How to Mow a Steep Hill With a Push Mower: 9 Safety Rules

Hills are where lawn mowing gets dangerous. The CPSC says an average of 35,000 people a year were treated in US emergency rooms for walk-behind mower injuries, and slopes add the risk of slipping, losing control and getting a foot too close to the deck. Most of it is avoidable with a few rules that every manufacturer and safety agency agrees on.

This guide sets out nine rules from the CPSC, Toro’s operator’s manual and Texas A&M’s AgriLife safety program, then covers what to do with banks too steep to mow. MowReview quotes no prices and hasn’t tested the products mentioned. How we research explains why.

Push mower vs riding mower: the rule flips

This is the most common mistake on hills: people who learned on one type of mower use the same pattern on the other. Remember it as “walk across, ride up and down.”

The nine rules

1. Mow across the face of the slope

The CPSC says: “If the lawn slopes, mow across the slope with the walk-behind rotary mower, never up and down.” Toro’s Recycler manual is identical: “Mow across the face of slopes, never up and down.” Where you can, make your turns on flatter ground at the top or bottom of the slope rather than on the steepest part.

2. Don’t mow what’s too steep to stand on

Toro’s manual says, “Do not mow excessively steep slopes,” and “Always be sure of your footing on slopes.” It doesn’t give a degree limit. The practical test: if you can’t stand across the slope with your weight evenly on both feet, or the mower slides sideways when you let go, don’t mow it with a walk-behind.

3. Only mow when it’s dry

The CPSC says, “Don’t cut the grass when it’s wet.” Texas A&M’s safety guide explains why it matters most on hills: “Losing control from slipping on rain-soaked grass is the leading cause of foot injury caused by power mowers.” Wait until the dew has burned off, and skip the slope entirely after rain.

4. Wear shoes that grip

The CPSC says to wear “sturdy shoes with sure-grip soles,” and “never sneakers, sandals or with bare feet.” Texas A&M recommends boots or shoes with good traction. On a steep yard, worn-out sneakers are the single riskiest piece of equipment you own.

5. Slow down, especially when turning

Toro says to “reduce speed on slopes and in sharp turns” and to “exercise extreme caution when changing direction on slopes.” Pull the mower back toward you to turn rather than pushing it around in front, and never pull it toward your feet while walking backward downhill.

6. Clear the slope first

Sticks and stones roll downhill, so slopes often collect more debris than flat lawn. The CPSC says to check the lawn for twigs, rocks and other objects before mowing, because objects thrown by the blade have caused severe injuries and deaths. Mowing over sweetgum balls and acorns covers clearing nut debris.

7. Keep children and pets away

The CPSC says children shouldn’t be on or near the lawn while a rotary mower runs, and should never operate one. On a hill, a mower that gets away can roll toward people below.

8. Let go, and the blade stops

Walk-behind mowers have a control bar that stops the blade when you release it. Never tie it down or bypass it. If you start to slip, let go and step away uphill.

9. Use the right tool for the steepest part

Many yards have a strip, often a bank by the street or driveway, that’s simply too steep for any walk-behind. Trim it with a string trimmer from the flat ground above or below, or replace the grass with something that never needs mowing.

When a bank is too steep to mow

• String trimmer: the usual answer for steep strips. Stand on level ground and work outward.
• Ground cover: plants that don’t need mowing remove the problem for good, and mulch between them helps hold the soil.
• An all-wheel-drive robot mower: several are rated for slopes far steeper than anyone should push a mower up. Every all-wheel-drive robot mower compares them, and robot mower slope ratings explained shows how to measure your hill with a phone.

The picks

Questions

Should you mow a hill up and down or side to side with a push mower?

Side to side, across the slope. The CPSC says to mow across the slope with a walk-behind rotary mower, never up and down. If you slip, you won’t slide under the mower or pull it back over your feet.

Why is a riding mower different?

Riding mowers can tip sideways, so the advice flips. Texas A&M’s lawn safety guide says to mow up and down slopes on a riding mower and not across them, keeping it in gear going downhill.

How steep is too steep for a push mower?

Toro’s Recycler manual says not to mow excessively steep slopes and to always be sure of your footing, without giving a degree limit. If you can’t stand firmly across the slope, or the mower wants to slide, use a string trimmer or change what’s growing there.

Can I mow a hill when the grass is wet?

No. The CPSC says not to cut grass when it’s wet, and Texas A&M says losing control from slipping on rain-soaked grass is the leading cause of foot injury caused by power mowers.

What shoes should I wear to mow a hill?

Sturdy shoes with sure-grip soles, according to the CPSC, and never sneakers, sandals or bare feet. Texas A&M recommends boots or shoes with good traction.

Is a self-propelled mower better for hills?

It makes climbing easier, because the drive wheels do the pushing. You still mow across the slope, and the extra weight means you should take care when turning on the hill.

The short version

Walk across, ride up and down. With a push mower, mow side to side across the hill, only when it’s dry, in grippy shoes, slowly, and never on a bank you can’t stand on firmly. Trim the steepest strip with a string trimmer, or replace it with ground cover. If the whole yard is steep, an all-wheel-drive robot can take over the job.