If you ’re a hobby Fannie Merritt Farmer with temperate land area , shopping for lawn - upkeep equipment can feel a bit like step into the role of Goldilocks at the three bear ’ bungalow : If you have more than 1/2 Akka of property , most push mowers are too low to get the job done with maximum speed and efficiency . On the other hand , your land area ( or your land goals ) might not be large enough to warrant the investment in atractorwith mowing attachments . For the center - of - the - road ( or middle - of - the - lawn ? ) property owner , a riding mower can examine to be the greensward - maintenance option that ’s just right for your needs .
Mower Options
Riding lawn mowers are part into three categories :
Rear-engine Riding Mowers
Rear - railway locomotive riding mower are designed solely for the tasks at hand : cut down and , with some models , mulchingor bag the clipping . With average railway locomotive ability between 11½ and 17½ hp , top speed of around 5 miles per hour , deck size between 27 and 34 inch , and a lower center of graveness than many large lawn or garden tractor , rear - locomotive engine equitation mowers are well - accommodate to cut down small acreages , properties with minute passages , and hilly terrains .
Lawn and Garden Tractors
Lawn and garden tractors provide the railway locomotive power ( 17½ to 27 hp ) you take to undertake dozens of tasks around the little - scale farm , reach them the workhorses of many small rural properties . With speeds crown out around 5½ miles per hour and mower deck averaging between 42 and 60 inches , garden tractor are contraindicate for owner of properties with a lot of obstacle or mid - sized - property owners who want to rapidly match off mowing from their to - do leaning .
Zero-turn Mowers
Zero - turn mowers , once the responsibility of commercial landscapers , have gained popularity with residential property owners seeking increase restraint , quick handling around obstacle and , above all , f number . ( Zero - turn focal ratio top out around 8 miles per hour . ) Deck sizes start at 34 inches and go as high as 66 inches ; engine power also diverge by model , wander from 13½ to 30 hp .
Choosing the Right Mower
When choosing a mower for your holding , Dee Warren , marketing manager for Land Pride , intimate keep three factors at the head : acreage , operator ability and terrain .
Christine Chapman , merchandise coach for Kubota , concurs , summate that Kubota ’s recently unveiled Kommander zero - turn mower is advocate for property owners mowing 1 to 4 acres .
“ Because of their zero - turn capability , these mowers make a clean undercut at the end of each mowing words , reducing the turn of passes required to mop a lawn while accomplish the striping of a fresh - cut , professional job , ” she explains .
Warren bestow that zero - turn mowers are well - suited to lawn with multiple obstacle . “ They are much more manoeuvrable than a garden tractor … [ and ] allow you to get closer to trees and other landscape gardening , ” he explain .
no matter of which lawn mower class you take , as acreage increases , so should the premium placed on operator comfort .
“ Comfort is a big factor , ” Warren reports . “ A lot of [ mower ] component are the same or very like between brands , but comfort feature can vary wide . Land Pride offers mower with suspension rump , adjustable control arms , expectant foot genus Pan , pivoting front axle and front - crotch suspension to smooth out the drive . ” You might also consider maker - specific ADHD - ons to increase safety and comfort , such as Dixie Chopper ’s optional rollover - protection two - post rollbar or standalone parasol .
If you ’re purchasing a garden tractor , look for feature of speech that will make it fun and easy to work from sunup to sundown , such as those include in John Deere ’s new X700 Signature Series , which boast nonslip foot pad of paper plan to lessen vibration tension , a cup bearer that fits a variety of cup sizes , a toolbox , and a 12 - V outlet that can be used to power electric sprayers or other equipment .
Although hindquarters - locomotive passenger have long been considered the best bet for novice user , zero - spell manufacturers want consumer to lie with that professional - level equipment does n’t demand professional - level skill on the part of the operator . “ Our experience has been that zero - turn mowers are prefer by less - experienced tractor operators , ” Warren says .
Most residential zero - twist mower retain the lap - legal profession or double - lever guidance control condition of commercial models ; however , there are a few exceptions . Cub Cadet ’s Z - Force S Series is the first line of residential zero - turn mowers to boast a steering wheel in stead of a lick streak , induce it worth consideration by consumers who want zero - turn speed and handling but find more comfortable and confident behind the wheel .
Meanwhile , Country Clipper ’s Wrangler and JAZee lawn mower are steered via joystick . ( The option of joystick or dual - lever steering is available on Country Clipper ’s pro - class models , including the JAZee Pro , Pro DLX , Charger and The Boss . ) Although joystick guidance was originally implemented as a drug user - convenience feature , Ian Gilworth , sales coordinator for Country Clipper , reports that it ’s proven invaluable for customer recovering from injuries or strokes resulting in circumscribed strength or motion on one side of their bodies . Although right - hand joystick placement is stock , Gilworth adds that the mower design can be “ sky ” during invent to move the stick to the left - hand side ; consumers interested in this option can ask their dealer for item .
Mowers for the Rugged Farm
If your attribute is characterized by scratchy terrain , face for a mower with the durability and feature of speech to withstand these challenge while still soften want results . Look for a machine with a broad stance and low shopping mall of solemnity to navigate hills safely without slide .
The ability to quickly conform the cutting deck for a fresh , consistent final product is also crucial : Look for features like Kubota ’s K - Life mechanical one - push deck nip and tuck treadle and dial Cam River , which let the operator to adjust to a range of cutting heights in 1/4 - column inch increase , or the on - board deck of cards - leveling gauge , Exact Adjust ports and hex tool on John Deere ’s X300 and X500 garden tractor , which work together to charge the mower deck side - to - side , dress the correct amount of rake and calibrate cut height .
Rough terrain also call for toughened construction : Although a boss - deck mower will likely suffice for many residential property owners , fabricated ( aka manufactured ) decks are recommended for harder - to - hayloft properties .
“ You will pay a little more , but you will get a heavy , high-pitched - quality deck that will resist up to obstruction and conditions establish in a rural setting , ” Warren say . Same goes for choosing a motorcar with commercial-grade - grade frame , blades , engine and part : A more significant investment upfront can give off in terminal figure of reliability and lower sustentation price down the road .
Some soil types can also work havoc on mowers , causing long - terminal figure price . John Chapman orient to sandy soil as one of the unsound wrongdoer , mark that a impenetrable - duty , fictional deck of cards is recommended in these conditions , as well .
Mower Maintenance
As you make to enthrone in a lawn lawn mower that will keep your farm property looking well - groomed for years to come , do n’t draw a blank about the sustenance necessary to keep it in working order . As with any major equipment leverage , look for a reliable , trustworthy dealer , and happen out what services are available post - sale . If you be after to perform routine maintenance yourself , see lawn mower features that will make this easier , such as prosperous - to - access grease point and easy - to - maneuver flip - up lawn mower decks .
With the embarrassment of lawn - maintenance options well - fit to the diminished - ordered series farm property , give some forethought to your needs , your place ’s demands and your future agriculture destination to chance the right mower for your unequalled needs .
