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Best Lawn Mower For Hills

Lili Rosario
  May 27, 2023 11:53 PM

Until it's time to mow, a hilly or sloping lawn can be a magnificent sight. Then you might regret having purchased this house. However, things need not be this way. The correct lawn mower will allow you to take pleasure in your landscaping while making maintenance a breeze. To mow a hilly or uneven lawn requires a certain kind of lawnmower.
 


OVERVIEW

When shopping for a lawn mower, it's important to remember that slopes require special equipment. Lawn mowers come in a wide variety of varieties, each with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. The cost of them can also vary widely. While others can cost several thousand dollars, some are rather cheap.
Here, we'll go over what to look for when shopping for a lawn mower, and then recommend our three top picks for mowing on hills.

Grass cutting on hills can be tiring at best and dangerous at worst. There's a danger of rolling over in riding mowers on the steep slopes. Mowing a hilly yard with a push mower can be exhausting work if you don't have the correct equipment. Even for experienced lawn caretakers, mowing a hilly yard poses a unique difficulty that calls for a specialized lawn mower.
Whether lawn tractors, ride-on mowers with all-wheel drive capabilities, or walk-behind mowers are at the forefront of your thoughts, there are a number of considerations to keep in mind while deciding on the finest mower for trimming grass on hills. The following is a buying guide that will assist you in selecting the most suitable product for your requirements.
 


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BUYING GUIDE

There are several types of lawn mowers to consider when shopping for the best lawn mower for mowing on hilly terrain. Each has its own set of benefits and drawbacks, depending on the situation. 

See more :

Types of Lawn Mowers for Hills

Some of the types of lawn mowers available include:

Lawnmowers that can be ridden are called "riding lawn mowers." Lawn tractors are the most prevalent sort of riding mower, but they aren't as safe on uneven surfaces as they are on flat ones. However, certain riding mowers can have a center of gravity that's lower than others, making them more stable on inclines. For expansive lawns with a lot of land to cover, a riding lawn mower is your best bet. Both automatic and hydrostatic transmissions are available for riding mowers. Typically, a zero-turn mower will have the latter.

Another type of riding lawnmower, zero-turn mowers are frequently chosen over lawn tractors on sloping terrain because they have a lower center of gravity and are less likely to topple over. These zero-turn mowers typically include cruise control and are lower to the ground. These mowers are the most expensive option, but they are the most effective for mowing steep hills covering a large area; nevertheless, some models are only suitable for more easy slopes.

When the operator activates the self-propelled feature, the mower is propelled forward by the machine's own driving system. In its inactive state, the device functions similarly to a manual push mower and requires manual activation. Self-propelled mowers facilitate the task at hand without the hefty price tag of a riding lawn mower. Time and labor are both reduced by self-propelled mowers.

You probably don't need me to explain the benefits of a push lawn mower. The push mower requires the operator to exert physical effort in order to operate. Push lawn mowers can have self-propelled settings as well. In most cases, however, a push model is typically a manual mower.

Gas Powered Mower: Gas mowers are what many buyers are likely most familiar with. The engine power comes from gas and they tend to be loud.

Electric Mower: These walk-behind mowers run on electricity from a cord or a lithium battery. Like most push mowers, they can feature self-propelled mowing settings. A corded option will require an outdoor extension cord and access to an electrical outlet, whereas a cordless battery-powered model doesn’t have the limitations of a cord, but will only last as long as the battery does.

 

Other Considerations

 

When looking for the best mower for hills, there are a few extra factors to think about.

Protection against rollover: Zero-turn riding mowers have a roll-over protection structure (ROPS) for the safety of their riders. This device is fitted in the lawnmower and functions as a seatbelt attached to a steel bar, protecting the operator in the event of an overturn.

With a wider mower deck, you won't have to mow up and down hills as often, which can be tiring.

Mowers with all-wheel drive, or at least a stronger drive in the rear wheels, make it considerably simpler for drivers to ascend inclines. You should also look for a vehicle that has large, traction-optimized wheels in the back or front.

Bags to collect grass trimmings come in handy on hilly lawns so that the user isn't left with a mess after mowing. It's best to use a mower that has a grass collection bag.

Some lawnmowers include mulching capabilities, which allow the grass clippings to be processed and returned to the lawn, where they can serve as a nutrient source for the grass.

 

The Best Lawn Mower for Hills—Summary

 

Overall, if you’re searching for the best lawn mower to help you conquer hills, we recommend the SKIL PWR CORE 40 (US$499.99, Lowe's). The lightweight construction and self-propelling function make mowing a more straightforward task, and it’s safer on a steep hill than even the finest riding mower or best zero turn mower.

If you’re searching for something more economical, you might shop in the electric mowers area and the Greenworks 40V 16-inch cordless electric lawn mower (US$267.88, Amazon) is a wonderful alternative. Electric lawn mowers still give you power and make mowing simpler without breaking the budget. Many models also have rear-wheel drive, which is excellent for mountainous terrain.

Our selection of the top mowers gives you various options for economical electric lawn mowers. The most crucial point is that, even with a lawn tractor or zero turn lawn mower, you keep your safety in mind when cutting steep hills.

 

Choosing A Lawn Mower For Hills

 

Some lawn mowers have been made with inclines of up to 35 degrees, but these can be prohibitively expensive for the typical homeowner. Instead, most people tend to go for less expensive versions that are not particularly meant for hills, but have exceptional hill-mowing capabilities, such as self-propelled lawn mowers. You can find numerous high-quality self-propelled models at below $1,000, making them a lot more budget-friendly, and they can be used on all types of lawns, including slopes and bumps.

Other types of mowers like corded electric versions or cordless mowers are usually not the ideal alternatives for hills, as their wheels aren’t driven. As a result, you'll have to exert a lot of effort carrying the heavy mower up the slope.

When shopping for a self-propelled lawn mower, it's important to get one with either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive for optimal maneuverability. This guarantees that the machine is grounded, has loads of traction, and is still easy to handle. Also check for different speed settings, so you can easily cut tall and thick grass evenly.

 

Which Lawn Mower Is Best For Hills?

 

Not all lawnmowers are created equal, and while there is a wide selection available, not all of them are suitable for tackling slopes. Even when narrowing your search to models that are effective at mowing hills, it can be tricky to know for sure that you're getting the right product for your needs.

The performance of a riding mower is adequate for big areas with multiple hills, but the control of a walk-behind mower is superior. However, there are many more considerations that must be made here than safety and performance.

 

What Makes A Lawn Mower Good For Hills?

 

One of the initial features that you should always be on the lookout for would be to ensure you buy a rear wheel drive device. Sure, front wheel drive options can still help you mow hills, but only the less steep hills. As the hill gets steeper, you will likely start to notice that the performance of the lawn mower starts to become diminished.

This has to do with simple physics. As the incline gets steeper, the center of gravity will shift to the rear of the mower. This will cause the front wheels to lose traction, and shift all traction to the rear set of wheels. This is why it is so important to be looking for a rear wheel drive self propelled lawn mower when you need to mow steep hills.

mowing ditches with zero turn lawn mowerMowing ditch with zero turn mower

When you consider buying a push lawn mower, whether electric or gas powered, you also need to know if you are going to be opting for a self-propelled option or not. A self-propelled lawn mower has a motor that helps you move the lawn mower with ease. As the wheels will turn on their own, the only thing the operator needs to focus on is steering in the right direction.

Self-propelled lawn mowers come in three options: front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Front-wheel drive options offer better control around bushes and other obstacles that you might face on flat terrain.

A rear-wheel drive, however, is often considered the more appropriate option for hills. The wheels at the back of the lawn mower will automatically be turned by the device, along with the built-in motor – this gives somewhat of better performance when trying to get the lawn mower to go uphill or lawn in locations where steep inclines are present.

It is also important to take into account the motor that is fitted in the lawn mower. When you choose a lawn mower with a stronger motor, it means the motor will be more capable of helping you push the lawn mower up a hill, and give you more control when coming down the hill. The power of the motor especially becomes an important factor when you are mowing tall grass, wet grass, or rough terrain.

hover lawn mowers mowing slopesThis is probably not your preferred way of mowing

You might also want to try and avoid a zero-turn lawn mower, if possible. These lawn mowers use castors for their front wheels, and the entire device is powered and steered through the rear wheels. The castor wheels in front mean you will have less traction when you take the lawn mower up a hill.

When the slope is steep, you might also not have adequate control over steering, due to the specific steering level system utilized by a zero-turn lawn mower. This can increase your risk of slipping or the lawn mower from rolling over on the hill.

 

Gas Powered, Electric Or Riding Mower?

 

Most people who have experience using various types of lawn mowers on hills favor the self-propelled models. This typically involves a gas-powered model, though a few self-propelled battery models are currently available.

Despite their popularity, riding lawn mowers are typically regarded riskier than their walk-behind counterparts. It's possible that if something goes wrong with the riding lawn mower, you won't be as safe as you would be with a walk behind mower, for instance.

Take the slope of your yard's hills into account when making your lawn mower purchase. The natural environment must also be considered. Do you see any roadblocks? Is the hill perfectly diagonal, or are there lots of slopes, pits, and other obstacles that could make the work more difficult?

The size of your backyard should be taken into account. If you need to mow an area smaller than half an acre, a self-propelled walk-behind gas or electric mower is your best bet. I recommend getting a riding lawn mower if your yard is more than half an acre in size. You should mow the lawn at least once every two weeks, and ideally more often if you can help it.

 

Conclusion

 

You will need a lawn mower that can manage hills and bumps in the ground if your yard is particularly huge. The aforementioned three lawnmowers are all simple to operate and maintain, making them excellent choices for yards with undulating topography. The manufacturers of these self-propelled mowers are some of the most reputable in the world, so you know you're getting a machine that will last the test of time.

You can acquire a high-quality mower that handles slopes with ease without spending hundreds of dollars, as you will see after reading about these models. All of these are great for most gardens and can be purchased for less than a grand. A small number of customers have voiced dissatisfaction with both, although this is to be expected. There isn't a single product on the market that doesn't have some little flaw. Overall, we think these are some of the best hill lawn mowers that won't break the bank.


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