GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Need advice on buying first riding lawn mower

17-04-2006, 12:45 AM posted to rec.gardens

wrote:
I have about 2 acres to mow. I live in a small town and the only
mowers I have access to are those at a local Sears outlet and I can
drive 30 miles to a Lowes. I just want the best buy for the money.
If I could keep the cost close to $1000-1200, that would be great. Of
the mowers in that price range, what would you recommend. THanks

Depends. What is your acreage like? Is it grassy or weedy? Do you have
lots of trees and shrubs to mow around? Do you want to do things other
than just mow? You may want a lawn tractor if you need more cutting
power, or if you dream of pulling cartloads of amendments or some day
tilling/furrowing your garden patch with it. But if you only mow grass
and want a nimble little number that goes fast and turns on a dime, a
riding mower will probably do. At your price range, you can get a nice
little low-horsepower tractor that will mow and pull... might even lend
itself to uncomplicated snow "pushing" (as opposed to plowing), or a
riding mower that will do what it does well.

One important question, and it's not as dopey as it sounds: Do you want
to be able to mow in reverse?