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Choosing the right mowers for your landscaping needs doesn’t have to turn into a buyer?EUR??,,????'???s nightmare. Think about your key goals in the performance of your mowers: reducing overhead, maintenance and labor costs with equipment that is highly functional, durable and ergonomic. Keep in mind that before buying any mower, it is important to analyze facility needs and site conditions.
Consider the types of mowers you or your company already has. Do they all need to be replaced, or are just a few new mowers all that?EUR??,,????'???s needed to kick your maintenance schedule into high gear?
Try replacing trailer loads of walk-behind and hand-held equipment with more compact equipment that has the ability to trim, vacuum, aerate, remove snow, de-thatch and perform other landscaping tasks utilizing a single, commercial engine. This allows one operator to double or triple productivity.
Equipment that works overtime by performing multiple duties also reduces storage space and the overhead costs.
Walk behind mowers can bag, mulch or side discharge grass clippings. Bagging clippings will take more time and requires disposal of the clippings. Some cities require that the clippings be removed by the person who is performing the service.
Mulching lawn mowers are faster and if done often enough, give great results.
The clippings add nutrients to the lawn so the turf does not have to be fertilized as often. As people become more concerned about landfills, you may find more customers requesting this service. To obtain the same results as bagging, you must mow about every five to seven days depending on the amount of water the lawn has received and how fast it is growing.
The next consideration should be the demographics of the areas you will be cutting. Does your cutting area have fairly level ground or large hilly areas over 15 to 20 degrees? If you are cutting on fairly steep slopes, consider a lawn mower with a two-cycle engine to ensure the engine is lubricated while cutting on sloping areas.
On fairly flat areas, a lawn mower with a four-cycle engine with an oil pump or pressure lubrication can work well. The two-cycles require less maintenance but in most cases do not have as much horsepower.
Overhead valve engines (four-cycle) might be something for you to consider.
In general, they are easier to crank, run cooler and burn less gas. Usually the cooler an engine runs, the longer it will last. Most engine manufacturers have an overhead valve engine. The four-cycle engines require more maintenance, such as oil changes, while two-cycle engines do not need oil changes, but need more frequent air cleaner maintenance.
Most brands of walk-behinds come in the following cutting widths: 36, 48, 52, and 60 inches. Price range is $2,500 to $5,000.
The zero-turn mowers are a good choice on large properties. These mowers are powerful and fast. The turning radius, as the name indicates, enables you to cut close to objects such as trees and buildings. This can save on labor costs and as a result of the zero-turn?EUR??,,????'???s performance, you should have less mowing to do the with smaller walk mowers and trimming, which could save you precious time during peak mowing seasons.
Some zero-turn mowers have dual handles for steering. The preference on this type of steering is at your discretion. Price may be a factor, so try both before making your final decision. Most brands come in the following cutting widths: 36, 48, 52, 60 and 72-inches. Price range is $5,000 to $11,000.
Ride-on mowers are a great choice for mowing flatter properties, multiple acres, and where fatigue is a concern. These mowers vary in cost depending on manufacturer, model, engine type, and size and other features. The price range is $5,000 to $40,000.
Riding mowers have made numerous advances in the past several years. Each year, the equipment manufacturers release their new and improved models with a range of new features. More powerful engines, faster speeds, improved cutting quality and maneuverability are areas where advancements have been most evident.
Some riding mowers are equipped with engines that have up to 31 hp, with quality mowing that can be completed at speeds of up to 15 miles per hour.
Also, the shape of the cutting deck and blade arrangements now make it possible for even the widest mowers to make quality cuts.
Riding mowers also are available with zero-turning radius, a feature that cuts mowing time while allowing operators to produce a finished appearance.
Wing-type decks combined with the zero-turning-radius vehicles make wider decks more desirable. They can mow wide open spaces, as well as tight spots once mowed only by walk-behind or push mowers.
In recent years, these wider rotary mowers have seen great improvements in speed and quality. And to save time in the field, riding mowers now are being equipped with larger fuel tanks ?EUR??,,????'??+ some with holding capacities of up to 13 gallons.
Working in the hot sun is hard enough, but throw in an uncomfortable, stiff mower seat and you?EUR??,,????'???re in for a long day!
Manufacturers are making an effort to increase operator comfort. More models are available with independent, four-wheel suspension, seat suspension, vibration absorption, improved steering and other controls.
Some models have electric deck lifts for more convenient control of cutting height. One such model can be set at 19 different cutting heights. Anti-scalp rollers are available on many models and help improve cutting quality on uneven terrain.
Mower size is also changing. Lower centers of gravity and more compact body styles make these new machines even more versatile than previous models. Other areas of advancement include engines with lower emissions and reduced noise.
Also, four-wheel-drive mowers are now available and floatation tires help to reduce compaction and make driving in wet conditions possible.
New and improved compact tractors are also being used for large-area mowing, and pull-behind mowing decks have improved in size and quality over the past several years. Tractors also can perform a wide variety of grounds maintenance tasks, along with the various attachments that are available.
If you?EUR??,,????'???re having a hard time deciding between a riding or walk-behind mower, consider a stand-on surfer mower. They are fast, maneuverable, and fun to mow with. Their spring-loaded platform makes hitting bumps easy on the knees and back. Balance is achieved by leaning hips and upper thighs against a thick cushion. If you use it all day, your legs will feel tired from bouncing up and down, but it sure beats walking behind a mower all day.
Surfer commercial lawn mowers are safe on hills because you can easily get off of the mower if you are unsteady. They are also easy to maneuver in tight spaces because they aren?EUR??,,????'???t as long as ride-on mowers. Manufacturers of surfer mowers include: Wright, Great Dane, John Deere, and Everride. Price range is $5,000 to $7,000.
Small push mowers are easy to transport from location to location and are good at getting into small spaces on properties where a commercial mower is just too big. Small push mowers are lightweight, good exercise, easy to maintain, and are simple to transport if you have to bring it somewhere for maintenance.
The search for new mowers should not be limited to the dealer an organization has always used. The Internet and trade shows are great places to shop around before making a purchase. There are more manufacturers and styles to choose from than ever, so check with local dealers, as well as other grounds managers, to find out what?EUR??,,????'???s available, then compare the options to facility needs, the wish list and the budget.
Don?EUR??,,????'???t forget to compare prices, which can vary greatly between manufacturers for similar machines.
Finally, managers must ensure the equipment?EUR??,,????'???s maintainability by checking to see if there is someone in the area who is qualified and available to service it in a reasonable amount of time, also make sure that mower replacement parts are readily available.
Sources: A New Generation of Mowers, Cathy Walker; Lawn Mowers, Walk Mowers, Riding Mowers and Zero Turn Mowers!, www.lawnservicing.com
Francisco Uviña, University of New Mexico
Hardscape Oasis in Litchfield Park
Ash Nochian, Ph.D. Landscape Architect
November 12th, 2025
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