As we move into the autumn season, many of us find ourselves preparing for the inevitable fall of leaves and what type of leaf blower is required. Having the right equipment to manage this can make a significant difference, especially when it comes to maintaining a clean and tidy garden. With so many types of leaf blowers available, from electric to petrol powered, handheld to backpack, it can be overwhelming to know which one suits your needs best. In this post, I’ll take you through the various types of leaf blowers and garden vacuums, discussing the pros and cons of each to help you make an informed decision.
Take A Look At My Video Below On What Type Of Leaf Blower?
Find Leaf Blowers On EBay
Types of Leaf Blowers and Vacuums
There are many leaf blowers and sweepers on the market today, but not all of them are suited for every garden. Below are some of the most popular options:
1. Electric Leaf Blowers
Electric blowers are typically the most affordable option, making them a popular choice for smaller gardens. However, they do have some disadvantages, particularly the fact that they come with a trailing lead. This can be frustrating if it gets caught up on plants or garden furniture.
Despite this drawback, electric blowers are lightweight and budgetfriendly. You’ll find models like Bosch starting at around £83, with even cheaper models available. While these machines come with collection bags, they’re generally more suitable for smaller spaces and light leaf work, rather than for dealing with large quantities of leaves.
Pros:
Inexpensive
Lightweight
Great for smaller gardens
Cons:
Trailing power cord can get in the way
Limited range
2. Petrol Handheld Leaf Blowers
Petrol handheld blowers are among the most versatile tools for garden maintenance. Brands like Stihl have created reliable models, such as the BG56, which are widely used for their efficiency and power. These blowers are perfect for those who need to cover larger areas and want to avoid the hassle of a cord. Simply fill them up with twostroke petrol, and you’re ready to go.
Many handheld blowers come with optional collection bags, but like electric blowers, they’re often best used for blowing leaves into a pile rather than vacuuming them up.
Pros:
Powerful and portable
No trailing cables
Great for larger gardens
Cons:
Requires petrol, which adds to the running costs
Heavier than electric blowers
3. Backpack Leaf Blowers
For those with even larger gardens or professional landscapers, backpack blowers are an excellent option. While they may not be as nimble as handheld blowers, they offer superior power and are designed to handle heavyduty tasks. Brands like Stihl and Echo are popular choices in this category.
These blowers typically don’t come with collection bags, as they are designed solely for blowing large quantities of leaves into a pile. If you’re dealing with acres of land, a backpack blower can save you a significant amount of time.
Pros:
Excellent for large gardens
Powerful and efficient
Designed for heavyduty use
Cons:
Heavier and more cumbersome than handheld blowers
Can be expensive, especially for highend models
4. Wheeled Blowers
Wheeled blowers are an entirely different category, and they’re ideal for those with a large amount of land or commercial properties. These blowers are designed to move vast quantities of leaves quickly and efficiently. While they come with a higher price tag, they’re worth it if you’re dealing with significant volumes of leaves.
Prices start at around £2,100, but these machines are built to last and can clear large areas in a fraction of the time it would take with a smaller, handheld unit.
Pros:
Highly efficient for large areas
Powerful engines designed for longterm use
Cons:
Expensive
Bulky and not suitable for small gardens
5. Leaf Sweepers
Leaf sweepers are another option worth considering. These machines are typically used to sweep up leaves from driveways, lawns, and other flat surfaces. They come in both push and towbehind models, and they’re great for collecting leaves in larger spaces. Sweepers are not as versatile as blowers, as they can’t be used in borders or around plants, but they’re efficient for quickly clearing large areas.
Pros:
Easy to use
Great for driveways and lawns
Large leaf collection capacity
Cons:
Limited to flat surfaces
Not as versatile as blowers
6. BatteryPowered Leaf Blowers
Battery blowers are becoming increasingly popular as battery technology improves. However, they do come with limitations, primarily the fact that battery life may not be as long as you’d like. Highend models can be quite expensive, and cheaper models may not have the power you need for larger gardens.
If you’re considering going down the batterypowered route, I recommend investing in a battery system that can be shared across multiple tools (e.g., a blower, hedge trimmer, and lawnmower) to maximize your investment.
Pros:
Portable and convenient
No trailing cables or petrol needed
Environmentally friendly
Cons:
Limited battery life
Can be expensive for higherend models
7. Wheeled Garden Vacuums
For larger gardens, wheeled garden vacuums are another excellent option. These machines are essentially vacuums for your garden, capable of sucking up leaves, grass clippings, and other debris. Brands like Billy Goat have been producing highquality garden vacuums for years, making them a great longterm investment.
Most models come with a large collection bag and some even offer a suction hose for reaching tight spaces like borders.
Pros:
Large collection capacity
Efficient for bigger properties
Durable and longlasting
Cons:
Expensive upfront investment
Bulky and heavy
The Importance of Buying Quality
When choosing garden equipment, it’s always a good idea to invest in a quality product. While cheaper options may seem appealing, they often don’t last as long and may end up costing you more in the long run. For example, my Stihl blower is over eight years old and still performs like new because it’s built to last. In contrast, cheaper models may need replacing after just a couple of seasons.
I always recommend buying the best machine your budget allows, as it will likely save you time and money in the future.
Conclusion
Choosing the right leaf blower depends on your garden size, your personal preferences, and your budget. Whether you’re looking for a simple electric blower or a heavyduty backpack blower, there’s something out there for everyone. Be sure to check out the links on my website for more detailed reviews and information on the various models available. The above should help you decide on what type of leaf blowers suitable for your requirements.
This is just a quick video update, as Hyundai has special offers on Hyundai lawnmowers. I guess the season has peaked now, although there are still quite a few weeks left. I’m often cutting into December, but that’s more for leaf collection. It’s probably a good time to think about buying a mower if you want to take advantage of some of the manufacturers’ special offers at this time of year.
The first machine is a Hyundai42 cm Petrol Lawnmower Self Propelled with Electric Start . Just note that these are more budget mowers. I wouldn’t recommend them for contracting. They do have a three-year warranty, and even if you’re using them commercially, they still give you a year’s warranty, which is quite good considering they are not a heavy-duty machine—they are more of a budget mower. But you do get quite a bit for your money overall. I would say the more you can spend on anything in general, it works out cheaper in the long run. But we all have a budget to work with, so as much as we’d always like to have the best, it’s not always possible.
Hyundai Hyundai HYM430SPE 42 cm Petrol Lawnmower Self Propelled with Electric Start
42 cm Petrol Lawnmower Self Propelled With Electric Start
This is a Hyundai 42 cm petrol lawnmower, which is self-propelled and has an electric start. Personally, I wouldn’t be too worried about the electric start, but it’s a little bonus. The self-propelled feature is definitely worth having. You can get these machines as a push mower, but I would definitely recommend a self-propelled machine for the little extra cost—it just makes life so much easier.
Now, the price says £359, but the website doesn’t always update that quickly. The actual price is £269.99, so quite a good saving. Just to show you, on our website we have a range of different lawnmowers, all sorts, categorized here. You can click on any of these categories, and it’ll take you to various machines we have.
Hyundai Hyundai HYM530SPR 53cm 196cc Self-Propelled Petrol Roller Lawnmower with Engine Oil
Hyundai HYM530SPR 53cm 196cc Self-Propelled Petrol Roller Lawnmower with Engine Oil
Coming back to the Hyundai machines, this one is a slightly larger model, 53 cm wide, a roller-driven machine that gives that striped finish. It’s also self-propelled and comes with engine oil. The price listed is £589, but it’s actually £560.49. If you want that striped finish that a roller can give, it definitely makes a lawn look nicely finished, and it’s roller-driven, and so very easy to use.
Hyundai 38cm Corded Electric 1600w/230v Roller Mulching Lawnmower | HYM3800E
Hyundai 15” 38cm 1600w Electric Lawn Mower with Rear Roller, Mulch and 40L Bag HYM3800E
Finally, we have the Hyundai 15-inch electric lawnmower with a rear roller, mulch function, and a 40L bag. This is £118.99, down from £139.99, so about a £20 saving. There are more offers available, but I didn’t want to make this video too long. Just to give you an idea, Hyundai have a few special offers on at the moment, and don’t forget they have a three-year warranty. They are a budget machine, but you do get quite a bit for your money, and I certainly see them in quite a few people’s gardens on my travels, so they’re worth a look.
To Conclude
Hyundai mowers are a popular choice among homeowners, as I often see them being used in gardens. They certainly do offer value for money and coming with a three-year guarantee is very good bonus. I wouldn’t recommend our equipment for commercial use, however, even with commercial use, there is still a one-year warranty on most machines. You can find more special offers on the Hyundai lawnmowers here. I appreciate that we all have a budget, but it’s always best to purchase the best equipment you can for your garden. Don’t forget to look at our other mowers on the website.
BCS 752 Two-Wheeled Tractor And Attachments For Sale
Recently, I was looking on eBay and found a BCS 750 two-wheel tractor and attachments for sale. On our website, we have a few of these two-wheel tractors featured. I used to own a BCS 745 two-wheeled tractor with a rotavator attachment, several years ago; it’s a model they don’t make anymore—the 745. They are good machines and are popular with hire companies and the like. This particular one for sale has a Kohler diesel engine, which is really a Lombardini engine, however, Kohler now owns Lombardini.
Let’s go to eBay. I did a search by typing in “BCS Trackmaster” and it came up at the top. The initial picture isn’t very clear, so I wasn’t sure what it was at first, but here is the actual ad.
If we go to the pictures, it looks like the machine has hardly been used. There’s a flail mower attachment, and everything looks very clean. The tyres still have the original nubs, indicating minimal use. There’s the Kohler engine—although it’s actually a Lombardini engine rebranded by Kohler after they bought out Lombardini. The machine I owned also had a Lombardini engine.
Take A Look At The Video below
Lots Of Attachments
There’s another picture showing a rotary mower, and I’m assuming that’s a collector for it, though I’m not quite sure how it fits on. One thing I like about the BCS range is that if you have a large garden, you can use one power unit with a range of attachments. It includes a reciprocating bar mower (or cutter bar) and many other attachments.
Let’s go back to the listing. It’s priced at £8,400. I’m not sure if that includes VAT; it might be plus VAT. The listing states it’s a BCS 750 power unit built in 2021, fitted with a Kohler KD440 diesel engine with electric start. It comes with the following attachments:
This package has hardly been used and would cost around £11,000 new. So, £7,000 plus VAT (which brings it up to the £8,400 we saw).
You can see more of the BCS range on their website, with all sorts of machines and attachments like rotovators, Crusader mowers, Commander mowers, Reaper binders, flail mowers, and even snow-clearing equipment and brushes. The website is Trackmaster.co.uk.
Here’s a quick video showing the BCS 740. This one has a Honda petrol engine (not the one for sale).
Here Is A Short Extract From The BCS Video
“The BCS 740 two-wheel tractor is the largest in our range. It offers fantastic performance and versatility. In fact, there are over 20 attachments available for it, from rotovators and scythes to chippers and even a mini baler. The key feature of the 7 Series two-wheel tractors is the ability to rotate the handlebars 180°. This allows the power unit to run both front-mounted and rear-mounted implements. Front-mounted attachments tend to be for grass cutting and snow clearing, while rear-mounted ones are typically for ground cultivation.”
I’ll keep that video short, but I’ll try to include a link so you can check it out. I think this is quite a nice piece of equipment and could be a good opportunity for someone who’s looking for a two-wheel tractor with a few implements. As I mentioned, hire companies use these machines, which gives me confidence. I used to own a similar machine with a Lombardini diesel engine, and they’re really good machines worth considering.
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment on this YouTube video. Thank you very much for watching.
Although it’s only early August, I’m quite surprised that Kress is offering 50% off some of its robotic mower range. This is an excellent offer if you are looking for a new robotic mower.
I created a video a few weeks ago about the Kress range of robotic mowers and how they didn’t require a perimeter wire as they work on satellite navigation. There’s nothing wrong with having a perimeter wire; it’s just important that when you purchase a robotic mower that requires a perimeter wire that you take time to carry out the installation. Failure to do so makes for unnecessary strimming and finishing touches. Ideally, you want your robotic mower to get as close to the edge of your lawn as possible.
At the time of creating this video, it looks like the cheapest Kress KR010E robotic mower which is available for just £499.50, which is 50% of the list price. The price also includes VAT, so there are no hidden extras. The largest discount model with 50% of is the KR136E robotic mower that can manage lawns up to 6500 m². This model retails for £3999 but is reduced down to £1999.50. The prices include VAT. This is a great saving on the list price and definitely worth thinking about.
It’s also worth taking a look at eBay to see what’s available on their website. However, they may not have the 50% discount available. If you go to my website, you will be taken to Kress’s website, where you can find a local dealer.
To Conclude
If you are busy and cutting your lawn is rather a chore, then a robotic mower may be the answer to your problem. Robotic mowers have advanced a lot over the last few years and they really can be a time-saving device. We have a range of robotic mowers on our website. Don’t forget to check out the 50% off various Kress robotic mowers here.
On my thumbnail photograph today, I have a picture from Etesia, basically saying, “Etesia 0% VAT on selected models.” Let’s go to the Etesia website quickly. Here it is, the 0% VAT on the Hydro 80 and MK124. Etesia has announced an exclusive 0% VAT offer available on selected ride-on mowers. This provides customers with a chance to drive away today with top-of-the-line equipment at unbeatable value.
I have used several of Etesia’s range of mowers; I have owned the Hydro 80 and the Bahia. I was using the Hydro 80, and the Bahia, I believe, is the same but not quite as heavy-duty. The Hydro 80 is my preferred choice, and it’s not a lot more expensive. At the time of writing this, there was about a £600 difference between the Bahia and Hydro 80, but I would definitely go for the Hydro 80. It just has a few more heavy-duty features, if that makes sense. It is built slightly stronger, with a cast iron axle, etc., and has one or two other worthwhile features.
Watch The Video Below
In case you don’t know, Etesia is renowned for its wet grass pickup capabilities. The Hydro 80 that I purchased basically replaced two roller rotary machines. I think it’s about 26 inches wide, or maybe 32 inches—sorry, 32 inches, 80 cm. I’m still working in inches. It will get through the majority of garden gates and is highly compact, which is a real plus point. The great thing is that it can collect wet grass. You can see I’ve have a video review here, which you can watch, and a video review of the Bahia as well—just an honest review of how I found both machines. I often recommend Etesia to people because they are excellent on wet grass cutting and collection performance.
Etesia Attila 124
The other machine on Etesia’s website is the Attila 124. I’ve always liked the idea of this one—a 4-foot cut and the high lift, which is great for either putting your grass straight on the compost heap without needing to use a fork or if you’re loading a truck. If you go to this video here, you can see it in action, picking up. It has a 124 cm cutting width and good speed—12 km/h. I believe they do a diesel version as well as a petrol one. This may be a French video, as some of the videos on their YouTube channel are in French, being a French manufacturer.
If we just forward to the end of the video, you can see one of the good things that I like about it—loading or just piling up your compost heap. There’s no need to fork anything up because you can make a big heap. It’s available in four-wheel drive as well, allegedly.
If you have any comments on this, please feel free to leave a comment on the YouTube video. And contact Etesia if you’re looking for a Etesia 0% VAT on selected models—20% off is quite a lot, so it may be worth looking at. Thanks very much for watching, and feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions.
Hyundai 52cc Long Reach Petrol Pole Hedge Trimmer/Pruner | HYPT5200X
Today we’re looking at the Hyundai 52cc 425mm Long Reach Petrol Pole Hedgetrimmer, which is currently on special offer. Now, if you see it on the website here, I have to say it does offer amazing value for money at £129.99. I’m not quite sure how they do it so cheaply, to be fair. And being 52cc, it’s quite powerful because hedge cutting, believe it or not, doesn’t take huge amounts of power, so it has plenty of power there. You can also see our range of long-reach hedge cutters here.
Let’s have a look at a few key features. Now, before I go any further, this isn’t a contractor’s machine. I wouldn’t recommend it for contracting. It does come with a three-year warranty, and I believe it comes with a one-year warranty if you’re using it for contracting, but I wouldn’t use something like this for contracting because I don’t feel it’s really designed for it. Yes, it’s a great price, but if you’re looking for something for contracting, then I would go upmarket, which we can look at in a moment.
Take A Look At The Video Of The Hyundai 52Cc 425Mm Long Reach Petrol Pole Hedgetrimmer
So, let’s look at some of the key features. It’s has a three-year warranty. You can have it for 4 months at 0% interest, but for that amount of money, I don’t suppose you need that. Then let’s look at some of the features or the specifications. Recoil start, cutting length is 425mm, so that’s about 18 inches. The handle type is loop and bar. It has a harness. I must admit, when I’m using a long-reach hedge cutter, I don’t use a harness, but that’s kind of a personal thing. A straight shaft is always good because you transmit the power directly without going around bends or anything. The shaft will split, so you can put other attachments on it, but it’s also good if you’re carrying it in your car. Centrifugal clutch. It’s a Honda two-stroke air-cooled engine. It’s 52cc, which, as I said, is quite powerful for a hedge cutter. My hedge cutter, which is a commercial one, long reach, does not have as much power as that, but as I said, you don’t particularly need that much power for hedge cutting. It’s 1.45 kW, which is just over 2 horsepower if my math is correct, doing it very quickly. It’s a petrol-oil mix, something to always take care of or be careful of when you have a two-stroke to get the petrol-oil mix correct. 1.2L fuel tank capacity. The weight is 10.85 kilos, and obviously, it’s petrol. The commercial warranty is one year, and the residential warranty is three years.
In The Box
In the box, you get the hedge trimmer, the toolkit, support harness, extension bar, which gives you another meter, and the two-stroke mixing bottle. That’s handy. User manual.
So, as I said, it’s a long reach hedge cutter, which is 52cc, plenty of power there. It’s a 3-meter reach, which is pretty good, actually. With the extension arm, you can take it up to 4 meters. Just be aware that when it’s that long, it does get quite heavy, and it’s not quite so easy to use as a conventional hedge cutter. But the great thing is you can do so much more from the ground.
Here, you can set the blade at different angles depending on what angle you’re working at or whatever angle is comfortable for you. If you’re facing a hedge, I would just have it tilted slightly so you’re working slightly away from the hedge. That seems to work for me rather than just having it straight. You don’t want to be working against the hedge; you just want to be out slightly.
Powerful Engine
As I said, it’s a powerful hedge cutter. It doesn’t really need to be that powerful. It’s comfortable to use. I’m not sure if any hedge cutter is really comfortable to use. Quality design. I mean, it’s not going to be for that price, it’s going to be basic. You’re not going to get the anti-vibration equipment that you would have on a commercial machine, but if you’re just cutting a hedge a few times a year, it’ll probably get a few years of service out of it. Like I say, I wouldn’t recommend it for commercial use.
I always recommend to people, in an ideal world, I know this isn’t always possible, to buy a machine that’s going to last for many years. For example, I have a similar machine to this, a Stihl one. I have a hedge cutter on it, I have a strimmer on it, and it’s over 8 years old and it’s used regularly and it’s still working. It’ll probably still be working in another eight years, I hope.
Purchase The Best You Can Afford
Admittedly, the initial investment is quite a bit. This one, for example, is £766.80, so there’s a huge difference between the Hyundai model and the Stihl model. Like I said, if you’re just using your hedge cutter a couple of times a year, it should be absolutely fine, but if you’re going to be using it regularly and you have the money, I would go upmarket. The reason I recommend Stihl products is because I have used them literally all my life and I’m still using them. They’re still good, they’re still long-lasting, but I do appreciate there is a price to pay.
If you have any comments on this video, please let me know. I’m here to help. Just leave a comment in the comments. Thanks for watching.
The BGA 300 cordless backpack blower is the same power as the BR 430 petrol backpack blower. However, the cost is very different! I’m amazed at how quickly the manufacturers of garden and landscaping equipment have moved forward in producing battery-operated equipment. Not only are small handheld garden tools that are available, but commercial mowers are also available with battery power.
It’s a great idea to have battery power; however, I see the biggest problems are the cost and the charging for battery equipment. With a petrol machine, it’s easy to refuel when you run out of petrol, but with a battery-powered machine, you either need a spare battery or an exceptionally fast battery charger.
I have seen some very poor domestic battery equipment, which really is a complete waste of money, as in many cases, the batteries just do not last long enough between charges. I must admit with the Stihl battery equipment has a very good system, but there is a price to pay. I know of many tree surgeons who use their battery equipment, and they like the battery equipment, but once again, there is a price to pay.
You Can See The Video On The BGA 300 Cordless Backpack Blower Below
Overview Of The BGA 300 Blower
We’re specifically looking at the BGA 300 cordless battery blower. This model is priced at £600, but keep in mind that you need to purchase the battery, charger, and lead separately to be fully set up. Interestingly, this blower is said to have the same power as the BR 430, which retails at £629. I’m currently on the Stihl UK site, so these are full prices, and you might be able to find some discounts.
Find Leaf Blowers On eBay
Helpful Review From Main Street Mower Channel
I came across an excellent review from the Main Street Mower Channel, a dealership based in Florida, USA. They’ve done a thorough review, and I highly recommend watching it if you’re considering buying this blower. Here’s a quick excerpt from their intro:
“$800 to have this blower up and running, so we’re going to put them on this scale and see what they total. Woo! We also grabbed a gas BR 430 so that you could see the side-by-side comparison. The good news is this is as powerful as your gas backpack blower. Now for the bad news.”
The Advancements in Battery Power
I’m genuinely amazed at how quickly garden machinery manufacturers have advanced with battery power. According to some friends in the industry, the Stihl battery-powered equipment is quite good. While it’s not cheap, it’s particularly useful in restricted areas. Personally, I prefer petrol-powered equipment, but I understand that electric is necessary for some situations despite the cost.
Cost Comparison: Battery vs. Petrol
Let’s look at a side-by-side comparison. The BGA 300 blower is priced at £600 without the battery. Here are the battery options:
Smaller Battery £1086, providing 97 minutes maximum battery life, realistically about an hour on average.
Larger Battery £1620, providing 140 minutes (over 2 hours and 20 minutes) of battery life, realistically about an hour if used continuously.
While the runtime is impressive, the total cost adds up quickly. When you factor in the high-speed charger and connecting cable, the complete setup with the more expensive battery can total around £2500. Additionally, attaching the battery adds 10 lbs to the blower’s weight, making it about 27 lbs in total.
Considerations Before Purchasing
The biggest concern for me is the cost. Moreover, when the battery runs out, you need a spare battery pack and a way to charge it. Even if chargers are available for vehicles, it still takes time to recharge. I own a similar machine, the petrol Stihl BR600, which is two models down from the Stihl BR800 (the most powerful Stihl backpack blower). The BR800 retails at £934, and its power is impressive, yet it’s still much cheaper than the battery-powered model.
In my opinion, unless you absolutely need an electric blower, a petrol model is more cost-effective and practical. You can get four equivalent petrol blowers for the price of one battery model, and you won’t have to worry about the additional weight or recharging issues.
Additional Resources
We offer a variety of backpack and handheld blowers on our website. Alternatively, you can carry out a search in the search bar for blowers, etc.
Conclusion
When considering an electric blower, remember that it requires a significant investment. Think about the cost, additional weight, and recharging time before making your decision. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment. I’m here to help.
The title on my thumb now today is watch this before buying a robotic mower. Traditionally, robotic mowers, like this Robomow, needed a perimeter wire. You can see in the video the Robomow robotic mower going up and down. The funny part is, they don’t go up and down; they sort of go randomly across the lawn. You might think they’re going to miss bits, but by the time they finish, they have completed the whole lawn with every blade of grass cut. However, it doesn’t do it in a uniform way, so a perimeter wire has to be installed all around the outside of the lawn and around flower beds and any other obstacles.
This is absolutely fine, but it does take time, and it’s important that the installation is done correctly. Have a look at the video below where it shows a perimeter wire installation.
They’re using a machine to lay the wire. I used to just tack the cable down on top of the lawn with pegs, which worked fine. Within two or three weeks, the grass would have grown over the cable, so you can’t see it. The danger is that the cable can get damaged, or if you want to change the layout of your lawn, you need to re-lay the cable. The technology of having robotic mowers that don’t need a cable is brilliant.
Proper Installation is Key
For example, the wire needs to be put equally around the edge, which is fine. You can either get someone to install the wire for you or do it yourself, but just allow enough time. Don’t rush the job because the better the installation, the less mowing and the fewer after-bits you’ll have to do, like trimming. If you put the cable in correctly, then you can get the mower right up to the edge.
The other problems are that it does need to be installed accurately, it can be damaged, and if you change it out in the garden, you need to put a new cable in or an extension cable, which isn’t a problem. They give you wire clips, but I must admit I do like the sound of these robotic mowers.
Satellite-Guided Robotic Mowers
Here, I’m on Kress’s website, and their robotic mowers are satellite-guided. It says the mower requires no antenna on your property. Now, there are quite a few manufacturers. Husqvarna manufacturers satellite guided mowers, I won’t give you a list because here we have all sorts of robotic mowers on our website. The technology is improving all the time, so many mowers that didn’t offer it a year ago now have this technology. They are slightly dearer, but I would say that long-term it’s worth it.
The Joy of Robotic Mowing
I know that some people love cutting their lawn at the weekend. It’s can be very therapeutic for some people, especially if they have been in the office all week. However, if you’re one of those people who don’t like cutting your lawn, then a robotic mower is definitely worth looking at. I’ve seen quite a few gardens where you see the robotic mower at work. These are smaller machines, but we also have bigger ones like this Belrobotics Big Mow, which is quite a sizable machine that will do parks and football pitches. That’s a different level compared to these domestic-user robotic mowers.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a robotic mower, I would definitely think about having one that doesn’t need a perimeter wire. I believe that it’s worth it. I’m told that the technology is there now, so you can actually get a machine that will stripe your lawn. Rather than going in a random cutting direction, they can go up and down, which is much better and more efficient.
If you have any questions about this video, please feel free to leave a comment, and I will try to get back to you. Thanks very much for watching.
Review Of Weibang Legacy 56 PRO Rear Roller Lawnmower
Today, I want to take you through a quick review of the Weibang Legacy 56 Pro Rear Roller Lawnmower. I have been using the Weibang legacy 56 mowers for 8 years now and overall, I have no complaints whatsoever. Prior to this, I was using Hayter Harrier 56 rear roller mowers. And, before the Hayter Harrier 56 arrived, I was using Hayter Harrier 48 rear roller machines.
Originally the Hayter Harrier mowers were great machines, but in my opinion, they didn’t improve them, they just appeared to get weaker and weaker. I find it amazing that manufacturers cannot make a machine that will barely collect dry grass, let alone wet grass!
This is where the Weibang Legacy 56 PRO Rear Roller Lawnmower is so much better than the Hayter Harriers. Collecting wet and damp grass has always been an issue in the UK, but I have to say the Weibang mower does a pretty good job of collecting wet grass. It is important to keep the collection bag clear so that the collection system can work efficiently. If the collection bag becomes clogged up with dead grass over a period of time, it prevents the air from being able to flow through the grass and, therefore stops the collection process from being efficient. I can definitely recommend the Weibang Legacy 56 PRO Rear Roller Lawnmower!
This is a 56 cm machine or 22-inch cut, which is driven by the roller. I’ve used these machines for about eight years, and, to be fair, I found them really good, especially after using Hayter Harrier 56 for many years. Unfortunately, in the last ten years, or perhaps longer, the drive system on the Hayter Harrier 56 mowers was not very good and the collection system was absolutely atrocious, even when the grass was dry. But more about that in a minute because I want to focus on this machine.
So if we just walk around the Weibang, this is the pro version. This model has the blade clutch on it, so you don’t have to start the engine with the blade engaged. With a blade clutch, you have to engage the blade, which is great if you’re moving from place to place where you’re going across gravel drives, etc. there is no fear of stones flying up with the rotating blade.
Kawasaki Engine
Kawasaki Engine
At the front, we’ve got the front bumper, which is something the professional models have for added protection. It has a Kawasaki engine, which I think is around five horsepower. It certainly seems to have enough power to do the job. The Weibang 56 pro has eleven different height settings ranging from 13 to 67 cm, like all Kawasaki engines, which are very good engines. It has its own own oil filter, which has to be good for engine life. Many of the smaller engines don’t have an oil filter, but it’s always a plus point. The engine normally starts first time, and to be fair, I have owned several machines which are powered by Kawasaki engines, I don’t think I have ever had a problem with a Kawasaki engine.
Weibang Mower
Straightforward Handle Adjustment
Here, you have a very quick handle adjustment; just simply pull out the lever, and you can do it like that. I haven’t adjusted the handles lately, as there is no need to. Once you have released the levers, you just move the handles up and down to the required height. There’s one release lever on each side of the handles; you can move the handles to whichever height you require and fold them right over for transport or storage.
Kawasaki Engine
Handlebar Controls
On the handlebars, there’s the throttle lever, then you have a three-speed gearbox. Now, this is a proper gearbox which is properly engineered; it’s the real thing, not a cheap gearbox that so many similar mowers have. Most of the time I use the high speed, but the second speed is good for going around the edges, and the lower speed if you have longer grass. However, I wouldn’t recommend cutting very long grass with any roller rotary. Roller rotary mowers are really meant for regular cutting. In general, I would use a rear roller rotary mower for regular cutting in the growing season, not for long grass.
Blade Clutch
Here, we have the clutch that moves the machine forward, which is driven by the roller, and this is the blade clutch. Normally, when you engage a deck, you just pull the clutch lever back, but on the Weibang 56 pro, you have to push it forward and then pull it again, forward like that, and then like that. Now, it’s under tension, but then you can release it, and then it’s flexible rather than being under tension. I’m not going to stop the machine up, as your going to struggle to hear me. The blade clutch system is a great feature, it’s also good when you’re emptying the grass collector as there is no grass flying around and it is much safer.
Grass Collection
Grass Collection
Underneath here, we have the grass chute. It’s not a massive chute, but the great thing is I’ve probably carried out about four hours of cutting with the Weibang pro 56 today. I haven’t had to unblock the chute at all. I can guarantee I would on a Hayter Harrier 56! Now, admittedly, the grass isn’t long, but I rarely have to unblock this unless the grass is really wet, but even with wet grass, it copes pretty well. It is important to keep the box here clear; otherwise, the air can’t filter through, and you end up in a vicious circle. The air needs to be able to blow through into the bag and then be able to filter through. If it gets blocked, it can’t throw the grass in the collector properly, and you’re kind of battling.
Underneath The Weibang Pro 56 Deck
Underneath The Weibang Pro 56 Deck
Let’s have a look underneath. Here we have the blade, which hasn’t been sharpened in a year. It just got a few nicks out of it, but it’s not that bad, considering it hasn’t been sharpened for a year. It’s due for a service soon. The Weibang Pro 56 mower deck is a very strong and well-built deck.
The weight of the machine, I believe, is around 68 kg, so it is quite a heavy machine. I have used three of Weibang Pro 56 mowers. This is the only one with a blade clutch, but I can definitely recommend the blade clutch, it just helps to make life easier. You see the gearbox under here, quite a substantial gearbox. It’s not just a flimsy plastic thing like some machines have; it’s the real thing. You can see that it also has a solid metal roller, which has been built for a long life.
Overall, I have no complaints about the machine. The only thing some people might not like is the weight; it’s heavier than a Hayter. But I’d sooner have something that drives well rather than something you’re going to be pushing. Which is a lot of what I was doing with Hayters a lot of the time because they just don’t drive. On many occasions, I have ended up pushing Hayter Harriers, due to the drive being so weak. Whereas with the Weibang pro 56, I could stop it if I wanted to. But it really requires effort, where the Hayter I could stop with my little finger.
To Conclude
In this review of the Weibang Legacy 56 Pro Rear Roller Lawnmower the plus points are that it drives well and picks the grass up well. Including relatively damp or wet grass. The downside, as I said, is perhaps for some people the weight of the machine, but that doesn’t worry me at all. It’s so much easier to have a mower that collects grass easily, doesn’t clog up, and so forth.
The Weibang Pro 56 costs around £1550, or something like that, including VAT. There is a three-year warranty for commercial use and a five-year warranty for domestic use. So, to me, the warranty says a lot. If a manufacturer is willing to put three years on for commercial use, they obviously trust their machine. The only thing is you do have to have it serviced by a main dealer, which always costs a bit of money. But it does give you peace of mind that you haven’t got any excessive bills coming in. Once again, if you have any comments to make, please feel free to leave a comment. I do try and respond to YouTube comments.
If you have any questions about the video, please feel free to leave your comment in the comments section.
In this video, I want to talk about a lawn mower-buying guide 2024. So, in other words, the main different types of lawnmowers, what types are available, and an approximate cost, etc.
First of all, before I show you any mowers, just remember that there are a lot of cheap mowers on the market that aren’t brilliant. They may last you a year or two, but in my experience, I have found that if you can, and I know we all have a budget, you’re better off buying something solid and good that will last.
Actually, in the long-term, it will work out cheaper, and you will have a more excellent piece of machinery to use. There’s nothing very pleasant about using a cheap lawnmower, but I do appreciate we all have a budget. But overall, in my experience, I’ve found that buying a quality product works out much better than buying a cheap product, and that applies to most things, to be fair. You can see my YouTube lawnmower buying guide 2024 below.
Bosch Rotak 650 Electric Lawn Mower
Electric Lawnmowers
So let’s start with the budget-type mowers, which are electric lawnmowers. Now, I think all these mowers are electric four-wheel mowers, and some are also available in batteries. But just be careful with the battery ones because the batteries, a lot of them on the domestic machines, don’t last that long, and it can be frustrating if you can’t get the job finished.
Search EBay For Lawn Mowers
So, although I’m not a lover of electric mowers because you have the trailing cable. However, they are low maintenance and cheap, and the biggest obstacle for me is the cable. But they are reliable and easy to use, and if you’re on a limited budget, you can see you’ve got £49. I have actually used these, and they’re not too bad for what they are. They do offer value for money.
So, that’s kind of the basic type of electric mower, and cheap as well. If we go here, we’re going to go kind of upmarket now. We have petrol, or what I call rear roller mowers. So, in other words, they drive off the roller. Let me show you an example of the machine that I use, which is a bit bigger. It’s a rotary mower powered by the roller behind the mower. The grass is thrown into the collector here, leaving a striped finish.
Now, for many people, this is a very practical type of mower. This is one of the more expensive ones, but you can get cheaper models, as you can see here. We’ve got them for £319, £399, etc. So, they vary in price, but this one is a professional model, which I’ve used for some years now, and a very good machine. And you have the added bonus of having stripes, making your lawn look quite nice. It’s not the next best thing to a cylinder mow. These Weibang mowers have five-year domestic and three-year commercial warranties, so they obviously trust their brand.
Hyundai Hyundai HYM430SPE 42 cm Petrol Lawnmower Self Propelled with Electric Start
Four Wheeled Rotary Mowers
Moving on to more types of rotary mowers, these are four-wheeled rotary mowers. Some are self-propelled, and some are push models. Obviously, the self-propelled ones are a little bit dearer, but it’s definitely worth paying a little bit extra for the self-propelled machines rather than having to push them. It does make life easier, and in general, there’s not that much difference in price, but it will definitely make your life easier.
Once again, we’ve got a wide range to choose from, all different prices and so forth. But I like the idea of petrol because you can use it; you’re not restricted with a cable. There’s no battery that’s going to run down. All you need is petrol. Obviously, there is a bit of servicing, but it’s very simple on a modern petrol mow, to be fair. And with a rotary mower, you can almost cut grass in the wet, within reason, providing it’s not waterlogged or anything. Obviously, it’s better if you can cut in the dry, but these are quite a good allrounder and offer value for money if you just want to literally cut your grass. No stripes, but just make it look neat and tidy.
Flymo XL500 Plus Petrol Hover Mower
Hover Mowers
So the next type are petrol hover mowers, which are also available in electric. They’re not quite as popular as they were a few years ago. Although I don’t own a hover mower, I quite like them as they’re just quite practical for doing banks and things. You can swing them around. I’ve actually always found it easier to pull them backwards because I think as soon as you start to push on them, they push the cushion of air down. So you’re almost better off dragging them.
But they can be quite universal, even though they are not quite as popular as they were a few years ago. It seems like other machines have taken over, but if you’ve got banks and things, it’s worth looking at because you can use a two-stroke engine on a bank, and they’ll still work and be quite effective. I’ve done around ponds and things and even had them on a rope.
It may not be the best idea, but it’s a good way of getting to awkward places. They’re quite universal. Most hover mowers, some of the electric ones, do have collectors, but most of them just mulch the grass. So you don’t really need to collect the grass.
Cobra Fortis 25B 25″ Petrol Cylinder Lawnmower
Cylinder Mowers
Right, the next mowers are cylinder mowers. And in some ways, I wouldn’t recommend a cylinder mower unless you have a really fine lawn. It’s the sort of mower that is used on bowling greens and golf courses, etc. But if you take pride in your lawn, they’re worth looking at. But they are certainly not as universal as something like the Weibang rear roller mower would be, or something similar and it would give almost as good a finish. Not quite, but almost!
However, there are people who insist on a cylinder mower, and I fully understand. But obviously, the cutting action is very precise. It’s almost like a scissor action, two metal blades touching each other. So, really, every year, you need to have your cylinder reground to make sure it’s cutting properly and efficiently. If it’s not cutting properly the mower will have a tendency to push the grass down rather than cut it.
So, if you want your lawn to look tip-top, it’s important to look after the cylinder and make sure you don’t any obstacles with it. These are, obviously, in general terms, normally more expensive than a rotary. There’s a 14-inch one, £985, the larger one £1,185, 17-inch, and so forth. Now, there are some seriously expensive ones as well, but if you’re after something long-lasting and good, and you like your lawn looking nice, take a look at our cylinder mowers and I’m here to receive any comments that you might have any questions about.
The next category is ride-on mowers. We have a range of different ride-on ones, from smallish machines like this Alco, for £1,899 to £1,599. Just be aware with ride-on mowers. Some people like the idea of a ride-on, but sometimes you are better off with a good quality walk-behind if you have many obstacles. Ride-on mowers are not always as practical as people think. Obviously, if you have a lot of land, then you have to have a ride-on, but some people would be better off with a walk-behind, even though they think they need a ride-on.
The fact is that ride-on mowers cost money to maintain and service, and normally, the larger the machine, the higher the maintenance costs. Ride on mowers come in different shapes and sizes. Some of the tractors are rear discharge, some are side discharge, some are mulching, and some have collectors on. I actually quite like the idea of mulching, as there’s no grass to pick up, but we’ll come on to those mowers next.
What I would make sure of is when you have one of these ride-on mowers, make sure you can empty the mower from your seat. There are some models that have two or three bags at the back. You literally have to get off your seat on the mower to empty the box, which, to me, defeats the point of having a ride-on mower. You want to be able to cut your grass, stay on the machine, and not have to keep jumping off. For example, you can empty the box from the seat, which is great. I don’t think we have any ones where there are multiple boxes on the rear of the mower. It’s not a good idea, and to me, it defeats the idea of having a ride-on mower.
Stiga Park 320 P Front-Cut Ride-On Lawnmower (Excuding Deck)
Out Front Ride Ons
So the next type of machine is an out-front ride-on. These are mulching mowers, but they are articulated steer, so they’re highly maneuverable. And you can swing in and out, around trees and obstacles, and into awkward places. Probably one of the most practical mowers, apart from Zero Turn Mowers, which we will look at in a moment, but certainly highly maneuverable. There is no grass to collect as they mulch the grass clippings. The prices start around, around just over the £2,000 mark, £2,300 here for the smaller one, and there are all sorts of different sizes. Four-wheel drive ones and wider cut ones, but certainly, the principle of these are brilliant. I have used them, and I can recommend them for manoeuvrability. For example, if you have a large area or an orchard, they may cut grass very straightforward.
So, the next type of mower we will look at are pedestrian mulching mowers, some that drive and some push models. Now, once again, I like the idea of being able to mulch. No grass to collect, which is good. It’s one less job to do. But you do have to cut your grass regularly to mulch efficiently. Otherwise, if you let the grass get too long, you cannot mulch effectively and efficiently.
You are supposed to cut your grass really once a week in the growing season to get the right effect. But it’s definitely worth looking at. And we don’t actually have that many mulching mowers, but we have a few here to choose from. Straightforward petrol push ones. This one’s a self-propelled one. So, it’s definitely worth looking at, but you can’t stripe your lawns with this type of mower. They are just wheeled mowers. There’s no roller on them, so you won’t get stripes.
Stiga ZT 7132 T Zero Turn Garden Tractor
Zero Turn Mowers
Now, zero-turn mowers are the most manoeuvrable mowers on the market. These are Zero Turns. Basically, let’s click on this Stiga zero-turn mower. So you’ve got two large wheels at the back, each with a hydraulic motor. You’ve got the caster wheels at the front, and you’ve got these levers. And literally, you’ve got instant forward and reverse, and you can literally go around trees. The mower will turn around on itself. They are highly maneuverable. I’ve had several zero turn mowers, not a Stiga but similar machines, they really are great mowers for manoeuvrability. But they are mainly designed for larger areas.
Let’s just go back to see some of the larger models. So, there are all different types here. Stiga, Greenworks, Snapper, once again, all mulching mowers. Now, this is a battery one. Once again, I would just be a little bit careful with batteries because you never quite know how long they’re going to last. But a lot of people like battery-powered equipment. I have my reservations, to be fair, especially when you get to machines of this size. I know there are some commercial battery ones, but they are well we’re talking about getting on to £30,000 for a commercial battery mower, so a lot of money. But I can definitely recommend the principle of zero-turn mowing for manoeuvrability, speed, and getting around obstacles. They are absolutely brilliant and my preferred type of mower for large areas.
Mowbot 1200 28v 3Ah Robotic Lawnmower British Racing Green
Robotic Mowers
Finally, robotic mowers are becoming more popular. I go to quite a few different gardens where I see robotic mowers. The biggest thing with a robotic mower is to make sure that you have the time to do a proper installation, in other words, to make sure it’s set up well.
Most robotic mowers have a perimeter wire that runs all around the perimeter of the lawn, and the mower follows the perimeter wire. In years to come, you may not need the perimeter wire; it may just be from a GPS signal. But at the moment, most robotic mowers need a perimeter wire around the outside of the lawn, which you can’t see, as the grass grows over it.
Remember, it’s important to take time doing the installation so you can cut right up to the edges to minimize strimming and any trimming around the edges afterwards. So if it’s carried out properly you will have very low maintenance. You can set these robotic mowers to come out at a given time. I know someone who lets his mower out daily because he likes it cut regularly.
Obviously, these mowers mulch; you don’t have to collect the grass or do anything else, it’s purely robotic. So it’s all very much a labour-saving idea. And the people who have robotic mowers, who I’ve spoken to, really seem to like them. Some people enjoy going out to cut their grass, but this could be the answer if you want to see your grass neat and kept tidy, with no stripes.
There are many different manufacturers out there, so have a look at our range. There are many that are worth looking at. And one of the most popular robotic bars I probably see our the Husqvarna models. I don’t think we’ve got any Husqvarna models in stock at the moment, but they seem to be quite popular with people. So, once again, they are definitely worth having a look.
To Conclude
So, if you have any questions on the lawn mower-buying guide 2024, please let me know the YouTube comments. This isn’t particularly a detailed review of mowers; it’s more just what’s available. So, in other words, it is a buying guide of what’s available. But once again, buy the best you can afford, as I believe it’s cheaper long-term, and carry out some research before you buy. If you’ve any comments on this video and blog post, please feel free to comment in the YouTube comments area. I would be pleased to help.
