you can swipe it around. I don't think it is made to mow large portions of lawns.

If you do get a self propelled mower, get one with rear wheel or all wheel drive. But stay away from Toro's Personal Pace - it is almost impossible to pull the mower backwards without damaging your lawn. As for power, my self propelled mower pulls me through my lawn and up the few hills that I have.