| If you have a large lawn that is getting too much to | | | | A wide range of attachments are available for lawn |
| handle with a walk-behind mower you may be | | | | tractors including snowblowers, front blades, tractor |
| considering buying a lawn tractor or a riding mower. A | | | | shovel, electric spreaders, baggers etc. Check that |
| lawn tractor may have various attachments available | | | | attachments that you might need now or in the |
| and can be used for hauling materials about your yard | | | | future are available for the model you are considering. |
| in addition to mowing your lawn. More expensive than | | | | Riding mowers generally have very few attachments |
| riding mowers they have multiple uses. You should | | | | but are cheaper to buy so if all you want to do is |
| also be looking for mowing decks that are easily | | | | mow your lawn a riding mower would be the best |
| adjustable and have mulching capabilities. | | | | buy. |
| Choosing the Type of Mower | | | | Transmission |
| Zero Turn Mowers | | | | Gear Driven or Automatic |
| For a lawn that is more than 1/2 acre with multiple | | | | Consider the layout of the lawn area to be cut with |
| objects a zero turn mower would be a good choice. | | | | your lawn tractor or riding mower. A gear driven |
| The time taken to mow your lawn can be cut in half | | | | mower will be better on open areas with few |
| with a zero turn mower as these mowers are more | | | | obstacles such as flower beds or bird baths. Choose |
| efficient. The excellent maneuverability allows you to | | | | an automatic transmission for areas that have |
| easily mow around all size objects without having to | | | | obstacles so that you can easily vary the speed |
| back up and turn repeatedly. The rear wheels are | | | | around the objects. Most of the lawn tractors with |
| used for both power and steering and operate | | | | automatic transmission also have cruise control so |
| independently so one wheel can reverse while the | | | | you can set this in areas that are clearer. |
| other wheel rotates forward allowing zero to 360 | | | | Bagging, Mulching or Side Discharging |
| degree turns. In addition these mowers are fast, up | | | | Many lawn mowers have the options to easily switch |
| to 6.5 mph so you can quickly cover a large lawn. | | | | between mulching or side discharging. Most have |
| Riding Mowers | | | | optional bagging attachments. |
| For a lawn of between 1/2 to 1 acre a riding mower | | | | Safety Concerns |
| will be ideal. They have few attachments as they are | | | | The higher speed of lawn tractors and riding mowers |
| primarily built to do one thin wheel and that is to cut | | | | leads to some concern for safety and operators |
| the lawn! | | | | should be aware of these factors before they use |
| Lawn Tractors | | | | the machines. |
| With higher horsepower engines lawn tractors are | | | | Obstacles: Care must be taken with obstacles on the |
| better for larger lawns and rougher terrain. They also | | | | lawn as hitting a solid object will do severe damage |
| have a good range of optional attachments so if you | | | | to the machine at these speeds. |
| want to use your mower as a snowblower, an | | | | Scattering objects: Any small objects, for instance |
| aerator, a machine to move material around your | | | | stones, twigs, household objects left on the lawn will |
| yard you should choose a lawn tractor. | | | | be picked up by the mower and projected at high |
| Garden Tractors | | | | speed. Always ensure there are no people or pets in |
| The toughest of these machines with the highest | | | | the area when operating the machines. |
| horsepower, garden tractors usually have | | | | Noise: Some of these mowers can be very noisy. |
| two-cylinder engines and sturdy transmissions. For a | | | | Wear ear protection if this applies to your model |
| very large garden or yard with rough terrain choose | | | | Advantages and Disadvantages |
| a garden tractor. | | | | Lawn Tractors |
| | | | Advantages: Durable, built to last, attachments to do |
| Factors to consider before you purchase a lawn | | | | many other tasks |
| tractor or riding mower | | | | Disadvantages: Expensive, leaves uncut areas at the |
| Size of Lawn | | | | end of turns, needs a large storage area, difficult to |
| The first thing to take into account is the power of | | | | take in for repairs |
| the engine and the cutting width and to ensure that | | | | Zero Turn Mowers |
| these are suitable for the size of your lawn. Here are | | | | Advantages: Fast, best for a lawn with many |
| some general guidelines to help you choose. Be | | | | obstacles, no uncut areas at the end of turns, few |
| aware of the width between any obstacles as a | | | | attachments |
| larger deck may cut down the time to mow a large | | | | Disadvantages: Expensive, needs a large storage |
| area but be unable to mow between obstacles. | | | | area, difficult to take in for repairs, few attachments, |
| 1/2 to 1 acre lawn: You will need a mower with at | | | | some safety concerns due to the high speed. |
| least a 14 hp engine and a 42" cutting width | | | | Riding Mowers |
| 1 to 2 acres lawn: A cutting width of between 42" | | | | Advantages: Cheaper than lawn tractors, reasonably |
| and 46" with a 14 to 16hp engine should be adequate | | | | fast, leaves uncut areas at the end of turns,few |
| .3 Acres and above For this size lawn area an engine | | | | attachments |
| size of between 18 and 24 hp and a 46" to 54" | | | | Disadvantages: Awkward to steer around obstacles |
| cutting deck would be the best buy | | | | and leaves uncut grass close to obstacles. |
| Attachments | | | | |