The £73 Lawnmower That Took On My Overgrown Garden
TL;DR
- Left the lawn untouched since October - it turned into a jungle
- Picked up a cheap Flymo Hover Vac 250 (£73.50 from eBay)
- Surprisingly handled the chaos - just about
- Not great for edges - you’ll need proper tools to finish the job
- Lesson learned: regular garden maintenance saves you a world of pain
Meet Doris: The Budget Lawn Destroyer
Today, I bought a new lawnmower… and I’m fairly certain it also does knitting.
Let me introduce Doris - the Flymo Hover Vac 250, snagged from eBay for £73.50 after my old mower finally gave up the ghost following seven years of loyal service in the ongoing war against grass.
And what a war it’s been.
If you’ve ever faced an overgrown lawn in the UK, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
The Garden Situation (Or Lack of Control)
What you’re looking at here… isn’t a lawn.
It’s a cry for help.
I hadn’t cut it since October. I could call it neglect, but I prefer to think I gave it time to express itself.
The result?
“Less Brian May… more Rab C Nesbitt.”
Wet grass, uneven growth, patches of bare soil - the full British garden horror show. Not ideal conditions for a budget mower, but when the rain finally paused, it was time to see what Doris could do.
First Impressions: Why Did I Leave It This Long?
Straight away - regret.
Not about buying the mower… about leaving the job so late.
Trying to cut through months of thick, damp growth felt like:
“Felling a California Redwood with a pair of toenail clippers.”
This would’ve been a manageable job five months ago. Now? It’s borderline punishment.
Surprisingly… It Actually Worked
Against all odds, Doris got stuck in.
The Flymo Hover Vac 250 handled the overgrowth better than expected - hovering nicely, easy enough to push, and steadily chewing through the mess.
For a small garden (around 500 sq ft), it did the job.
I had to empty the collection box about four times, but to be fair:
- Lift flap
- Pull drawer
- Empty
- Back in
Simple. No fuss.
If you want tips for tackling an overgrown lawn in the UK, check out our guide on tackling overgrown lawns efficiently.
The Moment It All Fell Apart (Literally)
Halfway through, the handle fell off.
Was that poor build quality? Or classic ManThings instruction-free assembly?
We’ll never know.
It went back on, didn’t happen again, and we carried on like nothing had happened.
The Big Weakness: Edges
Here’s where things fell apart a bit.
The mower doesn’t reach close to edges. There’s a noticeable gap around the blade, leaving an untidy border.
Which means one thing - you’ll need the right tools to finish the job.
For proper weed control and garden tidiness, these are lifesavers:
- Garden Weed Puller – perfect for stubborn roots
- Heavy-Duty Weed Barrier & Peg Kit – keeps weeds at bay
- 6" Weed Control Membrane Pegs – locks everything in place
These make a “that’ll do” job actually look decent.
If you want more on choosing the right weed barrier for your garden, we’ve got a full guide.
While You’re At It: Sort the Rest of the Garden
Once you’ve tackled the lawn, it’s easy to notice other bits that need attention.
Overgrown plants? Grab:
- 8" Bypass Secateurs – clean, precise cuts
- Anvil Secateurs – for tougher, woody stems
Dodgy hose setup? Upgrade with:
Thinking ahead (rare, but it happens):
- Outdoor Tap Winter Cover – protect your tap from frost
For more tips, see our post on top garden tools every man needs.
Storage: One Slightly Annoying Flaw
Putting the mower away should be simple… but no.
You have to partially unscrew the handle to fold it down, meaning:
- Screws
- Small parts
- High chance of losing something
And we all know how that ends.
Final Verdict: Was Doris Up to the Job?
Short answer? Sort of.
Long answer:
- Was it the right tool for a massively overgrown lawn? Probably not
- Did it still manage to get through it? Surprisingly, yes
- Would it have been easier if I hadn’t ignored the garden for five months? Absolutely
“The lawn is shorter. The mower survived. That’s a win.”
