Mowing was among the most avoided chores until I can no longer ignore the nagging voice at the back of my head reminding me to get the job done. That was until I got myself a ride-on mower. Show
Cutting a one-acre lawn with a walk-behind mower requires lots of time and can get you flat-out exhausted. But if you can find the best riding lawn mowers for 1 acre it will enhance your mowing experience and leave an immaculate finish. In this article, I am going to share my finding after I took a deep dive searching for my own riding mower. Hopefully, this information will leave you feeling informed and ready to go big on your lawn. Table Of Contents Best Riding Lawn Mowers for 1 AcreThere’s a lot to take in once you get under the skin of what makes a good riding mower. If you’re short on time and just want the low down on my top recommendations then check this out. Here are the best riding lawn mowers for 1 acre. Best Lawn TractorHusqvarna 18.5HP Riding Lawn Mower 42-InchThe superb 540cc Briggs & Stratton Engine won’t let you down. This lawn tractor is very comfortable and versatile for residential use. Check Price Best Small Riding MowerGreenworks 60V CrossoverT 42 in Electric Riding MowerAs far as small residential riding mowers go, this is the pick-up crop. Outstanding performance up to 2.5 acres. Are you looking for the best lawn mower for a 1/2 Acre Lot for your AWESOME Lawn? Well, I have some information and a comparison between several types of lawnmowers. Here is my personal opinion about this question. Table of Contents Do I Need A Riding Mower For 1/2 Acre?Peter Smith Lawn EnthusiastPro Tip: There are several options. If you have a tractor or riding mower and a huge area for cutting grass, maybe it is a good idea to buy a tow-behind mower. If you are ready to invest more than $2500 for riding mower + gas + oil + every season maintenance, you have a large yard (1 and more acres) you need a zero-turn or riding mower. Third option. Your lawn is smaller than 1, 1/2, 1/3 acres, etc. Invest up to $700 in the gas lawnmower. Fourth option. Invest up to $1000 in a self-propelled battery lawnmower (or robotic if you want to save time): no gas, oil, low maintenance. I own a 1/2 acre yard, and with not the best lawn ever, I can mow my yard for 1 day. I am using McCulloch (Husqvarna) gas Lawn Mower M51-150F with gas trimmers (see the photo below). Choose carefully, if you have any questions, please, ask them in comments!
Lawn Mower For 1/2 – 1 Acre Lot – Best ChoicesImageProduct Best Riding Lawn Mower Husqvarna TS 354XD (54")
[su_button url="https://www.amazon.com/Husqvarna-354XD-Kawasaki-Garden-Tractor/dp/B087ZRH97R/" target="blank" background="#ff5b3b"]Check Price[/su_button] Top Gas Mower for 1 acre lot Honda HRX217K5VKA 187cc Gas 21 in. 4-in-1
[su_button url="https://www.amazon.com/Honda-HRX217K5VKA-Versamow-Director-MicroCut/dp/B00S6Z2GWQ/?tag=mathewslawn05-20" target="blank" background="#ff5b3b"]Check Price[/su_button] Best battery lawnmower. Price = Quality Greenworks 25322
[su_button url="https://www.amazon.com/GreenWorks-25322-Mower-Battery-Included/dp/B00BBQVL5U/" target="blank" background="#ff5b3b"]Check Price[/su_button] No time for cutting grass? The robotic mower does your job! Up to 1/4 acre lawn WORX WR155 Landroid L 20V Power Share Robotic Lawn Mower
[su_button url="https://www.amazon.com/WORX-WR140-Landroid-Robotic-Mower/dp/B096T6FNWJ/" target="blank" background="#ff5b3b"]Check Price[/su_button] Low Price per mile Husqvarna Z254 54 in. 26 HP Kohler Hydrostatic Zero Turn Riding Mower
[su_button url="https://www.amazon.com/Husqvarna-Z254-Kohler-Hydrostatic-Riding/dp/B07CJN8W4V/" target="blank" background="#ff5b3b"]Check Price[/su_button] Best Price/Efficiency. You can mow up to 15 acres! Remington RM1159 High-Wheeled String Trimmer
[su_button url="https://www.amazon.com/Remington-RM1159-Walk-Behind-High-Wheeled-Trimmer/dp/B00J2VVU0M/" target="blank" background="#ff5b3b"]Check Price[/su_button] Husqvarna TS 354XD (54″)This beefy garden tractor has impressive performance and unbeatable reliability, which means you’ll always have enough power to get your job done. With a powerful yet economical Kawasaki engine and the ClearCut cutting deck (which can be removed with ease), this machine is perfect for high-traffic areas that need lots of mowing. Plus, it features a commercial-grade ground-engaging transmission with a dash-operated differential lock and large rear tires for ground stability when needed. [su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#009906″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: chevron-down” icon_color=”#00bb0c”]
Honda HRX217K5VKA 187cc Gas 21 in. 4-in-1In my opinion, the Honda HRX217K5VKA is one of today’s best home lawnmowers. It combines outstanding mulching and cutting power for a quality electric mower; that’s why it’s known as America’s Best Mower with a Powerful 190cc Engine! What sets HRX apart from its competitors? For starters, like all Hondas, this one offers an amazing 21-inch wide deck with razor-sharp twin blades. But what really catches your eye is the self-propel system that was cleverly hidden on top of the front wheels to give it more balance when you’re pushing along slopes or hillsides or trimming around fences and plants. The result? You’ll be saving time out on your property! [su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#009906″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: chevron-down” icon_color=”#00bb0c”]
Greenworks 25322Trusted by professionals, G-MAX 40V 2Ah Li-Ion Battery System is the best choice for your green belt. The single lever 5-position height adjustment fits any yard and delivers the perfect cut every time. No matter if it’s a front or back lawn because the two-in-one feature allows for rear bagging and mulching capability giving you total versatility. Even with its powerful 16-inch blades, this mower has an impressive battery life that will take care of up to 1/2 acre on a charge! [su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#009906″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: chevron-down” icon_color=”#00bb0c”]
Three Types of Mowers – Reviews & My OpinionLawn TractorMy yard is 40,000 square feet of mostly turf-type tall fescue. Now, the first mower that I had all along is the tractor. I’ve had a tractor for 20 years that I’ve lived in my big house, and they treat me very well. And it’s always been a Craftsman tractor, and this is my second. The first one I had was green. So secretly, before I bought this house, I looked at my measure of success was to, I wanted to have a home that was a big enough yard that I could have a lawn tractor. And this was it. I’ve always mowed it with a tractor until last year. All right, let’s start with the tractor. [su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#009906″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: chevron-down” icon_color=”#00bb0c”]
Final WordsThe lawn tractor is the easiest to drive. You can have your kids do it. You can do more than mow with it. And you can use it for a snowplow. You can pull things with it. The disadvantages are the turning radius and the slow mowing speed. TimeMaster – Gas MowerThe cool thing about the TimeMaster is it comes with a bag. It comes with the ability to side discharge. If you want a container, the bag goes right here. And that plugin there, if you take that plug out, lets all the clippings come out of the back into the bag, and it works well. But the magic to this mower is that plug right there. I say magic because the mulching capability on that mower when the plug is installed is second to none. I have not. Neither one of these mowers can compare when you’re talking about mulching. Pros
Main ConsMy only complaint about it is the gas tank is too small, and it’s got this foam thing inside it. So when you fill it up with gas, it tends to overflow because you can’t see how much gas is in it until it’s too late, and then it starts spilling out. So that’s a pain in the neck. That’s the only complaint about it. And I can barely get my whole front and back done on one fill of gas. Cub Cadet Ultima – Zero Turn MowerCub Cadet Ultima is a 42-inch, the same deck size as the Craftsman tractor, 42-inch. By the way, the Toro Lawn Tractor is 30-inch. But 42-inch is the biggest that will fit through my gate on that side of the house and the shed in the backyard. So that’s why I went with a 42-inch. They also come much bigger, up to 54-inch. But 42-inch is the smallest, and it’s perfect for this yard. However, my commitment to them is done. I’m giving you my honest opinion on this. And honestly, I love this mower. It’s so much fun to drive. I love Zero Turn. If you’ve never driven a Zero Turn, it’s a new experience. I got to tell you, compared to the lawn tractor. So that is something I recommend if you’ve got a decent-sized lawn, maybe 15,000 square feet. In my opinion, this is a little bit too big for my yard (15 000 feet) because I do have a lot of obstructions. And although this is a Zero Turn, if you turn it on a dime, that is one wheel going in one direction and one wheel going in the other direction, it will tear up your grass. It just happens. And I’ll show you some examples of that. Side discharge and bagging are the best cut with this. I’m not happy with the mulch kit, but the side discharge works excellent. The only trouble is, it blows out a lot of air, and it gets the grass clippings all over the place. So the next step is I’m going to evaluate them, not undercut quality. They all have good cut quality. Pros
Cons
Testing Each Type of Lawn MowersBut what I’m going to assess them on is their Time Master. And that is, how quickly I can mow in my yard each one of them. Now, when mowing with any mower, what kills you is the turns. That’s the thing that slows you down and takes the most time. So it always is more efficient to mow in the longest direction of your yard. When I try and mow this way, which I occasionally do to prevent compaction, that takes twice as long, and it feels like because I’m turning around twice as much. So I’m going to try three tests. The first one is going to be going in this direction. And I’m going to use the video timer to be my stopwatch. Test number two is going to be going in this direction, perpendicular to the original. That is going to be the shortest distance. Test number three will be on the diagonal, the same as the first two, but 45 degrees. Of course, the lawn tractor lost all three of those tests because it is just so painful to turn around. It’s tough for most stripes with a lawn tractor. It’s much more efficient to do circles around the yard, but that’s not good for the grass. The Zero Turn is the most valuable. It is effortless to turn the thing. You have to be careful about tearing up the grass. And the TimeMaster, with itself repelled, is easy to set as well, mainly because of that personal pace. Let’s take a closer look at that. Find Your BestYou don’t even realize what I’m doing there. Let me back it up. In slow motion, you can see I’m not even behind the mower, and I can squeeze the trigger and get it to go without having to move. So it optimizes my steps. Okay, let’s look at the pros and cons of each. And the only disadvantages are that it’s rough on the grass and of course, it is the most expensive. Now, looking at the price for performance, approximately the cost of the Zero Turn, $2,700, the TimeMaster, $1,100, and I valued the lawn tractor would be about 1,850. Then I broke down the cost per mow. And the way that I did that is I used my average from last year, I did 40 mows, and I figured the lifespan of these machines would be ten years. So if you take the price and divide it by ten years, then share it by 40 mows, this is what comes out to the cost per mow. Zero Turn vs. Gas Mower vs. Lawn Tractor – Comparison TableMowerZero TurnGas MowerLawn TractorPrice (approximately)$2,700$1,100$1,850Cost per mow (price/10 year, after you divide into 40 mows)$6.75$2.75$4.63Mow Time (15, 000 sq. feet)13.5 min27.5 min25 minDifference--104%-86%Cost per mile$6.75$5.62$8.60 Now, let’s take a look at mow time. I can mow my lawn front and back with:
Now, no surprise there. The Zero Turn is the fastest. The TimeMaster is 104% slower than the Zero Turn, and the lawn tractor is 86% slower than the Zero Turn. Now, when you use that difference to adjust the cost per mow, look at what happens.
So bottom line, I would only recommend the lawn tractor to use it for something else, such as pushing a snowplow, pulling a work cart, or mounting a big sprayer on the back. How To Choose The Riding Lawn Mower?It has become common practice for landscape companies to utilize riding lawn mowers as an integral part of their businesses worldwide. Residential homeowners are also increasingly using riding mowers as well. Compared with the manual push mower, a riding lawn mower makes it much easier to care for yards. So the question is, which riding lawn mower is best for your situation? If you have a bigger lawn than half an acre, then your optimal choice is a riding lawnmower. When selecting the best riding lawn mower, the front-cutting deck is what you need to pay the closest attention to. The front cutting deck is the housing that covers the cutting blade. The longer that a cutting deck is, the bigger the cutting blade is. And the bigger the cutting blade you have, the more grass it will cut. Therefore, if you have a big lawn, you want to get a mower with a longer cutting deck so that your cutting time is sped up. Using a riding mower makes cutting your lawn a much faster job. Also, riding mowers is much better for people with health problems since there isn’t nearly as much manual labor required. There are other purposes that riding lawn mowers serve, like a small trailer or snowplow. Don’t confuse riding lawn mowers with lawn or gardening tractors. There is a significant difference. The cutting decks on the riding tractor are mounted in the middle instead of the front. This makes riding tractors a lot less maneuverable. Gas Powered vs. Electric Riding Lawn MowerJust like cars, there are both electrically and gas-powered riding lawn mowers that are available. If you buy an electric mower, you need to ensure the battery is completely charged before you use it. Electric mowers are more environmentally friendly and quieter. In terms of the negatives, given that the mower is battery-powered, there is always the chance that the battery will completely drain before finishing the job. Electric mowers can also be very expensive. For instance, Electric 100AH RYOBI with snowing plow. A great choice for winter!One big advantage that gas-powered mowers have is they are much more efficient compared to electric mowers. They expend less energy, handle wet conditions a lot better, and are less expensive than electric mowers. There are advantages and disadvantages to each kind of mower. When deciding which kind of mower you want to buy, you need to weigh the efficiency advantage versus the environmental advantage. Maintaining Your Mower
Dangers and CautionsRiding lawn mowers are more dangerous to operate than manual mowers, given they are so much larger. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission released a study that showed that some of the more common dangerous problems associated with riding lawn mowers include users being run over by a mower, riders falling off the seat, and mowers tipping over. To completely protect both yourself and family members, the following precautions should be taken:
Pros of Purchasing a Riding Lawn MowerAlthough it can be more expensive to ride a lawn mover than a regular mower, there are quite a few advantages to purchasing a riding lawnmower. For starters, when riding lawn mowers, you have just as many choices; this also includes zero-turning radius mowers. With a mower that is a zero-turning radius, you can, and in a single pass, cut around trees and shrubs, you can get right up to the edge, between the tree area and the grass. There are actually two varieties of riding lawnmowers. One is a tractors-style riding mower, and the other, a zero-turning radius. People with large areas in need of mowing will find a riding mower to be ideal. These include attachments to bag grass clippings and mulching capabilities, and there are models with a combination of both. Available AccessoriesYou can use many accessories, but this is especially true for the tractor models. You can buy trailers to haul feed to your livestock or to carry supplies to your garden, and you can buy plows that have helped clear winter snow. There are even attachments that can help plow a garden. You can also find attachments that turn a lawn tractor into a leaf grinder, and the grinding capabilities will turn the leaves into compost. Comfortable FunctionsRiding lawnmowers have an electric start and a larger fuel capacity in comparison to regular mowers. Their fully adjustable cutting decks allow you to cut heavier and taller grass as well as areas of your property that are undeveloped; a regular mower would be bogged down by this and cut out. When purchasing a riding lawn mower, pay close attention to the brands. There is a variety of riding lawn mower brands. John Deere offers lawn mowers in the zero-turn model as well as the tractor style. A trendy brand of riding mowers is Toro, which is to the great availability of Toro lawn mower parts. There are various repair parts and covers available. Even some can maintain themselves; removing the cutting blade is hard if you have the right tools. The Difference Between Riding Mowers and TractorsThere is a difference between riding lawn mowers and lawn tractors that should be noted, the motor of most riding lawn mowers is located in the rear and with lawn tractors in the front. The driver controls all the operations, and the cutting heights are easy to adjust on the go if needed. In comparison with a lawn tractor, a riding mower has less power, and it can get around flat surfaces at a much faster speed than most lawnmowers can. There are usually fewer accessories for the riding mower models, and they are also not very great to use during the winter. During the winter season, they have to be stored. Many local lawn and garden retailers can provide you with riding lawn mowers and are also available online. Regarding price, many of these lawn mowers cost around five hundred dollars or a bit more. However, they save you so much time that they are worth the price in the long run. Purchasing a riding lawn mower should not even be a question in your mind. If you are not certain if this is the right choice for you, there are quite a few product review sites available online; look over reviews that other lawnmower customers have left, there you can find features, product specifications, pros and cons, and anything that you are interested in knowing more about. What Do We Have?It can be a tough decision to try to select the best riding lawnmower. Ultimately, the factors that will mainly influence you will be safety and price. It is nice to have bells and whistles. However, they are not completely necessary. Before buying a riding lawn mower, carefully read reviews, consumer reports, product descriptions, and check info on our website. How to Choose the Lawnmower – Buyer’s GuideAs the saying goes, information is power. The next time you are in the market for a lawnmower, you should be curious to ensure that your final decision will be the right one. To be able to ask the right questions, take the following into account: Types of LawnmowersBattery-Powered LawnmowersOnce upon a time, battery-powered lawnmowers were weak and inefficient. Thanks to advancements in technology, however, that is no longer the case. Today, battery-powered lawnmowers are surprisingly capable and competent. They come in both the push and the self-propelled varieties. Typically, they use lithium-ion battery packs. Lightweight, compact, and easily rechargeable, these packs are undoubtedly convenient. However, their runtimes are rather short when compared to those of gas-powered mowers. [su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#009906″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon:chevron-down” icon_color=”#00bb0c”]
Gas MowersThe most common types of lawnmowers out there are powerful, efficient, and high-speed gas mowers. Moreover, they are not limited in their runtime by rechargeable batteries, allowing them to cover a lot more distance in a single session. Like their battery-powered counterparts, they come in both push and self-propelled varieties. Of course, they need to be refueled and maintained with regularity. [su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#009906″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon:chevron-down” icon_color=”#00bb0c”]
Lawn TractorsA cross between a small car and a gas mower makes lawn tractors capable of cutting a lot faster than simple push mowers. As a result, they are very well-suited for taking care of large lawns. Many of them include cruise-control and height adjustment options, allowing for more precise mowing. Some models even involve hydrostatic transmissions that help with the use of plows and other tool attachments.
Zero-Turn-Radius Lawn MowersThese are similar to lawn tractors, the difference being that, instead of a wheel, you use a zero-turn with a pair of levers to control the vehicle. This allows zero-turn radios lawnmowers to be more maneuverable and nimble than lawn tractors. Typically, this type of mower is gas-powered.
Rear-Engine RidersThink of rear-engine riders as a mix between walk-behind mowers and lawn tractors. They offer some of the comforts and benefits of the latter without many of its disadvantages. They are compact and relatively lightweight. However, they aren’t as powerful or efficient as lawn tractors.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Lawn MowerPush or Self-Propelled?Generally speaking, push mowers are more affordable than self-propelled ones. Of course, they depend on your physical effort to perform their job. In the end, the decision should come down to whether you have the energy and the time to push the mower around or not. The size of your yard will inevitably play a huge role in that decision. Slopped lawns can also become a factor. Yard SizeIt’s crucial to think about the size of your lawn before deciding if you have a small yard of less than 1/4 acre, a self-propelled mower (or, even worse, a tractor). On the other hand, if your yard is rather large, purchasing a self-propelled mower with a decent amount of power may be the best option. Landscaping NeedsIf your lawn is ample and obstacle-less, a large mower with a large cutting deck is probably a good idea. However, if your yard has a steep terrain that includes obstacles like trees, flower beds, and ornaments, you should look for a more maneuverable option. Zero-turn radius mowers, in particular, can be remarkably agile. CleaningIdeally, it would help if you cleaned your mower after every use. Depending on the type and style of the machine, this can be more or less difficult. A washout port can make this a lot easier, so keep your eyes open for mowers that include this feature. Maneuvering CapabilitiesWithout a doubt, you want to get a lawnmower that can be controlled with precision. For that reason, it’s essential to take into account its maneuvering capabilities. Make sure the wheel or levers provide enough control and do not stick. Cruise control is an extra feature that you may want to consider when looking at lawn tractors. Desirable Features in a New Lawn MowerUniform Wheel SizesSome lawnmowers feature larger wheels on the back. Generally speaking, this makes them less efficient than mowers that have uniform wheel sizes. Blade-Brake ClutchSome mowers include a clutch that allows deactivating the blade without stopping the engine. This can be very useful when you need to take a small break without restarting the engine all over again. Electric StartOlder gas-powered mowers use a pulling system to start the engine. However, newer models include a single-button electric start that makes the process a lot more convenient. Click&Run, oh, yes! One-Lever Height AdjustmentVarious self-propelled mowers include a one-lever system for adjusting the height of the whole mowing deck at once. Without a doubt, that makes the adjustment process a lot easier and more convenient. Automatic DriveAn automatic drive feature can help you vary the ground speed with high effectiveness and efficiency. Typically, this feature is controlled with a lever. Electric Power Takeoff SwitchThis switch automatically allows you to engage and disengage the blades, helping you extend the belt’s lifespan. In ConclusionNow that everything is laid out on the table, you should have a clearer idea of what kind of lawnmower to go for. Undoubtedly, all the products presented in this buyer’s guide provide great value and are worth considering. However, there are essential differences between them that you should take into account before making a decision. What is the best riding lawn mower for 1/2 acre?Best Seller. Cub CadetXT1 Enduro LT 46 in. ... . Troy-BiltPony 42 in. 15.5 HP Briggs and Stratton 7-Speed Manual Drive Gas Riding Lawn Tractor. ... . John DeereS120 42 in. 22 HP V-Twin Gas Hydrostatic Riding Lawn Tractor. ... . Cub CadetXT1 Enduro LT 46 in.. Is a riding mower worth it?Riding lawn mowers are ideal for large yards and commercial use as they cover more ground than push mowers in a shorter time frame. While more expensive, riding mowers are an investment worth considering if you have a significant amount of grass to mow.
When should you buy a riding lawn mower?The late spring and early summer offer numerous opportunities for discounts on everything from lawn furniture to lawn equipment. Keep an eye out for big sales around Memorial Day (late May), Father's Day (mid-June), Independence Day (July 4) and Labor Day (early September) for discounts on mowers.
Is a zeroIs it Worth Buying a Zero-Turn Mower? Zero-turn mowers, while clocking in at a higher cost than a riding mower, can mow your lawn faster and more efficiently than a riding mower. While a riding mower has a maximum speed of around 4 MPH, a zero-turn mower can provide you with around 8 MPH.
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