Jane Ransom wrote:

Hello Jane

Finally going to bite the buller and purchase a garden
tractor but which one? I have been offered a one season old
one for £1500 negotiable. It is a Husqvarna CTH135. Has
anyone any personal experience of this brand as far
as tractor lawnmowers go? Or any other information on what
to buy and what to avoid? I have about an acre to acre and
a half to cut 75% lawn the rest longer grass just to be
kept tidy.

JR If it has a blower/sucker type arrangement for collecting
JR the clippings, then give it a wide berth. Buy one with a
JR powered sweeper collector.

While those are better, a decently designed self-collector (ignore any
salesman hype that rear is better than side, it's all BS) is perfectly
adequate. In damp grass a sweeper will easily outperform a passive
collector, but purists will say you shouldn't be cutting then
anyway...

Plus you're looking at about an extra grand to have a sweeper. Not
just the extra complexity, but it needs a bigger engine and more
maintenance too. And another thing - they're significantly longer than
a passive collector which is a major issue if you've got corners on
your lawn. They also have a habit of not picking up stuff when you're
cornering tightly, since they stick out the back and miss the inside
line.

Different things for different needs - please don't say "give it a
wide berth" when it may suit a particular garden more.

--
Simon Avery, Dartmoor, UK Ý http://www.digdilem.org/