Choosing the Best Type of Lawn Mower for Uneven Ground

Most lawns are not entirely flat, they have plenty of slopes and uneven terrain to challenge homeowners during their summer trim. If you’re having trouble with mowing your backyard, then a different mower might just do the trick. But picking the right type of lawn mower to mow through uneven areas without issue isn’t easy unless you know what you’re looking for.

We are Mowrator, innovators of lawn mowers to help you achieve quality lawn maintenance with advanced technology. Read our complete guide to choosing the best lawn mower for uneven terrain, from the different types of lawn mowers, factors to consider, and which lawn mower to pick for your back garden.

Key Takeaways

• The best types of lawn mowers to handle rough, uneven ground are self-propelled, zero-turn, remote control, and hover.
• You should pick a lawn mower that has adjustable cutting height, wide base, and broad cutting width.

What are the Best Types of Lawn Mowers for Uneven Ground?

The best type of lawn mowers for tackling difficult terrain are models that prioritize maneuverability, power, and adjustable cutting heights. Generally, these are self-propelled mowers, riding mowers, remote-controlled mowers, and hover mowers.

When it comes to getting an even cut in challenging terrain, sometimes it’s the tool, not the workman, that’s to blame. While every lawn is different, here is an in-depth look at the types of lawn mowers that have shown the best results when faced with a bumpy lawn.

Self-Propelled Mowers

Self-propelled mowers (also called walk-behind mowers) are lawn mowers that don’t require you to physically push them to move. You simply guide the lawn mower as it propels itself forward (usually using front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive). Compared to a regular push mower, self-propelled mowers are excellent at tackling slopes and uneven terrain, as they deliver consistent power that overcomes most obstacles to your lawn care.

Popular Mechanics tested and reviewed self-propelled mowers and generally found them to be effective in dry conditions, as well as against wet grass and thick or tall grass at a slope of 30°.

Zero-Turn Mowers

If you have a large lawn, then you may want to invest in a high-power lawn mower like a riding mower. Zero-turn mowers are riding mowers that have an extremely tight turning radius, allowing unparalleled maneuverability across your backyard lawn. Many zero-turn mowers can manage rough terrain by simply driving over rocks and other small obstacles without issue.

They are especially popular for backyard landscaping, with modern homeowners favoring models that range from 50 to 60 inches (127 to 152.4 cm) and less than 25 horsepower, according to market insight studies.

Remote Control Mowers

While remote control mowers are still at the forefront of technology, they are quickly becoming an excellent option for mowing uneven terrain. Like a robotic mower, remote control mowers can navigate obstacles and scale slopes easily — the difference is that you have full control over what you want your robot lawn mower to do.

Mowrator’s S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD, for example, has AWD for managing up to 37° slopes and cutting 20-inch grass. If you want to tune your lawn mower even further, the S1 model also has a 1.3 to 4.6 adjustable blade height customization to manage uneven terrain.

Hover Mowers

Hover mowers are another innovative type of lawn mower that can handle lawns with obstacles. These mowers are unique as they don’t use wheels to traverse your backyard, but instead mow while hovering above the ground. This feature makes them highly maneuverable for oddly shaped lawns and stray obstacles.

On the other hand, hover mowers do suffer when handling different heights of grass, as height adjustments can be less effective than walk-behind lawn mowers or remote control mowers.

What Factors Should You Consider for Mowing Uneven Terrain?

If you have a lawn with bumps, slopes, and obstacles, you should invest in a lawn mower with the following capabilities:

• High slope angle capability
• Powerful battery or engine
• Broad cutting width
• Cutting height adjustment
• Grass management options
• Wide wheelbases
• Larger rear wheels

Which Lawn Mower Should You Pick for Your Specific Needs?

Every lawn is different and uneven terrain can vary in severity, which can impact the type of lawn mower you choose. Here are the best types of mowers for cutting the grass for common lawn need.

Best for Rocky Terrain

Self-propelled mowers and riding mowers are the best for managing lawns with rocky features or terrain. These mowers can navigate around obstacles and offer superior traction and stability as you hit the various bumps of your garden lawn. It’s best to opt for either RWD or AWD mowers designed to handle difficult terrain — AWD mowers offer superior traction in particular, although they tend to be slightly more expensive.

Pro Tip: When choosing either a self-propelled lawn mower or a zero-turn lawn mower, be sure to avoid any with low-hanging decks that can catch on rocks and damage your lawn care equipment.

Best for Hilly Yards

A remote control lawn mower like the S1 Remote Control Lawn Mower 4WD is an excellent option for mowing your hilly yard. Remote control lawn mowers are cordless and can tackle the high angles without an issue, while still being extremely easy to maneuver through your lawns. If you want traction and stability on slopes, a remote control robotic lawn mower could be the best choice for you.

Best for Small Yards

If you want to handle difficult terrain for small to medium-sized lawns, then the right mower may be a simple push or self-propelled mower that’s lightweight and easy to use. The size of your lawn can severely limit how effectively you can mow, so you’ll need a mower that’s easy to maneuver around and suitable for small lawns. Small lawns don’t mean less work, and you may have to adjust the cutting height often to deliver a consistent cut.

What are the Best Techniques for Mowing Uneven Lawns?

Tackling different lawn angles and slopes may be intimidating at first, but it can be easy if you employ the following techniques:

• Increase your mower’s height and slow down when going uphill or over uneven ground 
• Mow across the slope rather than up or down to prevent tipping over
• Avoid mowing wet grass on difficult terrain, as this can result in rough and ugly cuts
• Overlap your previous passes slightly to catch any stray blades and create uniformity
• Switch your mowing pattern each time to stop ruts from contributing to unevenness

Need more information on lawn mowers? At Mowrator, we offer remote control mowers specifically designed to tackle difficult terrain with ease of control right in the palm of your hand. Discover our extensive range of mowers and accessories to find the best lawn mower for you.

Lawn Mowers for Uneven Terrain FAQs

How do you mow a Rocky Area?

Mowing a rocky area requires immense care and caution, as rocks can damage your lawn mower beyond repair. To effectively mow a rocky area, you should:

• Remove as many rocks as you can by hand
• Avoid rocks by using the highest cutting setting for your mower
• Use a string trimmer if there are too many rocks to remove
• Mow slowly and carefully to avoid damage

What is the Best Riding Mower for an Uneven Lawn?

A zero-turn lawn mower is the best type of riding mower for handling an uneven lawn. The superior mobility of a zero-turn mower can help you avoid obstacles and quickly maneuver to trim turf cleanly. Their higher deck size (34 inches and up) is perfect for tackling bumps and slopes without damaging your battery or blades.

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