What Type of Riding Mower?

The type of mower is determined in part by how big is the mowing area on my property?

1. Less than a quarter acre (10,000 square feet) – Self-propelled walk behind mower or a riding mower

2, Quarter acre to one acre (40,000 square feet) – Riding mower or Lawn Mowing Tractor

3. One Acre and more - Lawn Mowing Tractor or Garden Tractor

Size of the mowing deck (performance a function of horsepower)
A 20 inch walk-behind mower can cut ______ square feet in one hour
A 30 inch deck on a riding mower can cut _______ square feet in one hour
A 36 inch deck can cut ________ square feet in an hour
A 40 inch deck can cut ________ square feet in an hour.

Horse power – Generally speaking, the more the horsepower the better the cut on the grass, assuming a sharp mower blade. The more horsepower you have the better the performance of the mower in damp or wet grass. The more horsepower you have the better the mulching function will work.

We recommend that no matter what you buy that it has a mulching function and a removable bagging function. You should leave the clippings most of the time. When the grass is very high or when there are more leaves than can be effectively mulched do you need to use the bagger.

Maneuvering including turning radius – Turning radius becomes an issue if your yard is broken up by lots of trees, garden beds, curved walls, and beds of ground covers.

Need for attachments – This feature is very much a part of your personal preference and the kinds of yard work you need to perform.

Cost – Lawn mowers are just like automobiles – the higher the cost the higher the quality.

Storage requirements – Be sure you can store whatever you buy in your existing storage space, or you will need to the cost of a storage shed to the cost of the machine.

Maintenance Requirements – Most gasoline engines on lawn mowers require similar maintenance tasks. The larger the machine the more difficult it is to take it to a repair shop. The larger the machine, the more likely you will need to pay attention to things like oil filters and air filters. We recommend you buy brand new mower blades for your mower every year. You will have better performance and much longer engine life for a relatively minor cost compared to the total cost of the machine.