Over half an acre of lawns give you plenty of space to play and relax outdoors. However, when it’s time to sow, you’re looking at a major commitment. Factor in landscaping like flower beds and trees, and you’ll probably add some trimming and spot mowing to your to-do list. Power Machines of the Landscaping World-Zero Turn Vs. Lawn tractors—can keep you from spending the better part of every Saturday behind a lawn mower.
Many factors go into determining which type of mower will be best suited for your lawn. The size of your yard, slope and landscaping all come into play. Before choosing between the two most common lawn mower types for large yards, learn the biggest differences between a zero-turn mower and a lawn tractor. This guide outlines the pros and cons of each to help you avoid making them Lawn mowing mistake with the wrong machine.
Zero-turn mowers are better for curved lawns.
If your yard spans ½ acre or more and is dotted with trees, shrubs, and flower beds, a zero-turn mower will save you time when it comes to your Lawn care routine. Zero-turn mowers have a dual-hydrostatic transmission controlled by two levers, which are key factors in their responsiveness and tight turning radius.
To move in a straight line, you push both levers forward, making sure to keep them even. To start the mower, you slow down or stop power on one side by pulling back on the lever, while the other side continues to move forward, giving the mower the ability to make a zero (or near zero) radius turn. This gives zero-turn mowers a mowing pattern that leaves far fewer missed patches of grass at the end of the swath or around curves and corners.
In comparison, lawn tractors have a large turning radius, leaving patches of grass at the end of each swath. You can either come back on another pass to get those missed patches or stop and reverse to cut each blade of grass.
Lawn tractors power up slopes and hills.
Choosing the right Ride the lawn mower to the hills can be difficult. Lawn tractors have front-wheel drive that allows them to inch up slopes and hills with relative ease. Conversely, a zero-turn mower’s rear-wheel drive can have difficulty losing control or traction on uneven ground.
However, a word of caution: Both types of mowers can tip over on steep slopes, more than 15 degrees. Some lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers have rollbars and seat belts, but you’re better off using these. Push mower or a Trimmer On extreme slopes.
The lawn tractor’s steering wheel provides intuitive control.
For those looking to make the jump to a lawn mower, the familiar steering wheel and gas pedal of a lawn tractor will take some getting used to. Basically, you push the gas pedal and go, just like you would in a car. When you want to slow down, you let off the gas and press the brake.
The differential speed control offered by the zero-turn machine’s dual-hydrostatic transmission, on the other hand, can take some practice. On these models, you control the speed by pushing the control lever forward instead of using the foot pedal. The hydrostatic transmission can be touchy, so there may be some lurching and sudden stops until you get the feel of speed control.
You also have to learn how to time the manipulation of the levers when taking turns (one pushes forward, the other pulls back). Considering that zero-turn mowers can go faster than lawn tractors, that means you’ll try to learn how to control the machine at higher speeds.
If you’re nervous about controlling a zero-turn model, a few newer machines have joystick controls, which are very easy to use but still require practice to master.
Deck sizes do make a difference, but the right choice depends on your yard.
The wider the deck, the fewer swaths it will take to cover the lawn, and the faster you can mow your entire property. Lawn tractors have decks that range from 42 to 54 inches, while Zero-Turn Mowers There are decks from 42 to over 60 inches.
Choosing the right deck size (and the mower or tractor that supplies it) requires not only considering the size of your yard but also the width of the narrow spaces you’ll need to mow between or around. To maintain tight spaces between trees or flower beds, you’ll need a narrow deck. However, if you have a 2 or 3 acre flat yard that is unobstructed, choose a machine with the widest deck you can afford.
Zero-turn mowers go faster, but slower speeds leave cleaner cuts.
Zero-turn mowers deliver clean cuts at speeds up to 5 mph and can reach speeds in excess of 10 mph. In comparison, lawn tractors mow at about 4 mph with a top speed of about 7 mph. In some circumstances, such as on sloping or hilly terrain, lawn tractors may be able to maintain their traction and speed better and sometimes mow faster in certain circumstances.
Know that cut quality degrades faster if you’re on a zero-turn or lawn tractor. Even if you have a zero-turn mower, top speed is used to travel to another part of the yard rather than actually cutting the lawn.
Both types of mowers are expensive, but zero-turn models are the most expensive.
When it comes to cost – Zero Curve Vs. Lawn tractors– Both types are expensive. However, lawn tractors are the more affordable of the two, and they will earn their keep. It can also be used to pull carts, sprayers, spreaders and other yard equipment. For the right buyer, a lawn tractor can be a smart investment. The base model starts at around $1,200, but any additional accessories like a bagging kit, trailer or sprayer must be purchased separately.
Zero-turn mowers start around $2,500 and go up to $5,000, and you may have to buy a bagging kit separately. If your yard spans several acres and/or you have a wide variety of surrounding trees and flowers, a zero-turn model may be worth it for the time it saves.
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