Is it time for cutting-edge tech to make your mower greener?

theguardian.com:

Gardeners want to make their grass even greener. As petrol prices rocket and people become ever more conscious of their environmental impact, many are turning to the latest generation of lawnmowers to keep their gardens looking good.

While the fronts of our houses are gradually seeing the replacement of petrol cars with electric vehicles, advances in lithium-ion batteries have meant that the trusted back garden mower has also been given a modern overhaul – but at a price.

So is it time to replace your current mower with a battery-powered or “robot” version, stick with petrol despite the spiralling costs, or stay plugged in?

The length and breadth of your garden will heavily influence what type of machine you need.

Smaller gardens allow for corded electric rotary mowers, which are a good-value option, though if the power source is more than 10 metres from the machine, you may need an extension cable. Cheap versions can be picked up for £50, and one of the best budget options for this year is the Webb Weer 33, according to Gardeners’ World magazine. This comes in at about £110.

For larger lawns, however, many gardeners will not want to be attached to a power lead, which may mean a petrol mower or one of the new generation of battery-operated machines.

The increasing cost of fuel at the pump means it is more expensive to fill up a petrol mower now. As many are about 1.25 litres in size, the bill to fill the tank is likely to be roughly £2. However, some gardeners have noted that the new E10 standard unleaded petrol may cause running problems for engines and have suggested using a fuel stabiliser, which can add another 25p to the price of filling up.

Mark Moseley of Handy Distribution, a garden machinery distributor, says petrol