How to Pick the Best Riding Lawn Mower

posted on Thursday, June 6, 2019 in Dealer News

Whether you’re buying a lawn tractor for the first time, or you’re ready to upgrade to a newer model, you’ve come to the right place.

Our riding mower guide gives a wide-ranging look at the most important things you need to consider to help you pick the best John Deere mower.

Start with Property Size

One of the key factors in choosing the best riding mower for your property comes right down to acreage. A larger property benefits from a wider cutting deck and more horsepower. You’ll also want to consider additional comfort features for longer rides. These are a matter of preference and include things like the size of the Operator Station, pedal placement and dashboard configuration. While a bigger deck often means a faster cut, it’s important to consider your access points before choosing a mower with this feature. Make sure your equipment will be able to fit through both your gates and storage entrances.

Smaller properties call for more agility and don’t need quite as much horsepower. These types of properties do well with a smaller deck size. If you’re caring for land that’s four acres or larger, you’ll want to consider a lawn tractor from our Select Series or Signature Series. They’ll offer a larger deck size and greater horsepower. If your yard is smaller than four acres, a good place to start is with our Zero-Turn and S240 Sport lines.

Not all Acres are Alike

Another important thing to understand is that not all acres are created equal. Landscaping and obstacles have a great deal to do with picking the right lawn tractor. For instance, some mowers like those found in our X300 Series are well suited to easy terrains that are mostly flat. These are yards that aren’t very hilly and have little variation. Having fewer obstacles means you won’t need as much in the way of maneuverability features.

By the same token, if your yard is heavily treed in places or has many flower beds, you’ll want to consider a riding mower with a tighter turn radius. Mowers found in the X500 Series can maneuver through a variety of obstacles and are well suited for the job. For rough terrains that are on the more uneven side, a zero-turn mower makes for a better choice, like those found in the Z700 Series. Mowers from this series offer commercial-grade reinforcements and a Kawasaki engine making easy work of tough land. With that in mind, properties that are especially hilly and challenging stand to benefit from commercial riding mowers. These types of tractors are heavier and can withstand some of the roughest terrains while still offering a smooth ride. We recommend looking into the Z900 Series for this type of property.

Getting the Right Jobs done Right

Riding mowers can do much more than just mow your lawn when paired with the right accessories. That’s why it’s important to spend some time considering all the tasks you’d like to tackle with your equipment. Think of it this way, the right equipment is going to help you get the jobs you need to get done more quickly and efficiently.

Will you be aerating your yard? Grading and leveling? Or maybe you’ll need to do some carrying and hauling to far off flower beds. If that’s the case, you’ll want to consider a mower that can handle a wide variety of outdoor jobs like those found in our 100 Series, S240 Sport Series, Select Series and Signature Series. All you’ll need to get these jobs done are the right John Deere accessories and attachments. Another benefit of this type of mower is that you can care for, maintain and store just one piece of equipment rather than many. That’ll save you time, money and storage space.

Still not sure which riding lawn mower is right for you? Stop on by! Our team of skilled professionals are always here to help steer you in the right direction. We are happy to answer your questions, help with maintenance and offer expert guidance on all your needs. That’s the Sunshine Guarantee.