Quick verdict
A lawn broken up by beds is mowed in short runs with many turns, so the mower should be light, narrow and push rather than self-propelled. The Greenworks 40V 16-inch is the best light mower for following curves; the Black+Decker 3-in-1 replaces the mower entirely on tiny ribbons of grass and edges the beds too; the Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM is the budget mower with a bag window for frequent emptying.
Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Mower
Light and 16 inches wide, the Greenworks 40V follows the curve of a bed edge without bridging it and lifts easily when a wheel drops into a mulch border. The composite deck is a third lighter than steel, a single lever sets five heights and the 4 Ah pack covers a third of an acre of lawn cut into islands.
The best mowers for a lawn with lots of flower beds: Greenworks 40V 16-inch, Black+Decker 20V 3-in-1 mower, trimmer and edger, and Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM, compared on width, weight, turning and edging.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Mower | Best Light Mower for Bed Edges | 8.6 | Check price |
| Black+Decker 20V 3-in-1 Trimmer, Edger and Mini Mower | Best for Tiny Lawns Between Beds | 8.0 | Check price |
| Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM 17-Inch Cordless Mower | Best Budget Mower With a Bag Window | 8.2 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Greenworks 40V 16-Inch Push Mower
Light and 16 inches wide, the Greenworks 40V follows the curve of a bed edge without bridging it and lifts easily when a wheel drops into a mulch border. The composite deck is a third lighter than steel, a single lever sets five heights and the 4 Ah pack covers a third of an acre of lawn cut into islands.
Reasons to buy
- Light composite deck
- Narrow enough to follow curves
- Single-lever height
- Low price
Reasons to avoid
- Push only
- Five heights
- No edge-cutting deck
Black+Decker 20V 3-in-1 Trimmer, Edger and Mini Mower
When the lawn is really a few ribbons of grass between beds, a 12-inch string trimmer on a wheeled deck does what a mower cannot. The Black+Decker 3-in-1 converts between mower, trimmer and edger, comes with two batteries, feeds line automatically and edges the bed border in the same pass. Black+Decker lists small yards and hard-to-reach areas as its purpose.
Reasons to buy
- Mows, trims and edges in one tool
- Two batteries included
- Automatic line feed
- 12-inch width fits anywhere
Reasons to avoid
- A trimmer, not a blade; the cut is rougher
- Small lawns only
- Short runtime
Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM 17-Inch Cordless Mower
A 17-inch steel blade, six heights from 1 to 3 inches and an 11-gallon bag with a fill window make the Sun Joe a tidy choice for a lawn cut into sections by beds, where the bag is emptied often. Two 24V packs give 48 volts to a 670-watt brushless motor and the price is low; runtime is about 25 minutes.
Reasons to buy
- Six heights
- Bag fill window
- Brushless motor
- Low price
Reasons to avoid
- About 25 minutes of runtime
- Top height of 3 inches
- Plastic build
What a bed-heavy lawn needs
A lawn with many flower beds is not one lawn but a dozen small ones joined by paths of grass. Every pass is short, every end is a turn and every edge is a curve that a wide mower bridges and a heavy mower plows into. The mower that suits it is light, narrow and pushed, because self-propel drives straight when the operator wants to curve, and it is backed up by a trimmer or an edger for the last inch along each border. The three choices here cover a real lawn between beds, a tiny one and a budget one.
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.
How the three compare
| Mower | Width | Type | Battery | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenworks 40V 16 | 16 in | Blade mower | 40V 4 Ah | Real lawn between beds |
| Black+Decker 3-in-1 | 12 in | Trimmer on wheels | 20V, two packs | Ribbons of grass, edging |
| Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM | 17 in | Blade mower | 48V, two packs | Budget, frequent bagging |
Greenworks 40V 16-inch: follows the curve
The composite deck that makes this mower a third lighter than steel is what lets it follow a bed edge, and the 16-inch width passes between beds that a 21-inch deck bridges. A single lever sets five heights and the 4 Ah pack covers a third of an acre, which is a lot of lawn when it is cut into islands. The wheel rides a mowing strip cleanly and the bag comes off in one motion.
Black+Decker 3-in-1: when the lawn is mostly beds
Some gardens have more bed than lawn, with grass in strips a foot or two wide. A blade mower cannot work there, but a 12-inch string trimmer on a wheeled deck can. The Black+Decker 3-in-1 converts from mower to trimmer to edger, feeds line without bumping, includes two batteries and edges the bed border in the same session. Black+Decker lists small yards, slopes and hard-to-reach areas as its purpose. The cut is a trimmer cut, rougher than a blade, which on a strip nobody will notice.
Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM: the budget bagger
Around beds the bag is emptied often, and the Sun Joe 11-gallon bag with a fill window tells you when. Six heights from 1 to 3 inches, a 670-watt brushless motor on two 24V packs and a 17-inch steel blade at a low price. Runtime is about 25 minutes, which is a small bed-heavy lot mowed in sections, not a quarter acre.
Keeping bed edges clean
Cut a clean edge with a spade or an edger each spring, or set a mowing strip of bricks flush with the lawn so the mower wheel rides it and the deck reaches the bed. Mow the strips between beds first, then the open areas. Bag rather than mulch so clippings do not blow onto the mulch, and trim the last inch with the trimmer head held flat after mowing. A little string trimmer line goes a long way; keep the guard on so it does not strip bark from shrubs.
Which one should you buy
Buy the Greenworks 40V 16-inch for a real lawn divided by beds. Buy the Black+Decker 3-in-1 for ribbons of grass and the edging that beds need. Buy the Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM for a small bed-heavy lot on a budget.
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
Narrow and light
Beds mean curves and short runs. A 16 or 17-inch push mower under 40 pounds follows them.
Push over self-propelled
Self-propel drives straight and fights every turn around a bed.
Edging
The mower leaves an inch at the bed edge. A trimmer with an edger mode, or a 3-in-1 tool, finishes it.
Bag access
Lots of beds means lots of stops. A bag that comes off easily and shows when it is full saves time.
Our verdict
A lawn broken up by beds is mowed in short runs with many turns, so the mower should be light, narrow and push rather than self-propelled. The Greenworks 40V 16-inch is the best light mower for following curves; the Black+Decker 3-in-1 replaces the mower entirely on tiny ribbons of grass and edges the beds too; the Sun Joe 24V-X2-17LM is the budget mower with a bag window for frequent emptying.
FAQs
Run the mower wheel along a cut edge or a mowing strip, keep the deck edge an inch off the plants and finish with a trimmer held flat.
A row of bricks or pavers set flush with the lawn along a bed edge. The mower wheel rides on it and the deck cuts right to the bed.
Bag. Mulched clippings blow into beds and onto mulch. The bagged clippings can go on the compost.
For ribbons of lawn under a few hundred square feet, yes. For a real lawn between beds, a 16-inch mower cuts cleaner.