Best Zero Turn Mowers

What Are The Best Zero Turn Mowers?

Zero turn lawn mowers have become quite popular over the last several years. These mowers are available in both push-behind and riding designs. The way they work is the rear wheels do the steering instead of the front ones, so it's much easier to maneuver them through tight turns and into corners. Choosing the best zero turn mowers can be a bit of a challenge with so many options out there, but let's look at a few things you'll want to consider.

First, you'll want to determine whether you should get a push-behind mower or a riding mower. If you have a large space to mow, a riding mower can save you a lot of time and backache, but they can actually be harder to manage in smaller areas.

Next you'll need to determine your budget, at least the ballpark you want to spend. Zero turn mowers range from about $1300 at the lower end for a mower like the Craftsman Professional (push-behind) to almost $9000 for the Ariens Pro Zoom commercial mower. If you're looking for a riding mower and don't need all the features of a commercial model, you may want to consider something like the Swisher ZT2352 (approximately $2700) or the Snapper 7800387 (approximately $3200). These models will suit most homeowners very well.

Another alternative if you want to save some money is to buy a used mower. You'll need to be careful where you buy it from, since you can't know for sure what kind of abuse or problems a used lawn mower has had, but many dealers carry used models that they've taken as trade-ins from other people. These mowers often come with a guarantee and service plan so you can be sure you'll be able to get any problems fixed.

The size of the blades and the output of the engine are the two things you should confirm before buying. Wider radius blades will cut a larger space in each pass, which can save quite a bit of time if you're cutting a large area. But keep in mind that the longer the blade is, the wider your turning radius will be, even on a zero turn mower. The horsepower (hp) rating of the engine is also important, especially if you're cutting on hills or in spots that will tax the engine a bit more.