Believe it or not, maintaining your yard doesn’t have to be a chore, or at least it doesn’t have to be a chore that you don’t enjoy.
The process of maintaining your grass can be something that is enjoyable and relaxing, it all depends on how you approach it.
What is the difference between a lawn mower and a lawn tractor?
If you are buying a lawn mower for the first time, you may find the prospect of having a lawn mower to be exciting, but once you get started you may find that there are more questions than answers out there.
In general though, tractors tend to be more heavy-duty and they have more options and accomplish more tasks than a mower.
Before you decide, though there are many factors to consider.
The following guide will give you information about the differences between mowers and tractors as well as the pros and cons so that you can make a more informed decision as you shop.
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Lawn Mower – Maneuverable And Versatile
The types of lawn mowers that are available on the market vary from push mowers that are manually powered to fully self-propelled mulching varieties that do everything except fix the kitchen sink.
If you have a smaller yard, then a regular push mower may be exactly what you need. Don’t discount the amazing benefits of a push mower, it is usually more maneuverable if you have many shrubs, bushes, or trees in the yard.
A manual lawn mower can also have a bag on it so you can pick up small amounts of leaves or even clippings for mulch.
A lawn mower that is manually powered is always ready to go, doesn’t require a battery charge or fuel to run, and is environmentally friendly.
The downside to a manually powered lawn mower is that it can be very tiring to push after a while, so an upgrade to a motorized mower helps with this.
The biggest benefit to a motorized lawn mower is that there are many varieties that are self-propelled, which is perfect for the yards that are too small for a riding mower, but too big for a manual mower.
Riding Lawn Mower – Tired Of Pulling Strings?
One of the biggest problems with a push mower is that silly “pull start.” Are you tired of pulling strings?
A riding mower has the benefit of an electric start, and we think that turning a key is much easier than the uncertainty of knowing whether or not it will start with a hard enough string pull.
If you have a larger yard, and a push mower wears you out, then consider a riding lawn mower.
A riding lawn mower moves at a much faster speed and covers more ground in less time than a push mower.
There are more benefits than just speed or ease of mowing, since riding mowers have a larger fuel capacity they can cover a lot more ground, literally.
A riding lawn mower usually has a seat, with a motor-powered deck directly below the seat.
The blades are very sharp and cover a much wider span than a push mower.
The downside of a riding mower is that it has less maneuverability than a push mower, so you may find yourself spending more time with the weed eater.
A riding lawn mower also requires more storage space in the garage or storage shed.
Garden Tractor – The Golden Goose Of Yard Maintenance
Truly, a garden tractor is the golden goose of yard maintenance.
It is the gift that keeps giving if you have a rather large yard or do a lot of gardening.
Let’s get the downside out of the way early, it does cost a pretty penny, and you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $8,000 for one.
Here’s the deal though, a garden tractor is the most versatile mower on the market, it has many attachments, such as tillers, backhoes, front loaders, snow throwers, seeders, and post hole diggers.
The mowing deck comes standard at an impressive 54 inches wide and covers a wider area than any other mower.
A garden tractor will help with hauling around heavy materials, as well as assist with cultivating soil, plowing snow, and so much more. It has an amazingly strong engine and can cover more ground than any other machine.
The garden tractor also needs more storage space than any other mower listed here, but we think it is well worth it if you have a lot of land to cover.
Lawn Tractor – A Step Down Or A Step Up
The lawn tractor does a great job of providing an all around happy medium when it comes to hard maintenance.
The lawn tractor is a step down from a garden tractor, or it can be a step up from the push mower.
It has more mowing capacity than even the largest push mower, and much more power.
If you have more yard than your push mower can handle, then it may be time to consider a lawn tractor, especially if you don’t do much gardening.
However, if you have some gardening that you take care of, then the lawn tractor is still a good option.
Beautifully, a garden tractor can also have a hitch on the back that allows you to carry or tow items.
This comes in handy if you have tools that you need to move from one garden bed to another or have materials that you need to carry from your shed to the garden.
There are some attachments available for your lawn tractor – see what’s available for John Deere tractors, but not as many options as you will find for a garden tractor.
Photo by Aigars Reinholds