With no cable dragging you back to the mains, a rechargeable lawnmower will really let you cut loose. We’ve tested seven of the best grass gobblers…

DEFINITELY BLADEY: HOW TO CHOOSE

● Going cordless is well worth the money. These mowers are easy to use, you’ll never run over the cable, and you can often use the same battery for other tools in the garden or home.

● Start by checking the size of your garden, so you know a mower can do it on a single charge. If you’re lucky enough to have a lawn that’s too big to measure, Google Maps can help.

● Look out for mowers with variable power. They can adapt to conditions, putting in extra work when the grass is long, saving energy when the going is easier.

● No mower performs perfectly right to the edges, but good edge performance means less strimming.

● Finally, note that the prices quoted here include the battery and charger. You won’t get far without them.

[ Words Caramel Quin ]

Ego LM2230E-SP

What’s the story?

First of all, the Ego is huge, an absolute unit. It has a telescopic handle that folds down well and clicks into place, but the mower is so heavy that it takes two hands and some muscle to lift it.

The mower won’t work unless the telescopic handle is fully extended, but it can be set at three different angles to account for your height. Even the battery is enormous; the charger has a built-in fan to cool it down, which makes charging safer but a little noisy.

At least the grass box packs down very small (it’s fabric); the mower also comes with a side-chute for dispersing clippings on the lawn instead.

One stick lets you select from eight cutting heights (25-90mm); another lets you choose whether to send cut grass into the bag, mulch it, or a bit of both.

Is it any good?’

This is a serious lawnmower with a 55cm cutting width, designed for really large gardens. It’s the kind of cordless mower you might buy if you’re debating whether or not to get a ride-on machine… and for an average-sized space it’s total overkill.

The cutting speed is automatic, and varies depending on conditions. It’s self-propelling too, but you can vary the pace: a control in the middle of the handlebar lets you set it from a slight bit of help to a really fast walk. Meanwhile the wire control under your fingertips controls the actual mowing.