Hi,

I need a new mower so before committing hard earned dosh thought I
should ask the experts.

Last year I spent most of the summer grubbing up the jungle at the
bottom of my garden, levelling and sowing lawn. The advantage of this
is that cutting back brambles, nettles and elder is no longer part of
my routine garden maintenance. The downside is that my lawn (or rather
grass) has doubled in area.

Since my electric Flymo is getting on in its years and dragging that
length of cable around is getting to be a right PITA I have decided to
take the plunge and go for a new petrol mower. The lawn is
approximately 80?x35? and at the moment is pretty much rectangular. In
the future when I get to do a major redesign it will likely become
circular or elliptical. It is flat ? but a bit undulating through
neglect.

I want something that is going to last so have a budget up to around
£350. I am NOT looking for a cheapy from one of the sheds.

Looking around and Googling on u.r.g I have found that I could get the
Honda Izy 18? self-propelled within my budget and this seems to be a
well thought of machine. However a lot of people have recommended the
Hayter Harrier as being a better option although for the money I would
only be able to get the 16? push model.

So, two questions. What is the optimum size mower for this size lawn
and how much of an advantage is having something self-propelled, or to
put it another way how difficult would one of these be to push when
the grass has been allowed to get to three or four inches high.

Finally, are there any other mowers within this budget other than
these two that would be a better bet?

Thanks in Advance.

Andrew