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I bought my lawn mower in May 2010. Sears Outlet had a mower on their web site for $120.00. The cheapest Craftsman branded mower with small wheels and no features at all. I showed up at the local Sears Outlet looking for the mower and they'd never heard of it. I pulled up the flyer on their web site on my smartphone. They gave me their $220.00 mower, the cheapest one they had in the building. A Briggs & Stratton Brute push mower but with big, adjustable wheels and a rear bag I never use.
Since 2010, I changed the oil once and topped up a few times. I haven't done any other service other than knocking out the air filter a couple of times. Put in 10% ethanol gasoline, pull the cord, it starts. I had a piece of the handle rattle off once and bought a replacement at the local Ace Hardware. So I'm on my 10th season with a $120 mower. Maybe I'll change the oil and sharpen/replace the blade this year.
By all means get a zero-turn. So much faster and maneuverable than any garden tractor based mower. When I mowed as a business, i used a JD 445 garden tractor with 48” and 61” decks. I regretted that choice almost immediately, as I saw others switching to zero-turns and getting off the lawns so much faster. After I quit cutting other people’s grass, my spouse bought a business that came with several rough properties that had to maintained. I picked up a used (800 hours) Scag zero-turn with a 61” deck for $3,300. I beat that Scag up on those properties for 10 years. When the business was sold, I sold the Scag for $2,500. It’s been mowing a two acre residential lot for the last five years, and the homeowner is very happy with it.
Scag, eXmark, Toro, John Deere, and Ferris all make heavy, professional grade zero-turn mowers. Almost certainly there are others I have failed to list, but those are the brands that stand out in my mind. Good luck.
Do any of you have one? I have about 6 acres, 4 of which I still need to mow. I have a 48 inch John Deere, but it is the old style. I need one to zip around the faster. Too much time in the sun, bugs and crud. Do you like yours? Regrets? Advice? Got a favorite brand?
Why are you mowing 4 acres? I don’t know where you live but you can do prairie restoration and it’s really beautiful with wildflowers and attracts all sorts of birds and wildlife.
I have about 6 acres, 4 of which I still need to mow.
Do you need to push snow in winter as well?
I'm thinking a small tractor with mowing deck for all but the 1/2 acre closest to the house.
There you use a separate grass cutter and if you want a zero turn then go for it.
How many times could you hire someone to do the mowing for the amount it would cost to buy the latest and greatest mower? You will still have sun, bugs and crud with a new mower.
Depends on the lawn. I only mow an acre and 2/3. I used to mow as a part time business. I've had an Exmark walk behind, a Kubota BX tractor with deck, and my current Kubota ZTR.
ZTR's are good for flatter lawns. You'll make nice stripes and be done quickly with less trimming to do. If you have hills or steep banks, they can be exciting. Look up the ZTR slide of death. . The more hours you're going to be mowing, the more I'd lean towards commercial mowers. They will cost you less in the long run.
I loved MY BX with a 60" deck for mowing and using the bucket loader for other chores. Not as fast or maneuverable as a ZTR, but more useful for doing all sorts of other things. A ZTR is a one trick pony. I traded for a ZTR after our house building and landscaping was done as my tractor needs diminished. I kind of regret it now.
Every lawn is different. My weapon of choice would totally depend on looking at the lawn and it's challenges. A friend mows about 5 acres. His choice was tractor with a big deck for the wide open and a ZTR for his wife for everything else. He's a lucky guy.
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. The more hours you're going to be mowing, the more I'd lean towards commercial mowers. They will cost you less in the long run.
