Goddamnit. Why does it always come to this? I need a new lawn mower. I gave up on petrol powered units a couple of years ago, but I can’t say that the electric alternative has been much better, apart from being cleaner to use and kinder to the planet, natch. That’s all well and good, but I haven’t had a lot of luck with the batteries.
Our latest electric mower, a Ryobi gifted to us by some neighbours who moved out of their house and into an apartment, finally died last weekend, and I’m about 15 minutes away from driving off to Bunnings to replace it. But do you think I can get any sense of what I should replace it with? No, no you do not.
There seems to be a couple of price bands. Somewhere between $100 and $150 for underpowered little garden toys that could barely bend a blade of grass, let alone cut it. $800 to $900 Warhammer inspired turf destroying monster beasts. And a whole lot of confusing shit in between.
I think I’m just going to ask one of the gnarly old Bunnings blokes what they use on their lawn. They all look like they have lawn. Although, to be honest, they’ll probably say a dirty, petrol powered old Victa.
How about electric with cord? Can be a bit of an arse wrangling the cord but you find a mowing pattern that tends to keep it "behind" you after a few tries
Absolutely one of the reasons why we moved to a place with shrubberies (in a Monty Python voice) surrounded by tiles, slabs etc…not a single blade of grass.
The lamb idea is the next best option…but get two.
I can attest to the quality of the AEG 58V system if the battery power is still the preference, otherwise gumtree and that marketplace have more secondhand mowers for under $200 that will last forever.....or at least many, many years........
Get another Ryobi and register it for the extended warranty. You’ll get 6-7 years warranty on it that way, and with any luck it’ll break in year 5 or 6…
Many years ago, when I had a lawn, I owned and loved a push mower. One Saturday I started on the back lawn at about the same time as my neighbour pulled his petrol victor-alike out. I had finished the job before he got the old two-stroke started. Cost less than $100, from memory.
The lawn was subsequently rendered into a miniature replica of the grand canyon by one of the puppies, chasing weta grubs (I believe that she could hear them burrowing). That was solved by paving that part and turning the rest of it over to forest, with a walking path through it. Everyone lived happily ever after. I haven't mowed or owned a mower in about twenty years now. YMMV.
My 2c worth. We’ve had great success with an EGO Lawnmower: four or so years in, battery is still great, but I did get a new blade this year after the kids mowed one too many rocks and the old one couldn’t be sharpened any more.
At the beginning of the pandemic got an EGO whipper snipper which is a joy to use as well.
Ah, I hadn't realised that was possible, and yes Elana I take your point but that does sound like something that shouldn't happen in a well-designed system. I guess I haven't seen this because my better half gets impatient and keeps checking the battery—she is a bit skeptical if I sit too long on the verandah with a cold drink and a book while I'm "waiting for the battery to charge". ;)
Second the EGO mower and whippersnipper. And I leave the battery on charge. Possibly all Canberra winter (who could possibly say?). It's run well for the past 3 years and I'm toying with getting a second battery and the hedge trimmer piece.
Get a lamb. At the right size then introduce it to the Egg. Rinse and repeat.
2 of the finest words ever uttered to a middle-aged man: Lawn Service.
I had children for this purpose and they have been a grave disappointment.
How about electric with cord? Can be a bit of an arse wrangling the cord but you find a mowing pattern that tends to keep it "behind" you after a few tries
Chips. With a little artificial grass. And lots and lots of ground cover. Strawberries are surprisingly good, and produce strawberries.
Absolutely one of the reasons why we moved to a place with shrubberies (in a Monty Python voice) surrounded by tiles, slabs etc…not a single blade of grass.
The lamb idea is the next best option…but get two.
I can attest to the quality of the AEG 58V system if the battery power is still the preference, otherwise gumtree and that marketplace have more secondhand mowers for under $200 that will last forever.....or at least many, many years........
Get another Ryobi and register it for the extended warranty. You’ll get 6-7 years warranty on it that way, and with any luck it’ll break in year 5 or 6…
Nice. Thanks!
You need a zero turn riding lawnmower, your BGE has standards.
Hmm why not a robot mower JB?
Why not. Why not indeed.
Many years ago, when I had a lawn, I owned and loved a push mower. One Saturday I started on the back lawn at about the same time as my neighbour pulled his petrol victor-alike out. I had finished the job before he got the old two-stroke started. Cost less than $100, from memory.
The lawn was subsequently rendered into a miniature replica of the grand canyon by one of the puppies, chasing weta grubs (I believe that she could hear them burrowing). That was solved by paving that part and turning the rest of it over to forest, with a walking path through it. Everyone lived happily ever after. I haven't mowed or owned a mower in about twenty years now. YMMV.
Hmm, this sounds perfect, except for the work involved in digging and creating my Grand Canyon.
My 2c worth. We’ve had great success with an EGO Lawnmower: four or so years in, battery is still great, but I did get a new blade this year after the kids mowed one too many rocks and the old one couldn’t be sharpened any more.
At the beginning of the pandemic got an EGO whipper snipper which is a joy to use as well.
I’ve had a couple of EGO thingies and they were great but I killed the batteries by charging them too long. Very easy to do. If you’re me.
Ah, I hadn't realised that was possible, and yes Elana I take your point but that does sound like something that shouldn't happen in a well-designed system. I guess I haven't seen this because my better half gets impatient and keeps checking the battery—she is a bit skeptical if I sit too long on the verandah with a cold drink and a book while I'm "waiting for the battery to charge". ;)
Second the EGO mower and whippersnipper. And I leave the battery on charge. Possibly all Canberra winter (who could possibly say?). It's run well for the past 3 years and I'm toying with getting a second battery and the hedge trimmer piece.
That does sound like a user error, rather than a fault with the device though #JustSayin'