If you’re thinking a ride on mower or garden tractor is only for those with acres of land to maintain, think again! Whilst it’s true that, yes, ride on mowers are best suited to large lawns, there’s a number of reasons to invest in a ride on mower over a walk-behind machine.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!If you’re considering a ride on mower but you’re not sure whether you actually need one, you’ve come to the right place.
Here’s why you may (or may not!) need a ride on mower.
Size of your Lawn
The number one consideration is likely to be the size of your lawn. If you’ve got a small garden, a ride on mower isn’t really necessary. Instead, you should opt for a push or self-propelled mower.
However, if you have a small garden but lack the strength or physical fitness to use a standard lawn mower, a ride on mower may be a good choice.
Ride on mowers are designed primarily for lawns around half an acre in size and larger. For smaller gardens, a compact ride on mower such as the Mountfield 827H Compact Ride On Lawn Mower is perfect. With an overall width of just 73cm, it’s able to navigate around obstacles and through narrow areas with ease.
For lawns of multiple acres, the powerful Stiga Park Pro 900 is a good choice. Built for lawns up to 3 acres in size and larger, this mower has a Honda engine and 4 cutting deck widths ranging from 95cm to 125cm.
Terrain
The terrain is another important consideration. If your garden is uneven or bumpy, more power is required. Smaller push mowers may lack the power required for steep slopes or rugged terrain.
A ride on mower will have the power to tackle uneven terrain, but they are rarely built for slopes. If you’ve got a steep incline in your garden, a lightweight electric walk-behind mower is a better option. Most ride on mowers can tackle a maximum incline of 15 degrees, whilst walk-behind mowers are usually good up to a 20 degree incline.
However, that’s not to say you cannot mow on hilly ground with a ride on mower, but you should be aware of the safety risks. Move slow and steady, mowing laterally as opposed to up and down.
Physical Mobility / Fitness
Another thing to consider is your physical mobility and fitness. Push mowers are the hardest to use in large gardens and can become tiring when used for long periods of time. Self-propelled mowers are easier, but you may need an extra pair of hands to get them in and out of storage.
A ride on mower allows you to mow your lawn in a fraction of the time, with a fraction of the physical effort required. Ride on mowers are easy to start, and they can be driven in and out of storage.
If you have struggled with injuries or poor physical fitness, your body will almost certainly thank you for a ride on mower!
Layout of your Lawn
If you have a garden with lots of obstacles to navigate around, such as flowerbeds, furniture or trees, a smaller self propelled mower would make more sense.
These usually have a narrower cutting deck than ride on mowers. You’ll also be able to get your mower through narrower patches of lawn, such as inbetween flower beds.
However, some ride on mowers are built with a narrow cutting deck, which gives you all the benefits of a ride on mower in terms of comfort and ease, with added mobility. The Mountfield 827H Compact Ride On Mower for instance, has a cutting width of 66cm, so it strikes the perfect balance of efficiency across open spaces and mobility in smaller areas.
Amount of Available Storage
There’s no denying that ride on mowers take up more space than walk-behind models, although some models are still very compact.
If you’ve got a small garden shed filled to the brim with tools, you may struggle to store a ride on mower. A compact, lightweight electric model could be a better choice, as these are easy to manouevre in and out of cramped sheds.
If you’ve got a lot of space available to store your new mower, a ride on model may be preferable. These can simply be driven in and out of storage.
If you are in need of some further help and expert advice:
Please call us on: 01452 61 61 69
Or email us at: [email protected] | [email protected]