Best Riding Lawn Mowers for Your Property

Maintaining a nicely manicured backyard and landscape improves curb appeal and makes your outdoor space healthy and enjoyable. Regular mowing ensures that grass remains at optimal height and prevents weed growth. The key to successful lawn care is choosing the right lawn mower that meets your property’s unique demands.

There are several types of lawnmowers, ranging from traditional push mowers to modern riding mowers. If your backyard is significantly sizeable, riding lawnmowers are a good option for their ease of use, efficiency, and less effort.

Types of Riding Lawn Mowers

Before highlighting the top brands of riding mowers, you should differentiate the various types of modern riding options. Riding mowers are designed differently to cater to different lawn terrains, deck sizes, and functionalities. Knowing these specific differences helps you make an informed decision. Below are the key types of riding mowers available on the market:

1. Zero-Turn Riding Mowers

Zero-turn lawnmowers are widely known for their excellent maneuverability, which makes them a perfect choice for yards with obstacles and challenging landscape design. Unlike other riding mowers, the zero-turn mower’s unique steering wheel consisting of levers or dual lap bars allows users to control each rear wheel independently.

This feature gives zero-turn mowers precise control, making them perfect for mowing close to flower beds, around trees, and other garden obstacles. They are also very fast, which makes them a good choice for mowing large acres of grass. The only notable drawback is their reduced stability on uneven terrains and slopes.

2. Garden Tractors

As the name suggests, garden tractors are heavy-duty lawnmowers designed for commercial and extensive lawn care projects. They are reliable riding mowers with heavy-duty transmissions, large, powerful engines, and reinforced frames.

Garden tractors handle other tasks beyond mowing. They can also plow, till, and remove snow during winter. Because of these features, garden tractors are costly and best for homeowners with commercial properties.

3. Lawn Tractors

These common riding mowers are best suited for medium-sized yards. Lawn tractors offer a perfect balance of power, versatility, and maneuverability. Unlike zero-turning mowers, they have a front-mounted cutting deck and steering wheel for easier control. However, they have a wide-cutting deck for faster mowing. You can also use them for various lawn care tasks.

5 Best Riding Lawn Mowers for Your Property

When choosing a riding mower, you should consider the lawn size, budget, yard terrain, and desired features. Below are recommended riding mowers you should consider:

1) John Deere X380 Lawn Tractor

John Deere is a known manufacturer of durable and reliable gardening equipment, and the X360 mower isn’t an exception. It can take on large yard sizes, delivering a clean and even trim. Key features of this lawn tractor include:

• Twin-touch hydrostatic transmission – simplifies speed adjustment. You don’t have to struggle with shifting or clutching to change gears.
• Powerful engine – the lawn tractor has a heavy-duty Kawasaki engine, ensuring optimal mowing performance.
• Easy to use controls – there’s no gear shifting, which reduces operator fatigue. Other controls are also easy and intuitive.
• Accel deep cutting deck – comes with a 54-inch cutting deck for faster mowing.

2) Toro TimeCutter 75750 Zero Turn Mower

The Toro TimeCutter 75750 joins this list of best riding mowers for its excellent precision, speed, and maneuverability around complex landscapes. It is a good choice for tight spaces and backyards with obstacles. Noteworthy features of this mower include:

• Powerful engine – comes with a reliable Toro engine that delivers great mowing performance.
• 50-inch cutting deck – its wide deck allows for fast mowing.
• Comfortable seat – cushioned seats improve operator comfort when mowing.
• Smart speed control feature – operators can choose different speed ranges for better mowing results.

3) Craftsman 7240 Lawn Tractor

The Craftsman 7240 mower is an excellent cheap option for homeowners with medium to large yards. Key features of this riding mower include:

• Powerful engine – it relies on the powerful Briggs & Stratton engine for consistent power.
• Hydrostatic transmission – simplifies speed adjustments for seamless mowing.
• Adjustable mowing height – customize lawn appearance by using adjusting cutting heights.
• 46-inch cutting deck – can cover a large area at a go, reducing time spent mowing.

4) Ego Power Z6 Electric Mower

The Ego Power Z6 is among the few electric riding mowers available currently. Being an electric riding mower, it is a perfect option for homeowners looking for an eco-friendly yet performing mower. Key features of this model include:

• Electric powered – comes with a 56V lithium-ion battery that delivers enough power to mow through tough conditions. It is battery-powered, so you don’t have to incur additional fuel costs every time you mow your garden.
• Quiet operation – unlike gasoline-fueled mowers, electric mowers are less noisy.
• Three-in-one functionality – allows for mulching, bagging, and side discharging at a go.
• Adjustable cutting height – this electric riding lawn mower allows you to adjust cutting height according to your preferred grass height.

5) Snapper 360Z Zero-Turn Mower

Though not the smallest zero-turn mower, the Snapper 360Z doesn’t compromise its performance. It is a good choice for properties of all sizes. Key features include:

• Powerful engine – comes with reliable Briggs & Stratton engine
• Easy maintenance – requires simple maintenance and lasts long
• Intuitive controls – has foot pedals and a rapid response control system for precise maneuvering.
• 42 and 48-inch cutting deck

FAQs

• What is the difference between a riding lawn mower and a riding lawn tractor?

These two mowing machines differ primarily in mowing capabilities. Riding mowers are best used for mowing tasks, while lawn tractors are versatile. They come with additional attachments for extra tasks, like spreaders and snowplows.

• Are stand-on mowers better than sit-down?

While it depends on personal preference, stand-on mowers are best for yards with many obstacles. Sit-down mowers offer more comfort and are best for long mowing sessions.

• What is a riding lawn mower used for?

Like other mowers, riding lawnmowers are used for mowing large grassy yards. These machines allow operators to sit while mowing their gardens. Some mowers have attachments for additional tasks.

• Where is the lawn mower carburetor?

Lawn mower carburetors are often positioned in different spaces according to manufacturer standards. However, most have them near or behind the engine’s air filter. 

The Bottom Line

Buying the right lawn mower can simplify your lawn maintenance tasks. Several factors, including the size of your yard, budget, terrain, and unique mowing needs, should inform your choice of riding a lawn mower. Essentially, you should choose a lawn mower with a 30-inch deck size and above for convenient mowing.