Now that we can finally say goodbye to winter and usher in more pleasant weather, the question of what kind of lawn mower to get inevitably pops up. No two lawn mowers are alike, but nor should be. Each one performs differently according to what’s asked of it, and come in three basic forms: walk behind mowers, zero turn mowers, and riding mowers. In this article, Mower Source will take a look at each one so you can get an idea of which one is best for you.
Walk Behind Mowers
By far the most common kind of lawn mowers used by homeowners, walk behind mowers only require you to start it up and get going. They’re best for small- or medium-sized lawns, as their limited performance can’t handle really big jobs. They also come in three different varieties, with the pros and cons listed beside each:
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Riding Mowers
If you’ve got oodles and oodles of lawn (more than 3/4 of an acre) and really don’t relish the thought of pushing a lawn mower around for a few hours, a riding mower gets the job done more efficiently, and in less time. You can get them in one of three forms—rear engine, zero turn (more to come on this one), or tractor—with each one varying depending on what you need to do with it.
Rear engine riding mowers are great to navigate large and narrow spaces, tackle small hills with a low center of gravity, and keep you comfortable. They don’t have a super powerful engine, so if you’re planning on really pushing it to the limits, you might find yourself a little out of luck.
For bigger jobs, tractors are the ones for you. They’re a little slow, but it’s steady that wins the race, not speed. Tractor riding mowers are a little like tugboats: they’re kind of small, but have a lot of heart that lets them haul really heavy stuff behind them.
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Zero Turn Mowers
These monsters are big, powerful, fast, and have great maneuverability. If you need to cover a lot of ground with thick grass and tight turns, zero turn riding mowers are the perfect ones for the job. They can be rather pricey, but the adage of “you get what you pay for” is particularly true here. Their two-handle steering mechanism has a bit of a learning curve, but it’s not steep and you’ll be able to go spinning in just about no time.
