Petrol or cordless lawnmower for 500 sqm sloping wildflower lawn with tight passages and tall grass?

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Hi,
I’m looking to replace a ~40-year-old petrol lawnmower that has just failed. I can’t decide between petrol and cordless; I like the idea of the latter but doubt it will have the stamina and power for my situation.
The mowable area of our sloping lawns, front and back, is approximately 500 sqm, though I normally mow them on separate days, so stopping to recharge at the halfway point wouldn’t be an issue. The lawns contain lots of trees and raised beds, making manoeuvrability crucial, with narrow gaps that limit the physical width of the lawnmower (not just the deck size) to ~20 or 21 inches.
I prioritise wildflowers and biodiversity over a perfectly manicured green desert, so I only mow five times per year, at approximately six-week intervals between mid-April and mid-October. During the peak of the growing season that results in very tall grass mixed with annual and perennial ‘weeds’. And while I always try to give the lawn time to dry before mowing, sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate.
A cordless mower, therefore, needs to be able to cut and collect that plus whatever leaves and twigs fall from the trees without choking or needing to be recharged every ten minutes.
Budget: Up to £300-£400
Would you recommend I stick with petrol or go cordless? And what models would you recommend?
I appreciate your incredibly detailed reviews; they’re the best I’ve found.

ANSWERED

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Posted by cOnOr

Asked on May 4, 2026 12:09 pm

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Hi, thank you so much for the kind words about my reviews. Given your situation, a cordless mower would definitely work—I have a lawn of a similar size and use a cordless COBRA, which handles it very well. I can usually get the entire lawn cut on a single charge.

I’d suggest looking at the Cobra MX51S40VX. You can find my full review and a comparison table with other options here: https://easylawnmowing.co.uk/cobra-mx51s40vx-review/. You can check the latest deals by clicking the orange "Click for Best Price" button on that page.

Best regards, Mark

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Posted by Mark Haley (Questions: 0, Answers: 687)

Answered on May 4, 2026 4:22 pm

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Hi,Thanks for the swift reply. However, I think you may have misread my question.The Cobra MX51S40VX is physically (if Amazon is to be believed) about 26 inches wide and at least £100 over budget. Taking size and price limits into account, what do you think would be most appropriate?Warm regards,Conor.

(cOnOr at May 4, 2026 5:51 pm)

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Hi Conor,Apologies for the oversight in my previous recommendation—you are absolutely right that the Cobra exceeds both your width restrictions and your budget.Re-evaluating your requirements, especially the need to tackle tall, thick growth only five times a year on a sloping lawn, it might actually be best to stick with a petrol mower.The main reason is the budget. Cordless self-propelled mowers have a much higher upfront cost because of the battery technology required to provide enough "stamina" for a 500sqm area. A suitable, high-quality cordless self-propelled model would be something like the WORX WG749E; it offers excellent value and performance, but it typically retails for around £450, which is still above your limit.If you are determined to go cordless within your £300-£400 budget, you would likely need to opt for a non-self-propelled (push) model. This would certainly reduce the weight, making it more maneuverable around your trees and beds, and would bring the price down to your target range. However, since your lawn is sloping, you would have to consider if you're comfortable with the extra physical effort of pushing the mower uphill.Given the height of the grass during your mowing intervals and the budget constraints, a compact petrol mower remains the most powerful and cost-effective solution for your specific situation.Best regards,Mark

(Mark Haley at May 16, 2026 9:36 am)

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