You just closed on your first house! Now you are stuck with your first responsibility as a homeowner, the daunting task of purchasing a lawn mower. But you don’t even know where to start or what kind of lawn mower you need. Here’s our ultimate guide to lawn mower purchasing to help your decision.

Factors that Guide Lawn Mower Purchasing Decisions

• Budget
• Lawn Size
• Comfort

When considering lawn mower purchasing, several factors come into play to ensure the right choice. Firstly, budget serves as a crucial guide, determining the range of options available within one’s financial constraints. Equally important is the lawn size, as it dictates the type and power of the mower required to efficiently maintain the grass. Additionally, comfort plays a significant role, influencing the overall user experience during prolonged mowing sessions. By carefully evaluating these factors, you can make a decision tailored to your specific needs, ensuring your satisfaction and effectiveness in lawn mower purchasing.

Do I want a push or a ride mower?

There are several factors that depend on whether you want a push or a ride mower.

Push mowers are suitable for smaller yards and intricate tight spaces. Additionally they offer precision and maneuverability for a mow, and typically require less maintenance.

Ride mowers are best suited for larger yards and provide comfort and efficiency, especially for longer mowing sessions. A ride mower is the perfect option to tackle expansive lawns with minimal physical exertion.

Push Mowers

When looking for a push mower it is essential to consider various factors to secure the ideal push mower for your specific requirements. These include evaluating yard size, the terrain, obstacles like trees and the capabilities of the mower for your specific lawn.

Push Mower
With a push mower, you control the pace of the mowing because you are doing the “pushing”. By manually pushing the mower, individuals can also incorporate more physical activity into their routine. Additionally, push mowers generally require less maintenance over time compared to other types, making them a convenient choice for those seeking hassle-free lawn care. They are particularly suitable for yards ranging from ½ to ¼ acre yards, providing efficient and effective mowing solutions for small lawns.

Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Self-propelled lawn mowers offer the advantage of pushing themselves while the user controls the path of the mowing. With this feature, it is easier and quicker to cover larger areas than traditional push mowers. Additionally, self-propelled lawn mowers demand less physical activity from the person mowing, providing a more comfortable experience. These mowers are
well-suited for yards up to ¾ of an acre offering a convenient solution for homeowners with small to medium sized lawns.

Gas Lawn Mowers
Gas lawn mowers are a great option for yards that are up to an acre in size. Typically, most gas powered lawn mowers come equipped with a pull-start although certain models have an electric starter in lieu of the pull cord. When looking for a gas lawn mower, be sure to look at the size of the cylinder. A higher cubic centimeter of displacement means a more powerful engine in the mower. Additionally, gas push mowers need a special type of fuel, so be sure to consult the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Electric Lawn Mowers
Electric lawn mowers offer a quieter alternative to gas lawn mowers, they are fueled by rechargeable lithium batteries. Electric lawn mowers come in a bunch of different battery types and voltages. A higher voltage means that there is more power output from the battery.

Riding Mowers

For a larger and faster mow, riding mowers are the way to go! When comparing the different riding mowers there are three options you will come across: lawn tractor, rear-engine riding mower, and a zero-turn mower.

Lawn Tractor
The lawn tractor is the perfect option for a new homeowner. A lawn tractor has a steering wheel with a front-mounted engine, no pushing for this one! The engine size on a lawn tractor ranges from 18-25 hp and many come with a single cylinder. The deck sizes on this mower are between 42 inches to 54 inches. The transmission can be either a pedal hydrostatic or CVT with a shift-on-the-go hand lever.

To figure out how many acres it can cut, you can take the deck mower size by 12 to get the approximate acreage the mower can handle.

Rear-Engine Riding Mower
With people with larger lawns that are too big for a push mower but too small for a lawn tractor’s rear-engine riding mower is the best option! Typically, rear-engine riding mowers have a single cylinder engine with 10 to 11 hp. The deck sizes on this mower is between 30 inches to 33 inches. The transmission is a CVT with a shift-on-the-go hand lever.

Zero-Turn Mowers
Zero-turn mowers are used by both homeowners and landscapers! The engine in a zero-turn mower has 12 to 25 hp and is powered by a single cylinder or commercial-duty V twin. The deck sizes range from 32 inches to 60 inches, meaning this mower can cut the most amount of grass in the least amount of time! They are easy to learn and operate, zero-turn mowers help you achieve shorter mowing times, use less fuel and cover more ground over the course of the machine’s lifetime.

Features of Riding Mowers

Mulching System
Some riding mowers have a mulching system feature. This feature takes the cut grass clippings and puts the pieces into the lawn to naturally fertilizer it. This means no hassle of collecting your clippings!

Bagging Mowers
Bagging mowers have a grass catcher bag on the side or back which collects the grass clippings as the lawn is mowed.

Contact Us

Now that you’ve read our guide if you have any questions or need further assistance in choosing the right lawn mower for your needs, contact us at 781-294-1230 to speak to one of our lawn mower experts! We can provide expert advice and personalized recommendations for your next purchase. Let’s make your lawn care journey effortless and enjoyable together!