Quick verdict
St. Augustine is thick, coarse and grows in runners that bog a weak mower, so torque and battery capacity decide this list. The EGO LM2206SP has the most of both and a deck that will not rust in a humid climate; the Greenworks 80V with an 8 Ah pack is the value pick; the EGO LM2135SP is the mid-price EGO for a normal lot.
EGO Power+ LM2206SP 22-Inch Aluminum Deck Mower
EGO rates the LM2206SP at 11.1 foot-pounds of cutting torque and blade speeds to 3,350 RPM, which is the most reserve in this group for a thick, coarse, runner-forming grass. The 22-inch cast aluminum deck carries a lifetime warranty, the included 10 Ah pack runs up to 70 minutes and the Select Cut system stacks a second blade for cleaner mulching of heavy clippings.
The best cordless mowers for thick St. Augustine grass: EGO LM2206SP, Greenworks 80V 21-inch with 8 Ah pack and EGO LM2135SP, compared on torque, battery capacity, deck and mulching.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGO Power+ LM2206SP 22-Inch Aluminum Deck Mower | Best Overall for St. Augustine | 9.3 | Check price |
| Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower with 8 Ah Battery | Best Value With Big Battery | 8.8 | Check price |
| EGO Power+ LM2135SP 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower | Best Mid-Price EGO | 8.9 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
EGO Power+ LM2206SP 22-Inch Aluminum Deck Mower
EGO rates the LM2206SP at 11.1 foot-pounds of cutting torque and blade speeds to 3,350 RPM, which is the most reserve in this group for a thick, coarse, runner-forming grass. The 22-inch cast aluminum deck carries a lifetime warranty, the included 10 Ah pack runs up to 70 minutes and the Select Cut system stacks a second blade for cleaner mulching of heavy clippings.
Reasons to buy
- 11.1 ft-lb torque, 3,350 RPM
- Cast aluminum deck with lifetime warranty
- 10 Ah pack, up to 70 minutes
- Select Cut stacked blades
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive
- Heavy
- Overkill for a small lot
Greenworks 80V 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower with 8 Ah Battery
The Greenworks 80V 21-inch pairs a brushless motor with an 8 Ah pack, which Greenworks rates for a half acre per charge, under a steel deck with seven heights and a four-in-one system that adds a turbo mode for heavy pickup. For St. Augustine the 80V reserve and the big pack matter more than refinement.
Reasons to buy
- 80V brushless with 8 Ah pack
- Half-acre rating
- Steel deck, seven heights
- Turbo mode for heavy clippings
Reasons to avoid
- Steel deck can rust at the lip
- Heavier than it looks
- Fewer dealers than EGO
EGO Power+ LM2135SP 21-Inch Self-Propelled Mower
The LM2135SP gives 7.0 foot-pounds of torque, Touch Drive self-propel, Select Cut stacked blades and a 7.5 Ah pack rated for up to 60 minutes, at a price below the aluminum deck model. It handles established St. Augustine on a normal lot and shares every EGO 56V pack.
Reasons to buy
- 7.0 ft-lb torque
- Select Cut stacked blades
- Touch Drive self-propel
- 7.5 Ah pack included
Reasons to avoid
- Less torque than the LM2206SP
- Steel deck
- 60 minutes in thick grass is optimistic
Why St. Augustine is hard on cordless mowers
St. Augustine grass has wide coarse blades and spreads by thick above-ground runners. A mower that glides through fescue meets resistance in St. Augustine with every pass, and after a wet week the clippings are heavy enough to clog a deck. Cordless mowers that bog here are usually short on cutting torque or short on battery, and the runtime figure on the box, measured in light grass, is roughly halved. The three mowers in this guide have the torque and the pack capacity to keep cutting.
This guide is built from the published specifications and manuals of each mower and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these mowers ourselves.
What to look for
Cutting torque is the figure that matters and EGO now publishes it. Anything above about 6 foot-pounds handles established St. Augustine; above 10 the mower never notices. Pack capacity decides whether the lawn gets finished: an 8 or 10 Ah pack covers a quarter to half acre of thick grass, while the 4 and 5 Ah packs in cheaper kits do a small lot and no more. Deck material matters because St. Augustine grows in humid states where steel decks rust at the lip. And check the top cutting height, because St. Augustine is cut at 2.5 to 4 inches and some mowers stop at 3.
How the three compare
| Mower | Torque | Battery | Deck | Runtime claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EGO LM2206SP | 11.1 ft-lb | 10 Ah | 22 in aluminum | 70 min |
| Greenworks 80V 21 | Not published | 8 Ah | 21 in steel | 1/2 acre |
| EGO LM2135SP | 7.0 ft-lb | 7.5 Ah | 21 in steel | 60 min |
EGO LM2206SP: the most reserve
At 11.1 foot-pounds of torque and up to 3,350 RPM the LM2206SP has more cutting power than anything else in this price class, and owners in Florida and Texas describe it holding speed through overgrown St. Augustine that stalled their old mower. The cast aluminum deck carries a lifetime warranty and shrugs off the humidity. Select Cut stacks a mulching blade under the main blade, which chops heavy clippings fine enough to vanish. The 10 Ah pack runs up to 70 minutes in normal grass, which is a quarter acre of thick grass with margin.
Greenworks 80V 21-inch: the value pick
Greenworks does not publish a torque figure, but the 80V brushless motor and the 8 Ah pack in this kit give it the reserve and the capacity St. Augustine needs at a lower price than the EGOs. The steel deck has seven heights and a turbo mode that pulls heavy clippings into the bag. Owners mention the deck lip rusting after a few seasons in wet climates, which a rinse after mowing slows.
EGO LM2135SP: the mid-price EGO
With 7.0 foot-pounds of torque and a 7.5 Ah pack the LM2135SP handles an established lawn mowed weekly without complaint. It has the same Select Cut blades and Touch Drive self-propel as the aluminum model on a steel deck. For a normal lot it is the sensible EGO; for a half acre or a neglected lawn the LM2206SP is worth the extra.
Mowing St. Augustine well
Mow weekly in the growing season so no more than a third of the blade is removed at once. Cut at 3 inches in spring and raise to 3.5 or 4 in summer heat. Mulch when dry and bag after rain or a missed week, and rinse the underside of the deck when clippings cake.
Which one should you buy
Buy the EGO LM2206SP for the most torque, the biggest pack and a deck that will not rust. Buy the Greenworks 80V with the 8 Ah pack for the same job at a lower price. Buy the EGO LM2135SP for a normal lot on the EGO platform.
How we research
This guide is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of each product and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run these products ourselves; where a maker does not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Torque over voltage
Makers now publish cutting torque in foot-pounds. Above 6 is enough for St. Augustine; above 10 never bogs.
Battery capacity
Thick grass halves the runtime claim. An 8 to 10 Ah pack covers a quarter to half acre of St. Augustine; a 4 Ah pack does not.
Deck material
St. Augustine lawns are usually in humid states. Aluminum or composite decks do not rust; steel does at the lip.
Cutting height
St. Augustine is cut at 2.5 to 4 inches. Check the top height setting; some cordless mowers stop at 3.
Our verdict
St. Augustine is thick, coarse and grows in runners that bog a weak mower, so torque and battery capacity decide this list. The EGO LM2206SP has the most of both and a deck that will not rust in a humid climate; the Greenworks 80V with an 8 Ah pack is the value pick; the EGO LM2135SP is the mid-price EGO for a normal lot.
FAQs
Between 2.5 and 4 inches, higher in heat and shade. All three mowers here reach 4 inches.
A 40V mower on a small lot mowed weekly can. On a quarter acre or after a wet week it bogs, which is why this list starts at 56V and 80V.
Mulch when it is dry and mowed weekly. Bag after a growth spurt; the clippings are heavy and mat.
The Greenworks 8 Ah and the EGO 10 Ah packs are rated for about that in normal grass; expect less in thick St. Augustine and buy a second pack for a half acre.
