Tips for Picking Out a Riding Lawn Mower

Styles

A standard riding lawn mower or tractor works well for most yards, especially smaller ones that are an acre or less. A garden tractor is larger with a more powerful engine and transmission, making it ideal for properties that are three acres or larger. Zero-turn riding mowers also work well on larger properties, particularly if you have lots of obstacles you have to mow around. This style of mower works best on flat areas due to the potential for slipping on a hillside.

Each style of mower comes with a different deck size to give you more control over the width of the cut. Riding mowers and lawn tractors offer deck sizes from 38 inches to 54 inches wide. Wider decks allow you to tackle a large mowing job faster. Smaller decks often allow for an even, smooth cut compared to larger decks. The smaller deck size works well for small yards, as a larger deck will likely cost more money for size that you don't need.

The engine size and type depends on the size of the area you're mowing and how use the riding mower. If you plan to use attachments like tillers and plows, more horsepower allows for better performance. Lower horsepower engines are generally fine for basic mowing. Riding mowers come with either a single-cylinder or twin-cylinder engine. If you plan to mow large areas of more than an acre, go with a twin-cylinder for better performance.

The handling and ease of maneuvering the machine eases the work of mowing the lawn. Look for a model with a small turning radius to reduce the amount of area you have to go back and mow at your turns. Consumer Search recommends a lawn tractor with all-wheel steering. Ask the sales associate to help you identify the models in the store that offer a small turning radius. The type of transmission also affects the efficiency of the mower. With an automatic transmission, you eliminate the need to shift to change speeds.

Options for grass handling once it is cut include side discharge, mulching and bagging. If you are interested in mulching or bagging, you will likely need to buy an additional attachment. Not all models allow for a bagging attachment. Consider the type of grass handling you want to do before you buy a riding mower. A sales associate can help you find a mower that accommodates the attachments you may need.