Photograph: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Sustaining an everyday mowing schedule is important to attaining lush and wholesome turfgrass. Nonetheless, a battery-powered garden mower is price contemplating for those who choose a quieter and eco-friendly choice to loud gas-powered mowers. I’ve loads of expertise with garden mowers, however till now, they’ve all been gas-powered fashions. I delay shopping for a battery-powered electrical garden mower as a result of many fashions are dear, plus I had my doubts that the batteries would final lengthy sufficient to mow my total yard. I used to be improper.
Due to fixed enhancements in rechargeable batteries, producers like Makita—an trade chief in battery-operated instruments and home equipment—are producing a few of at the moment’s finest battery-powered garden mowers. I’ve used dozens of Makita cordless instruments through the years, and I’ve come to know the model for its high-quality workmanship and cutting-edge know-how. Lately, I acquired the prospect to check a Makita garden mower—the XML03, an 18-inch mannequin—in my very own yard. Over 3 weeks, I mowed a big part of my yard (about ⅓ acre) six occasions—twice per week—with the XML03. Maintain studying to learn how the Makita mower fared in my hands-on testing and study the options I appreciated finest, plus a pair I want Makita would contemplate altering.
The Makita XML03 Brushless Cordless 18-Inch Garden Mower: At a Look
Photograph: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Score: 9.5/10
PROS
- Eco-friendly battery energy eliminates the necessity for carbon-producing gasoline and oil
- Quieter than fuel-powered mowers—early morning mowing received’t hassle neighbors
- 4 batteries included with buy; when 1 set runs down, swap in a charged set
- Deal with positioned in entrance of mower for straightforward (and secure) lifting
- Easy push-button begin—no cords to tug or pumps to prime
- Fold-down handles cut back storage-space necessities in a storage or shed
CONS
- Comparatively slender 18-inch swath width could make it time-consuming to mow giant yards
- The Makita XML03 will not be self-propelled and might be difficult to push on inclines
- Grass-clipping bag is on the small facet and will require frequent dumping
Get the XML03 Makita electrical garden mower at:
What’s the Makita garden mower?
The Makita XML03 is a battery-powered garden mower with an 18-inch-wide chopping swath. The mower’s comparatively slender swath width places it within the class of a small-to-medium yard mower. Makita claims the 4 batteries, that are included, will mow as much as ⅓ acre on a single cost. Nonetheless, the XML03 will not be a self-propelled mower, so the precise space it’ll mow will rely upon how rapidly you push the mower and the way thick the grass is. The Makita garden mower has a removable grass-catching bag and an non-compulsory mulching attachment. The bag holds as much as 1.7 bushels (16 gallons) of grass clippings, and I emptied the bag a median of six occasions each time I mowed the take a look at space.
The XML03 contains a single mowing blade that spins at as much as 3,300 revolutions per minute (rpm). That’s proper in-line with gas-powered mowers that usually vary between 2,800 and three,600 rpm. However rpm additionally will depend on resistance—as a result of the thicker or larger the grass, the extra resistance the blade will run into, which may decelerate the spinning pace. That is additionally an element with gas-powered mowers however to a lesser extent. The perfect mowing observe for any garden is to chop not more than ⅓ of the grass blade. This may require mowing extra steadily throughout spring and early summer time when grass grows the quickest. Chopping ⅓ of the grass blade or much less places much less pressure on a mower, and it’s higher for the well being of the grass.
Photograph: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
How lengthy do the batteries final when mowing with the Makita garden mower?
One in all my targets when testing the Makita garden mower was to see if it might meet the producer’s declare of mowing ⅓ acre with out stopping for recharging of the batteries. The XML03 runs on two 18-volt batteries concurrently, giving it the equal of 36 volts of energy. The batteries that include the mower are 4.0 amp hours (Ah), that are thought of mid-to-high capability batteries.
Earlier than every mowing take a look at, I absolutely charged all 4 batteries. In all however one of many six occasions I mowed, the batteries not solely lasted lengthy sufficient for me to complete chopping the take a look at space, however I additionally nonetheless had some leftover cost in accordance with the battery indicator on the deal with. The one time I couldn’t mow your complete take a look at space—a 130-feet-long by 112-feet-wide part—was when the grass was nonetheless damp from an in a single day rain bathe. Even the very best cordless garden mowers are usually a bit much less highly effective than gas-powered mowers.
Mowing when the grass is damp will increase the resistance on the chopping blade, plus it’s not a good suggestion to mow moist grass for the well being of the turf—however I needed to conduct a radical take a look at. I had simply two strips of garden left to go when the second set of batteries ran down. However when the grass was dry, I had no drawback chopping your complete take a look at space.
The XML03 has a brushless motor, which helps with each energy and battery runtime, however keep in mind that lithium-ion batteries lose energy over time. For the very best battery life, all the time cost the batteries utterly earlier than use. As well as, take away batteries from the charger once they’re absolutely charged, which is healthier for battery well being.
Photograph: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Is the grass-cutting top on the Makita garden mower adjustable?
Practically nothing might be less complicated than adjusting the mowing top on the XML03. It contains a common adjustment lever on the again proper wheel. I discovered it straightforward to make use of the height-adjustment lever to lift or decrease the mower’s deck top as wanted. Whereas adjusting the peak is straightforward, nevertheless, that is additionally the place I really feel Makita might have finished a bit of higher. The XML03 cuts as little as 13/16 inch and as excessive as 3 inches. The bottom top adjustment works properly for the buffalo grass I’ve planted within the entrance of my yard, however I even have tall fescue rising in one other space, and I wish to maintain it mowed at 3½ inches. Nonetheless, 2½ to three inches is a typical top for a lot of sorts of grass, so not with the ability to elevate the deck top to 3½ inches wasn’t a deal breaker for me.
How does the Makita garden mower examine to a standard gasoline mower?
A gas-powered mower will run so long as you have got gasoline to dump within the tank. The Makita XML03 will run so long as the batteries retain a cost. Shopping for an additional set of Makita batteries will improve total runtime, so if it’s essential mow greater than ⅓ acre at one time, contemplate investing in one other set or two of Makita 18-volt rechargeable batteries.
The final couple of gasoline mowers I owned got here with begin buttons, however they stopped working after just a few months, and I needed to pull the starter wire to get the engines to fireside. The Makita garden mower has the best begin of all—I simply turned on the mower from the management panel on the deal with, pushed the button, and the motor began proper up. There’s no have to repeatedly pull a begin wire, and no smoke or fumes.
Essentially the most vital variations between the Makita garden mower and conventional gasoline mowers are noise and air pollution. A traditional gasoline mower can generate as much as 95 decibels of noise—something over 85 decibels might injury listening to. Many electrical mowers high out round 75 decibels, however in accordance with my decibel tester, the Makita XML03 generated even much less noise—about 71 decibels. For comparability, a typical vacuum cleaner generates about 70 decibels.
There’s no query {that a} battery-powered garden mower is extra eco-friendly. There’s no gasoline to purchase or retailer (a fireplace hazard), plus there aren’t any poisonous fumes emitted as you mow. The sustainability worth alone is motive sufficient for me to contemplate switching to a extra eco-friendly option to mow.
Photograph: Glenda Taylor
How straightforward is the Makita garden mower to maneuver?
The Makita XML03 will not be a self-propelled mower, so I needed to push it alongside bodily. That mentioned, I didn’t discover it too troublesome to push. The wheels roll easily, but it surely’s strictly a mower for a flat yard. I attempted pushing it up and down slopes in addition to horizontally alongside the perimeters of slopes. Mowing down a slope was tremendous straightforward, however pushing the mower up an incline was difficult, to say the least.
Mowing horizontally on an incline was much less demanding, however like most mowers, the XML03 tended to slide downward as I mowed. Though the XML03 isn’t self-propelled, some battery-powered garden mowers are, such because the DeWalt 2X20V MAX that one other Bob Vila product-testing staff member lately examined.
Making uniform back-and-forth turns was straightforward, however I found one thing as I used to be mowing the take a look at space—the Makita garden mower doesn’t go away noticeable wheel stripes within the garden. I guessed this was on account of its comparatively mild weight—63.3 kilos with batteries—in comparison with my gas-powered mowers, which weigh nearer to 100 kilos. Much less weight on the tires leaves much less of a observe behind within the grass.
Maneuvering isn’t solely about pushing and turning a mower; it’s additionally about how straightforward it’s to wash out from beneath the mowing deck and sharpen the blade. It was good to tip the Makita garden mower over on its facet to entry the underside with out oil draining out of a tank (like a gasoline mower). I used to be cautious about eradicating the batteries earlier than tipping it over. Included with the mower, Makita despatched alongside a T wrench that matches the nut that holds the blade in place. That’s a pleasant perk that I’ll admire when sharpening or changing the blade.
Photograph: Glenda Taylor for Bob Vila
Must you purchase a battery-powered Makita garden mower?
Earlier than shopping for the Makita garden mower, or any battery-powered mower, contemplate just a few issues. Whereas the XML03 sells for an affordable $399 at a handful of outlets, many battery-powered mowers are considerably dearer than comparable gas-powered ones. Makita can maintain the value down on the XML03 by providing a slender (18-inch) swatch width and omitting a self-propulsion function. This is a wonderful choice for after I have to mow early within the morning with out waking up the remainder of the household and for lowering my carbon footprint.
It takes a bit of bit extra vitality and power to push a nonpropelled mower, however I discovered that by mowing steadily—so the grass wasn’t too excessive between mowings—and by chopping solely when the grass was dry, the mowing course of was fairly pleasant. Nonetheless, for those who’re not thrilled about pushing a mower, this won’t be the finest garden mower for you. The XML03 is among the many smaller electrical mowers obtainable. Nonetheless, it’s excellent for individuals who are critical about lowering greenhouse gasoline emissions whereas nonetheless having a wonderfully manicured garden.
The place to Purchase the Battery-powered Makita Garden Mower
Get the XML03 Makita electrical garden mower at:
Meet the Tester
Glenda Taylor is a seasoned product tester and author specializing in building, reworking, and DIY house enchancment. As a common contracting firm co-owner with expertise in residential and business constructing purposes, she brings a wealth of data and experience to her evaluations. She checks and evaluations a variety of merchandise, together with energy instruments, family home equipment, and lawn-and-garden merchandise to assist customers make knowledgeable choices.
