There are a lot of factors to consider when purchasing a mower that is best suited for your yard. You will want to consider the size of your lawn, landscaping features, incline and versatility needs in order to make an informed decision. Read on to find out which is best for your - lawn tractor or zero-turn mower.
Landscape
The first thing you will want to take into account when choosing between a lawn tractor and a zero-turn mower is the landscape of your property. If your yard is an irregular shape with water features or trees - a zero-turn mower will allow you to mow close to the edges with ease.
If you have a hilly property - you'll want to look towards a lawn tractor. The front wheel drive allows them to inch up slopes with relative ease, whereas a zero-turn mower may lose traction. That being said, you'll want to look at the grade of your hill. Both types of mowers can tip on extreme slopes so you may need to look to an alternative solution.
Turning Radius
Zero-Turn mowers are able to turn on a dime without missing a blade of grass. The tight turning radius makes it an ideal choice if trees, bushes and flower beds are dispersed throughout your yard.
Available in both 2-wheel and 4-wheel steer options, lawn tractors have a wider turn radius. That means that you might end up with a patch of grass at the end of each swath. You may need to do a second pass to reach those missed patches or back up and drive over that patch again.
Speed and Operation
The familiar steering wheel and pedals will let you operate a lawn tractor with ease. The Twin Touch� pedal design makes changing speed and direction effortless, but you'll want to note that visibility is reduced compared to a zero-turn mower as the hood blocks part of your view out front. They are also slightly slower than a zero-turn mower with mowing speeds ranging between 5 - 13 km/h.
Operating a zero-turn mower can take a little more practice. They are easy enough to operate but aren't quite as familiar and intuitive as a lawn tractor. These mowers have two handles that steer the mower. Braking, turning and speed adjustments are all done by moving the handles together or independently of each other. The design of a zero-turn mower gives the operator a better view of the ground ahead making it easier to avoid obstacles. They are also faster than a lawn tractor and are capable of speeds up to 16 km/h.
Versatility
John Deere offers a large line-up of attachments and accessories that can help you tackle any job on your property. There are a variety of attachments such as sprayers, aerators, utility carts or dethatchers that can be added to both lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers.
However, lawn tractors are the true workhorses in this scenario. Add a tiller or front blade to make landscaping tasks a breeze. When winter hits, add a weather enclosure and a snow blower to put snow in its place.
Both lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers are dependable machines that will get the job done, so homeowners need to look at their landscape and unique needs to determine which unit will work best for them and their property. Contact your local Martin Deerline to learn more about these machines or to sit on the seat of both and compare the extensive line-up of mower
*Disclaimer: Martin Deerline merged with Agland as of July 31, 2024, and is now known as Horizon Ag & Turf