Upgrading Your Home Lawn Mower
If you own much property at all, you'll soon realize that the traditional push mower isn't going to cut it once the grass starts getting shaggy. Not only is mowing with a push mower slow and laborious, it also doesn't produce as refined of results for big pieces of land. Keeping a straight line for a suburban backyard might be a breeze, but holding it steady for two or three acres can be a tall order. Luckily, there are some great options for upgrading your home lawn mower and they can be extremely affordable if you know where to look. Cliff Jones Tractor offers the best options for zero turn mowers, lawn tractors, and pull mowers so you can take your mowing game to the next level. Stop by our Sealy, Texas location if you live in the Houston area and see for yourself!
Zero Turn Mowers
Zero turn mowers are a type of riding lawn mower that uses a special turning and drive system to give the mower an extremely tight turn radius. With a zero turn mower, you can mow a strip of lawn, turn around, and meet up exactly with the line of lawn you just mowed, meaning there are no gaps in your cutting and no areas that need to be touched up. Zero turn mowers are often faster than lawn tractors, too. Zero turns often average 5-8 mph cutting speed and professional models can sometimes go as fast as 13 mph. If you have grass above 6 inches, though, you'll need to look elsewhere because zero turn mowers aren't designed to cut tall grass and if they hit anything like a rock or stump that's hidden by grass, it can cause serious damage. Because of their superior performance, zero turn mowers are often more expensive than comparable lawn tractors.
Lawn Tractors
A lawn tractor is probably the most popular form of riding mower for homeowners. They're reasonably priced relative to other riding mowers and they usually produce a good result. Because of the traditional steering wheel design and conventional steering system, the don't have the tightest turning radius on the market. You might need to reverse and realign to start long lines next to the line you just mowed, which wastes time and produces a less precise result. Lawn tractors are often slower than zero turn mowers, and usually average about 3-4 mph. Like zero turn mowers, they aren't particularly well-suited for cutting grass above six inches.
Pull Mowers
Another lawnmowing solution is a pull mower, a small implement that can be pulled behind a tractor or, in some cases, an ATV. Many pull mowers are better equipped to deal with grass over 6 inches tall and even non-grass vegetation. Usually these mowers have a set of spinning blades that are powered either by a power take off (PTO) or an independent engine located on top of the mowing deck. The speed and maneuverability will depend on the vehicle towing them, but they're usually less maneuverable than a zero turn or lawn tractor. Price can vary greatly, but if you have a large plot of overgrown property, this could be your best bet.
Clipping Collection Vs. Mulching
The final consideration to make is whether you're going to go with a clipping collection system or a mulching blade. Clipping collection systems are often preferred by professional landscaping services because they leave a clean, manicured surface which looks good in heavily landscaped areas. Since these areas often have their own irrigation systems, they can keep the grass sufficiently hydrated to not produce any adverse effects such as browning and spotting. However, for those who don't necessarily need a totally clean mowing surface, a mulching blade might be the better option. With a mulching blade, the grass clippings are shredded up and left on the grass to insulate the turf from heat and sunlight. These clippings also get composted back into the grass, meaning their nutrients are not lost. One important consideration to keep in mind is that a clipping collection system is also much more expensive than a mulching blade.
When you're ready to take your lawn mowing game to the next level, stop by Cliff Jones Tractor in San Antonio, Texas. Our team of lawn and landscaping experts will help you find the best solution for your property's needs. If you live in the Houston area, stop by today!