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The first five pages of Google results had only mower manufacturers' marketing pieces, and no result for singletrackworld, so I assume it's not been asked before.
What is a good mower for long grass? As in, I like to let my lawn grow longer than most, and want a mower that can handle it and and not give the suburban buzz cut.
I struggled all last year with a manual cylinder mower, but it really couldn't deal with long grass.
A manual mower would be great, as I like using human power where possible, but if not, electric is better. My total lawn space is a decent amount, but it's in several pieces with slopes and steps, so a heavy petrol mower is out.
Do not buy a cylinder mower. I loved the idea of an old fashioned T4 cylinder mower that was the Sunday background noise of my childhood.
My electric rotary started to pour out smoke in the middle of the lawn last year and died so bought a cylinder one and ruined my lawn. I try to keep the grass long at 50mm. I am not obsessive about it but do feed it in spring and rake it and occasionally fill in the deep holes and fissures that appear when the clay dries out. The cylinder mower just tore at the grass and has no weight so the long grass just clogs it then the big roller just skids. Spent hours adjusting/faffing but couldn't get it to work properly so bought a Bosch rotary. Only done a mulch cut and feed so far but its fine. Still got the long cable trailing behind me but at least the grass is beginning to look passable again.
The one that died was a refurb off ebay and worked well for a couple of years. Took it apart to see if it could be repaired and found the brushes were worn to nothing and of a shape I couldn't find anywhere.
I have seen hover mowers used on slopes attached to a rope to save you having to climb up and down but I expect 'elf and safety will complain.
Cylinder mowers are for lawns that are very regularly cut and manicured. Rorary mowers are for more normal use. Powered drive petrol mowers are fine on slopes, up and down. The key is the ability of the mower to get the cut grass out of the cutting area fast otherwise it will clog. As for a recommendation Bosch Total has done me well enough, only draw back is the grass box fills very quickly. The previous Flymo I had did a much better job of packing the grass in reducing the need to empty.
This is what you need for manual cutting of long grass:
It's impressively effective!
If you are leaving the grass long, you might as well mulch the cuttings instead of remove them.
I got a second hand petrol Honda, with easy start, drive motor and a wide band of cut heights, which suits my 2-part, sloping garden (flat top lawn, au naturel down at the bottom)
Top work Greybeard! Im trying to imagine using a scythe with 2 working cockers who follow me everywhere in the garden!!
I have a Webb manual mower- the bigger one with a 46cm cylinder. You can set it very high -76mm, so shouldn't be problem for a longer lawn. I run it 2nd to lowest though and cut every week.
That scythe is impressively sharp, must take some work keeping it that way.
Ha I did think about a scythe, but thought that might be taking things a little too far.
The only access to my lawn is up some steps, so a heavy petrol mower is out. Looks like I'm just going to get an electric wheeled rotary mower.
Very happy with our Viking mower. I think they are branded as Stihl now (made by the same company). Battery powered and uses the same battery as Stihl chainsaws and strimmers, which is handy. Pretty light for carrying around and it'll do long grass. Might tale two passes, one on high, then another on low if it is very long and you want it short.
My Bosch push cylinder goes up to 43mm on the top of the stops, no idea how it would cope with a jungle but seem fine here so far. If you like I could shove it across next doors mess and see how it does?
@squirrelking - thanks, would be interesting to find out how it does! Mine was a very low-end B+Q branded one, it went up to 40cm but would get clogged very easily.
@nickjb - thanks for the tip, wasn't aware of that brand.
On the other hand - is a scythe just too ridiculous, or is it quite ridiculous but workable??
How long is long? The Fiskars Staysharp models go up to 100mm cutting height and get good reviews. I lust after one for my grass, but can’t justify the cost for a small suburban garden.
I’ve a hayter Harrier that I picked up from a house clearance. It’s pretty good. Will go up to 5cm cut height. My neighbour has a Stiga battery mower though and that looks brilliant. I suspect it’s pretty expensive as it seems to have two ebike sized batteries.
@greybeard that scythe is awesome. I’ve seen people use them in the alps on steep meadows with whole families mowing away on their impossibly inclined farms.
dantsw
Im trying to imagine using a scythe with 2 working cockers who follow me everywhere in the garden!!
That's how daschunds were invented.