Mowing anything but the shallowest of slopes is always going to be a chore. It isn’t getting back to the top that’s the problem, it’s doing it twenty or thirty times in a row. And if the slope is steep or uneven, the task isn’t just difficult, it’s also potentially dangerous.
Starting with the gentler inclines and working our way up to the more precipitous, here’s a list of high-end tools that can tackle different gradients at the same time as satisfying your other, more mundane gardening needs.
Please note that these tools are not listed in order of how good they are at accomplishing a particular task. They’re all good in different ways, depending on how steep and uneven the terrain is.
Our TOP Best Lawn Mowers for Slopes, Hills & Steep Banks
The Best Lawn Mowers for Steep Slopes & Banks to Buy
- Our TOP Best Lawn Mowers for Slopes, Hills & Steep Banks
The Best Lawn Mowers for Steep Slopes & Banks to BuyCleva Lawnmaster 33cm Hover Mower
Hensita EGO LM1903E Self-Propelled Cordless Mower
BLACK+DECKER 900W Electric Strimmer
Einhell GC-PM 40/2 S Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower
Lawn King RC125 Ride-on Lawnmower
Joyiever Metal Blade Cordless Trimmer
WORX Landroid M WR141E Robot Lawn Mower
Bosch AHM 38 G Manual Lawn MowerLawnMaster 1600W 33cm Hover Mower
- Joyiever Metal Blade Cordless Trimmer
- Spectrum DC24-4 Ride-On Lawn Mower
- EGO LM1914E-SP Self-Propelled Cordless Lawnmower
- BLACK+DECKER 900W Electric Strimmer
- Einhell GC-PM 46/5 S Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower
- WORX Landroid M WR141E Robot Lawn Mower
- Cobra HM381 Manual Cylinder Lawnmower
LawnMaster 1600W 33cm Hover Mower
Key Features:
- Power Source: Mains electricity
- Power: 1600W
- Cutting Width: 33cm
- Cutting heights: 4, from 12mm to 33mm
- Type of Slope: Shallow, both even and uneven
The LawnMaster 1600W 33cm hover mower replaces the older 1500W LawnMaster on this list. A hover mower floats on a cushion of air, so it glides across gentle slopes and bumpy ground in any direction. That makes the LawnMaster 1600W hover a good choice for banks too awkward for a wheeled mower.
The LawnMaster mulches clippings back onto the lawn instead of collecting them. The metal blade is sharpened on both edges and can be reversed for twice the blade life. It is light enough to hang on a shed wall, and LawnMaster gives a 2 year domestic guarantee.
Pros:
- Glides in any direction on slopes
- Reversible blade
- Light enough to hang up
- Budget price
Cons:
- Does not collect clippings
- You need a suitable outdoor extension cable for larger gardens
Joyiever Metal Blade Cordless Trimmer
Key Features:
- Power Source: 2x24V lithium-ion batteries
- Weight: 3.17kg
- Cutting Width: 15cm
- Type of Slope: Steep, uneven and irregular
If your house is on the side of a steepish hill, chances are you’ve got strips of lawn along the back and one side where the ground ramps up sharply.
Joyiever is a South Korean online jewellery company that only recently branched out into gardening tools. One of its first, very affordable offerings is this cordless multi-tool, pretty much a one-stop shop where trimmers are concerned.
It comes with everything you need: safety goggles, gloves, an array of plastic and metal alloy blades, a plant guard, batteries and a charger.
Pros:
- Fit for purpose
- Eminently affordable
- Multi-purpose
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Very poor documentation
- Some users complain about the battery life but this could be because they’re using the wrong blades
Spectrum DC24-4 Ride-On Lawn Mower
Key Features:
- Power Source: 224cc 4-stroke petrol engine, 4.4kW
- Cutting Width: 61cm
- Lawn size: up to 2000m²
- Grass collector: 150L
- Cutting modes: Collect, mulch or side discharge
- Type of Slope: Large, gentle slopes. Check the manual for the maximum safe angle
The Spectrum DC24-4 is one of the most compact ride-on mowers you can buy. The Spectrum DC24-4 has a 61cm cutting deck, which fits through gates and around beds that stop a full-size garden tractor. The Spectrum DC24-4 suits big lawns with long, gentle slopes that are tiring to walk.
A 224cc petrol engine drives a 4-forward, 1-reverse manual gearbox. The 150L collector has a hard top and means fewer stops to empty. Spectrum gives a 5 year warranty. The mower arrives boxed for self-assembly: you fit the steering wheel, the seat and the grass box.
Ride-on mowers can tip on steep ground. Always mow up and down a slope rather than across it, and stay within the maximum slope in the manual.
Pros:
- Compact 61cm deck
- Large 150L collector
- Collect, mulch or side discharge
- 5 year warranty
Cons:
- Not for steep banks
- Self-assembly needed
EGO LM1914E-SP Self-Propelled Cordless Lawnmower
Key Features:
- Power Source: EGO 56V battery, kit with battery and charger
- Self-propelled: Yes
- Cutting Width: 47cm
- Cutting heights: 7, from 20mm to 80mm
- Type of Slope: Moderate
The EGO LM1914E-SP is the current version of the EGO self-propelled mower that was on this list. Self-propelled drive is the single most useful feature on a slope. The EGO LM1914E-SP drives its own wheels uphill, so you only have to steer.
Being cordless, the EGO has no cable to snag or drag across a bank. The brushless motor is quiet and efficient, and the 55L grass box means fewer walks back to the top of the slope to empty it.
Pros:
- Self-propelled drive for hills
- No cable to manage on a slope
- Brushless motor
- Large 55L grass box
Cons:
- Expensive
BLACK+DECKER 900W Electric Strimmer
Key Features:
- Power Source: 900W electric motor/mains electricity
- Weight: 3.4kg
- Cutting Width: 35cm
- Type of Slope: Very steep banks and hills
I chose this strimmer because it has the broadest cutting width, a full 35cm, nearly as much as a lawn mower. It has an adjustable second handle so you’ll be able to angle it parallel to any bank no matter how steep.
It’s light, although I strongly recommend buying a shoulder harness if you plan on strimming very large areas.
When you’re not using it to mow banks and hillsides, you can use it to edge your lawn and trim shrubbery.
For larger areas, you can always look at a petrol strimmer.
Pros:
- A dependable manufacturer with a long history in the industry
- 900W of power
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons:
- You need a properly-rated extension cord
- A little overpriced for a strimmer
Einhell GC-PM 46/5 S Self-Propelled Petrol Lawnmower
Key Features:
- Power Source: 4-stroke petrol engine, 2kW
- Self-propelled: Yes, rear-wheel drive
- Cutting Width: 46cm
- Cutting heights: 9, from 25mm to 80mm
- Grass bag: up to 65L
- Type of Slope: Moderate to steep
The Einhell GC-PM 46/5 S replaces the smaller Einhell GC-PM 40/2 S on this list. The Einhell GC-PM 46/5 S is a self-propelled petrol mower with rear-wheel drive. Einhell designed the drive to make mowing on slopes and inclines less tiring.
The 46cm deck and 9 cutting heights handle long or rough grass that a battery mower might struggle with. The handle adjusts to your height, and it folds down so the mower fits in a small shed.
Pros:
- Rear-wheel drive helps on slopes
- 9 cutting heights
- Large grass bag
- Folds for storage
Cons:
- Petrol engine needs servicing
- Heavier than electric mowers
WORX Landroid M WR141E Robot Lawn Mower
Key Features:
- Power Source: Lithium-ion battery
- Weight: 14kg
- Cutting Width: 18cm
- Type of Slope: Steep or shallow
This is the ‘fire-and-forget’ option when it comes to slopes and banks. You set up a charging station, bury a boundary wire around the perimeter of the area that needs mowing, and let it get on with it. If it starts raining, you can tell it to stop and return to the charging station with an app on your smartphone.
This robot mower has one distinct advantage over other makes, it doesn’t need a guide wire, just a boundary wire.
Robot mowers are good at maintaining a lawn, not at delivering a first cut. If the grass is longer than a couple of inches, you’d be better off getting it cut, than letting the robot keep it that height.
Pros:
- Extremely quiet.
- Programmable.
- Onboard rain detection.
Cons:
- If you own a large property, you need to invest in a higher-capacity battery.
- No good at first cuts.
Cobra HM381 Manual Cylinder Lawnmower
Key Features:
- Power Source: Human being
- Cutting Width: 38cm
- Blades: 5-blade cylinder
- Cutting heights: 4, from 13mm to 38mm
- Grass collector: Included
- Type of Slope: Any angle you can safely walk
The Cobra HM381 replaces the Bosch AHM 38 G, which is no longer sold on Amazon UK. The Cobra HM381 is a manual cylinder mower. A manual push mower cannot tip over, run away or overheat, which makes it the safest mower for a steep bank.
The 5-blade cylinder cuts like scissors against a fixed bottom blade, so it leaves a clean, fine finish. A rear roller adds stripes and lets you mow over border edges. Cobra includes a grass collector and a 2 year warranty.
Pros:
- Cannot tip or run away
- Clean scissor cut
- Rear roller for stripes
- Grass collector included
- No fuel or charging
Cons:
- Physically demanding
- Struggles with long grass
How to Buy the Best Mower for Hills, Slopes and Steep Banks
For the best outcome in terms of time, money and the end result, it’s always better to work out what you need, and then buy the next tool up. That way you’ll always have some spare capacity, enough to make up the difference.
Weight is very important. Lighter mowers are more manoeuvrable and easier to control.
Another aspect you need to consider is how strong you are. If you have a bad back, tricky knee or the frailty that comes with age – you’re better off investing in a ride-on mower or one that’s self-propelled.
If you choose a cordless tool like a strimmer, bear in mind that using the metal blades takes far more battery power than the plastic kind. You must match the type of blade to the terrain. Metal blades are meant for cutting brush like brambles and nettles, not grass.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of lawn mower is best for hills?
On the whole, self-propelled mowers are best for hills, especially if the grade is uneven.
What type of riding mower is best for steep hills?
Ride-on mowers are not a good choice for steep hills. Their centre of gravity is too high and you run the risk of tipping over.
Conclusion
If you’ve read this far, you should have some idea of the options available to you and some of the obstacles you’re going to encounter.
The key to mowing hills, slopes and steep banks is matching the type of tool to the terrain, and then choosing a version of the tool type that matches your capacity for physical exertion.
Know this: there’s a tool out there for every variety of circumstances if you take your time and choose wisely.
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Charl is a full-time writer with a range of passions and expertise in lawn mowers and other garden power tools. After many years in the corporate rat race, he decided to follow these passions. When not writing, Charl can be found in his garden, tending to or propagating plants, keeping the lawn near perfect, and enjoying the outdoors with his dogs. He is also fascinated by emerging technology and tries to squeeze in a round of golf as often as possible.
