We all know that size does, indeed, matter. For anyone with a lawn larger than around half an acre, a walk-behind mower is probably just not going to cut it and they’re going to have to call in the big boys. In fact, for anyone with a large lawn, an investment in a rider mower is going to save huge amounts of time and effort, and with new models on the market, they needn’t break the bank, either.
Riders do not come as a ‘one size fits all’ solution, though, and with a huge array on the market, how do you know which is best to opt for?
The difference between a Ride-on Mower and Lawn Tractor
Ride-on mowers and garden tractors are both designed to look after large areas of grass, so it can be confusing to understand why one may be more suited to your needs than the other. Ride-on mowers have their cutting deck mounted at the front, making them great at navigating lawns with lots of obstacles such as garden furniture, play equipment or lots of shrubs and trees. They also have a low centre of gravity which aids stability, so they’re ideal for uneven or sloped ground, while the central seat position makes it easy to get a good, unobstructed view of the area.
Lawn tractors, on the other hand, have their cutting deck mounted in the centre of the machine. This makes them perfect for tackling grassy areas where obstacles are not an issue, and the main objective is cutting large areas of open land.
What to do with the cuttings?
Whether you opt for a ride-on or a lawn tractor, they will both come with lots of features to consider, particularly around what to do with the grass clippings. You may want to think about whether you want the option to mulch or not – although most models will come with a mulching option, as well as the option for side or rear discharge of cuttings, or collection. A mulch-plug will allow the clippings to be chopped up finely, and then blown back into the lawn, where they can provide nutrients. Mulch is a wonderful natural fertiliser for grass, so it’s great to feed it into lawns as regularly as possible. Mulch-plugs mean that grass clippings can be recycled every time the grass is cut, returning them to the soil as they decompose and release nutrients and fertilisers.
Side discharge options will be a better option for longer, rougher grass – the side discharge function will dispense the clippings into neat lines at the side of the mower, making it easy to collect, and means that the grass collector doesn’t have to be continually emptied.
Alternatively, a rear-catcher model will collect all cuttings into a capacious grass bag attached to the back of the mower, making for a pristine finish.
Manoeuvrability and turning circles
When choosing a rider, it’s important to think about the type of lawn that’s going to be mowed. Does the area have lots of curved edges, garden beds and obstacles such as trees to negotiate? If so, a ride-on mower is probably the best bet. Cobra’s two compact LT62 rider models each have a 24” cutting width and comfortable seat. Being smaller, these models have great manoeuvrability coupled with a 75cm turning radius. The LT62 is available with either manual or hydrostatic automatic gear change transmission, with the latter offering smoother usage and even greater manoeuvrability.
For larger gardens and paddocks to mow, there are six lawn tractors available. With cutting widths ranging from 33” up to 42”, and choices again being manual and hydrostatic gear changing, as well as a twin cutting blade and the option to collect the cuttings, release them back to the ground or turn them to mulch. They also offer enhanced comfort with an ergonomically designed padded seat and easy electric key starting.
Click here to read more about our new range of ride-on mowers.
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