By Mike Thayer
So I’m in the market for a riding lawn mower for my property at beautiful Lake Viking. The property is 1.5 acres and so a push mower just isn’t going to get the job done and why push a mower when I can ride in luxury, right? I purchased the land back in 2018 and I’ve used a lawn service up to this point to keep my property looking good. But now that I have a shed lined up to be constructed on property to house a riding mower and my fishing kayak, it’s time to shop for a mower I can have some fun with!
I’ll be looking at classic lawn tractors as well as zero turn mowers. My budget is $2,000 – $4,000. Each mower type has its own uses and characteristics, so I need to pick the one that works best for my lawn. All the major brands will be considered, including but not limited to John Deere, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, etc.
Today’s post is about lawn tractors vs. zero turn mowers and the ‘pluses’ and ‘minuses’ of each. Lawn tractors tend to have more horsepower and the ability to put on a number of attachments. In contrast, zero turn mowers are faster which cuts down the mowing time, but they are limited when it comes to attachments. You can’t put a blade on a zero turn for snow plowing for example. While the speed of the zero turn is a big plus, the inability of the zero turn to multi-task is a minus. Deck size is also a factor in cutting time. It would take 12 passes for a 40 inch deck to cut a 1/2 acre of lawn. A 46 inch deck would take about 8 passes to do that 1/2 acre. I don’t really need a 50+ inch mowing deck – those are set up for lawns 3 acres or more area. So for my 1.5 acres, I’ll need a deck in the 40 – 46 inch range.
Here’s some quick stats for mowers in my price range:
- Lawn Tractor Speed: 6 – 8 mph
- Zero Turn Speed: 10 mph
- Lawn Tractor Deck Sizes: 30 – 40″
- Zero Turn Deck Sizes: 40 – 46″
So a zero turn mower offers advantages in speed and fewer passes in cutting grass, as well as better maneuverability around any obstacles in the yard. The lawn tractor however, offers a critical advantage over the zero turn and that’s the ability to accessorize with attachments. It would be nice to put on a blade and plow snow or put on a bucket to move some soil around when landscaping/gardening with the same machine.
Stay tuned as I continue to do my homework on mowers, checking on prices, horsepower, blade deck width, the tractor vs. zero turn comparisons and more, combining all those factors in to determine the best mower for my yard. I’m looking forward to cutting grass again!
$pend Wisely My Friends…..
Related: Shopping for a kayak
Related: Shopping for a shed
Shopping for a riding lawn mower – Lawn Tractors vs. Zero Turn – Bachelor on the Cheap
By Mike Thayer
So I’m in the market for a riding lawn mower for my property at beautiful Lake Viking. The property is 1.5 acres and so a push mower just isn’t going to get the job done and why push a mower when I can ride in luxury, right? I purchased the land back in 2018 and I’ve used a lawn service up to this point to keep my property looking good. But now that I have a shed lined up to be constructed on property to house a riding mower and my fishing kayak, it’s time to shop for a mower I can have some fun with!
I’ll be looking at classic lawn tractors as well as zero turn mowers. My budget is $2,000 – $4,000. Each mower type has its own uses and characteristics, so I need to pick the one that works best for my lawn. All the major brands will be considered, including but not limited to John Deere, Husqvarna, Cub Cadet, Troy-Bilt, etc.
Today’s post is about lawn tractors vs. zero turn mowers and the ‘pluses’ and ‘minuses’ of each. Lawn tractors tend to have more horsepower and the ability to put on a number of attachments. In contrast, zero turn mowers are faster which cuts down the mowing time, but they are limited when it comes to attachments. You can’t put a blade on a zero turn for snow plowing for example. While the speed of the zero turn is a big plus, the inability of the zero turn to multi-task is a minus. Deck size is also a factor in cutting time. It would take 12 passes for a 40 inch deck to cut a 1/2 acre of lawn. A 46 inch deck would take about 8 passes to do that 1/2 acre. I don’t really need a 50+ inch mowing deck – those are set up for lawns 3 acres or more area. So for my 1.5 acres, I’ll need a deck in the 40 – 46 inch range.
Here’s some quick stats for mowers in my price range:
So a zero turn mower offers advantages in speed and fewer passes in cutting grass, as well as better maneuverability around any obstacles in the yard. The lawn tractor however, offers a critical advantage over the zero turn and that’s the ability to accessorize with attachments. It would be nice to put on a blade and plow snow or put on a bucket to move some soil around when landscaping/gardening with the same machine.
Stay tuned as I continue to do my homework on mowers, checking on prices, horsepower, blade deck width, the tractor vs. zero turn comparisons and more, combining all those factors in to determine the best mower for my yard. I’m looking forward to cutting grass again!
$pend Wisely My Friends…..
Related: Shopping for a kayak
Related: Shopping for a shed