A number of different homeowners have a varied preference as regards the beauty of their home’s landscape. Some with large plots of land appreciate the presence of hills in order to enhance the overall look.
Yards that have steep hills and lawns usually have an attractive appearance but quite difficult to maintain. There is quite a lot associated with mowing hills than you can imagine. Hence, you will need to be aware of the best lawn mower suitable for your hill. For this purpose, we have made a list of the top 10 best mowers for a steep hill.
What are Lawn Mowers
Lawn mowers are basically machines designed to cut grass. They perform this task by making use of a power source to operate revolving blades to carry out the cutting. The blades are usually set at a particular height and could be adjusted by the users.
Types of Lawn Mowers
Lawn mowers for hills can be grouped in several ways and there is apparently an endless number of lawn mowers available in the market today. For this article, we would be classifying lawn mowers based on the way they are driven and they include:
- Push Lawn Mower
- Riding Lawn Mower
- Robotic Lawn Mower
1. Greenworks 40V Twin Force Cordless Lawn Mower
- Weight: 42.5 lbs
- Deck Size: 20 inches
- Power: 40V
- Type: Push Lawn Mower
This lawn mower from Greenworks is a dual blade mower that is designed to deliver better cutting, covering and bagging. In order to ensure you get the job done easily and quickly, the dual battery port switches to the battery meant for back-up for longer run-time.
It features an innovative smart cut technology that adjusts for power or for a run time depending on the thickness of your grass. Also, its 20-inch cutting deck ensures a great equilibrium of maneuverability and capacity for cutting as it is required in mid-sized lawns.
However, a shortcoming of this model is its unresponsive customer service.
PROS:
- Run time is pretty good
- It operates quietly
- Very lightweight and easy to maneuver
- Very sturdy appearance
CONS:
- Poor customer service
- Weak ability to vacuum
2. Honda HRX217K5VKA 4-in-1 Lawn Mower
- Weight: 108 lbs
- Deck Size: 21 inches
- Power: 187cc
- Type: Push Lawn Mower
Unlike other lawn mowers, the Honda HRX217K5VKA model makes use of an automatic choke system to make it quite easy to start. This mower gives the grass a smooth cut owing to its MicroCut blade with 4 cutting surfaces unlike the common 2 found in some other models.
While it does not have a side discharge, it has perfect mulching and bagging which makes up for this shortcoming. This mower can be used for lawns of different heights with its seven cutting levels ranging from ¾ to 4 inches.
PROS:
- Easy to set-up and use
- Larger bag for discharge
- Numerous cutting surfaces
- Superb mulching and bagging
CONS:
- Operates noisily
- The wheels are made of plastic
3. Troy-Bilt 30in. Riding Lawn Mower
- Weight: 336 lbs
- Deck Size: 30 inches
- Power: 382cc
- Type: Riding Lawn Mower
The Troy-Bilt lawn mower combines the benefits of a standard riding lawn mower with the size of a wide cut walk behind mower. It has a powerful 382cc OHV gas engine that is built to last and can provide clean performance. Its fuel tank has a capacity that includes a 1.3-gallon tank and a fuel window that allows you to check gas levels.
Also, this mower features a 5-height blade that is adjustable with manual power take-off which aids easy and fast blade engagement. To ensure you feel comfortable, the seat raises to mid-back and the steering wheel is a 13-inch soft grip wheel.
However, this lawn mower does not work well with rougher lawns such as Bermuda or other thick grasses
PROS:
- Fits the garage nicely because of its small size
- Very easy to steer even in tight spaces
- Operates well with minimum maintenance
- Numerous cutting surfaces
CONS:
- Does not work well with rough lawns
- Takes a lot of time to mow
4. EGO Power+ 20-Inch 56-Volt Lithium-ion Cordless Lawn Mower
- Weight: 65.3 lbs
- Deck Size: 20 inches
- Power: 56V
- Type: Push Lawn Mower
According to research, this is arguably the most advanced rechargeable lawn mower present in the market today. The EGO Power + Lawn Mower ensure excellent delivery of the performance without fumes and in a quiet manner. It has a 20-inch Deck that limits the number of passes required by you to mow your lawn.
While the Ego Power + Lawn Mower is quite expensive for a unit powered by battery, it actually has a good value for the price as it stands as a high performing unit that is almost as efficient as other gas-powered models.
PROS:
- It works quietly
- Very easy to start and stop
- Designed to be tough and weather resistant
- It has a fast battery charge time
CONS:
- Relatively expensive
- It feels flimsy
5. McCulloch R1000, ROB 1000 Robotic Lawn Mower
- Weight: 15.4 lbs
- Deck Size: 11 inches
- Power: 24V
- Type: Robotic Lawn Mower
The ROB 1000 is one of the fastest and smoothest-running robot lawn mowers available in the market presently. It has reasonably simple programming with a 15 button LCD control panel and screen. This lawn mower has the capacity to handle three separately defined zones and it hardly gets stuck irrespective of how tricky the lawn can be and this is quite impressive.
Other unique features of this robotic lawn mower are its run time of one hour, its ability to handle a steep hill of about 25 degrees. However, a glitch to this machine is its surprisingly low maximum cutting height of just two inches.
PROS:
- It operates very quietly
- Works in the rain
- Runs for a long period of time
- Cut even on slopes with inclines up to 25%.
CONS:
- Poor customer service
- Low maximum cutting height
6. American Lawn Mower Company 14-Inch 11-Amp Corded Electric Lawn Mower
- Weight: 15.4 lbs
- Deck Size: 11 inches
- Power: 24V
- Type: Push Lawn Mower
The America corded electric push mower is known to give a clean and an effective cut with its 11-amp motor that is powerful enough to handle less thick lawns and it is a good mower for homeowners that prefer to maintain small lawns. You can start the mower with just a simple push of a button and it responds very quickly.
It has a 14 inches steel blade that can cut grass between 1-2.5 inches height with its 5-position easy-adjust cutting height options. On the downside, there have been complaints by users of its inability to cut tough and thick grasses
PROS:
- Easy to assemble
- It cuts grass evenly
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Easy to use
CONS:
- Not effective for tall grasses
- Quite difficult to adjust the height of blades
7. Snapper 360Z Zero Turn Lawn Mower
- Weight: 560 lbs
- Deck Size: 48 inches
- Power: 23Hp
- Type: Riding Lawn Mower
This riding lawn mower from Snapper features easy operation, modernized design and easy convertibility which gives you the attachments related to mowers such as grass bags, dump carts, and an option for mulching. It has an efficient integrated cargo that allows you to carry items that weigh up to 50 pounds.
In addition. It features rails that allow you to attach a variety of ATV accessories. This machine is powered by its Briggs and Stratton series engine of 23hp.
PROS:
- Large cargo space
- Good customer service
- Superb engine and smooth hydrostatic transmission
CONS:
- No hour counters
- Somewhat difficult to install.
8. WORX WG775 24V 14″ Cordless Electric Lawn Mower
- Weight: 33 lbs
- Deck Size: 14 inches
- Power: 24V
- Type: Push Lawn Mower
This 14-inch cordless mower comes with a powerful 24V battery which makes it capable of cutting about 6,000 square feet of lawn at a single charge. It has no pull strings and just needs a small push of the button to get it running.
It has a small compact battery that is removable and can be charged in a separate location different from that of the mower. However, due to its size, it takes a lot of time to mow.
PROS:
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- Starts and stop very quickly
- Operates with neither gas nor oil
- It has a removable chargeable battery
CONS:
- It has a small grass catcher
- Takes a lot of time to mow
9. BLACK+DECKER BEMW482ES Electric Mower
- Weight: 33 lbs
- Deck Size: 17 inches
- Power: 12 Amp
- Type: Push Lawn Mower
This lightweight lawn mower is easy to steer and maneuver with its pivot control handle. Although it is having a cord, it operates very quietly plus it has a push button start, and so you don’t need to struggle with a pull cord.
In relation to hills, the BEMW482ES lawn mower model has some features that make it great for steep banks. It includes six adjustable deck heights, a winged blade that provides a 30% better clipping collection rate. On the other hand, this lawn mower might not work well with large sized lawns
PROS:
- Easy to operate
- Very quiet
- Good value for the price
- Easy to navigate and maneuver
CONS:
- Not effective for huge yards
10. Husqvarna YTH24V48 24 HP Yard Tractor, 48-Inch
- Weight: 200 lbs
- Deck Size: 48 inches
- Power: 24 Hp
- Type: Riding Lawn Mower
This very massive machine features a 48-inch cutting deck, a powerful engine of 24 horsepower Briggs and Stratton V-Twin engine. Its hydrostatic pedal transmission ensures a smooth transition between speeds and reversals.
It also features a smooth control making it perform more of the hard work and its 3-blade system of operation provides an effective and consistent cutting in diverse conditions. A downside to this machine is the difficulty in seeing the fuel gauge.
PROS:
- Gives even and smooth cutting
- Easy to maneuver
- 10 years warranty
CONS:
- Difficult to see the fuel gauge
- The tractor spins out frequently.
CONCLUSION:
You will require constant mowing in order to ensure your hilly lawn is neat and attractive, however, you will need to get the best lawn mower for steep hills in order to achieve this feat. Generally, a lot of mowers are made for flat hills and as a result, you will need to take time to get the required information and specifications before purchasing one.
This article gives detailed and sufficient information you will need to select the best lawn mower for your steep hills.