One type of lawnmower could be banned from sale (Image: Getty)
New rules could be introduced which will affect gardeners up and down the country mowing their lawn each year.
Mowing the is a constant battle, with gardeners looking to give their grass a trim every few months to keep their outdoor space looking trim and the grass growing well.
But anyone who prefers a petrol lawnmower could be out of luck if the government adopts recommendations to end the sale of petrol powered mowers in future.
Advice from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) is given to the government every five years, about how to meet its target of net zero emissions by 2050. The latest advice covers the period from 2038 to 2042.
Using a petrol lawnmower produces the same amount of emissions in two hours as 600 miles of driving, the advice said.
It means, if the ban is followed through, that gardeners will either have to opt for plug-in lawnmowers or battery powered.
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Battery powered lawnmowers currently cost more than petrol driven models and usually only last up to 45 minutes between charges.
The changes could also mean petrol lawnmowers become more expensive on the second hand market, too.
According to garden experts at The Turf Doctor, a restriction on the sale of petrol lawnmowers is likely in the future, but the electric replacements are not quite good enough yet.
They said: “The ban on the sale of petrol cars is only possible because advancements in technology have allowed us to manufacture hybrid and electric cars that are just as capable.
“The lawn mower industry isn’t quite up to speed with the automotive industry. While cordless battery-powered models now exist, these mowers can’t always be used as a direct replacement for petrol lawnmowers.
“The issue with eco-friendly alternatives to petrol-powered garden tools is that they’re simply not powerful enough (yet!) Most cordless lawnmowers that rely on battery power last about 30 minutes, max, before the batteries need charging. That means having to swap out batteries and make sure you have plenty of charged batteries ready to go if needed – not ideal if you have a large lawn.”
They added that there’s no reason not to buy a petrol mower yet, as it will still be legal to use them, even if they are banned from sale, but that one big problem could be the cost of repairs
They said: “If the ban is similar to the ban on petrol cars, it will only ban the sale of, not the use of, petrol lawnmowers – and it’ll take a few years before this ban is officially implemented.
“That means you could still buy a petrol lawnmower right up until the hypothetical ban was issued, and legally, you’d still be able to use your mower right up until the end of its lifespan.
“However, you might struggle to perform servicing or repair work on your mower later in its life as it’s likely that manufacturers would start discontinuing their petrol mower parts and accessories after the ban was issued.
“So, it’s up to you. You should be fine buying a petrol lawn mower now, when there are only vague talks of possible bans and no word from the government so far. But you might prefer to invest in a more eco-friendly alternative so you can be one step ahead of any bans or regulations that may possibly be imposed.”