What Is The Best Lawn Mower For The Money

About The Author Of This Page

This report was written by Canstar Blues Content Projects Lead, Dean Heckscher. Hes our resident expert on all things automotive, health & fitness, streaming and more. Dean is also one of Canstar Blues customer research report producers, helping to turn complicated subjects into easily-digestible information for our readers. Hes passionate about helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services.

Least Expensive 42 Riding Mower To Buy Troy

Why We Like It

When you first look at riding mowers for sale, you may be a bit intimidated by the price tags you see. If youre looking for a cheap riding lawn mower at the lowest possible price point, the Troy-Bilt Pony is a model thats well worth the price.

With a 42-inch cutting deck and a 13.5 HP engine, the Pony provides plenty of power and capability, all at a price that almost any homeowner can reasonably afford.

Specifications

• 2-year warranty

Our Take Away

Even though its a budget option, this Troy-Bilt riding mower has a lot going for it. Smaller engine size notwithstanding, the Pony has plenty of get-up-and-go and will easily handle any residential lawn under 2 acres.

Overall, the Troy-Bilt Pony riding lawn mower is an especially good option for homeowners on a tight budget, but who still want or need to invest in a riding mower. If youre looking for a top-rated riding lawn mower for under $2,300 this is it.

Troy-Bilt Cheapest Riding Mower With 42 Mower Deck

Troy Bilt

How To Use A Gas Lawn Mower

Especially if its your first time behind the wheel, the first step to successfully using your new gas lawn mower is treating the user manual as your Bible. A quick flick-through will make it clear that one of the most important maintenance steps is to regularly add gas and oil to your mower.

You dont want your gas lawn mower to go out of order either. Debris poses the greatest risk, as it can jam or clog your machine and cause damage. The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to survey your lawn for large stones, twigs, and other debris before you bring out the big guns.

When youre starting out, the easiest place to mow is a flat stretch of ground. Once youre ready to go, simply turn on your mower by pulling the cord or switching the mower on using the electric key start.

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What To Know About Lawn Mowers Before Shopping

Here are a few basic considerations to factor in while shopping for the best lawn mower for your needs.

Cutting deck: A mower’s cutting deck width, also known as the swath or mowing width, relates to how much ground can be covered by the mower in one pass. The deck height, or the cutting height, depicts how short the grass will be cut, and many lawn mowers feature adjustable height settings so you can give your lawn a fresh buzz cut or leave a little bit of length for that just-grown-out look.

Weight and size: For those who do not have ample storage space, the weight and size of a lawn mower will likely be a deciding purchasing factor, and a lawn mower that is light enough to be carried and can easily and compactly fold away for storage would be ideal. A large lawnmower, perhaps even a ride-on mower, will be a better choice if you have garage space aplenty and many acres of lawn to tend to .

How Often Should I Mow My Lawn

In the early spring and fall, you can get away with mowing your lawn once every other week since the grass isn’t going to grow as fast as it does in late spring and throughout the summer. Mowing more often during these times also runs the risk of killing sections of your lawn since the tender, young shoots are more susceptible to damage which can cause them to die off.

During the later spring months and the height of summer, you’ll want to mow your lawn at least once a week. Not only does this keep your yard looking neat, but it also helps keep your grass growing evenly so you don’t get tall patches. Mowing more frequently during the prime growing season also helps keep your lawn healthy by re-feeding the roots with lawn clippings if you have a mulching attachment on our mower.

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Who Makes The Best Riding Mower

In our opinion, the top 3 riding lawn mower brands for the money are Husqvarna, Craftsman, and Toro. Its important to note, however, that the best riding mower for you will depend on your needs, preferences, and budget.

Honorable mention: Troy-Bilt built in the U.S.A and founded in 1937, is an outstanding lawnmower company with years of service and dependability, which happen to build a more affordable lawnmower line.

Be sure to take the size and slope of your yard, the price youre willing to pay, and the amount of maintenance youre ready to perform into consideration before selecting the mower that best suits your needs.

Husqvarna Yta24v48 Pedal Tractor Mower

I bet by now, seeing the third product on this list would make you surprised but you shouldnt be and it is no coincidence as well that all three of the riding lawn mowers that we have talked about are all from the Husqvarna company.

This should only tell you that the Husqvarna company can be trusted to make only quality tools that would meet up with customer needs and expectations.

The YTA24V48 lawnmower offers only quality results and performance and that is why it is a part of our ten best riding lawn mower for the money review.

This is a high-performance garden tool that is capable of producing impressive gardening results and we would also not forget to mention how powerful and versatile this lawnmower is.

The Husqvarna lawn mower is one that doesnt need too much power for startups and has a choke less start design which in turn rewards this lawnmower with the much-needed cutting power.

With this riding lawn mower, mowing grasses would be a lot easier than you think.

Pros:

• Customers are not impressed with its warranty
• Not suitable for winter use

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Is It Safe To Mow Wet Grass

Not at all. If you use a push mower, you run the risk of slipping in the damp grass, which may result in not only pulled muscles and tweaked ankles, but you run the risk of seriously injuring yourself if you land on the mower itself or take it down with you. Mowing wet grass with riding mowers can cause you to get stuck and create deep trenches with your drive wheels as you attempt to get yourself moving again. Electric mowers also come with the risk of electric shock if water works its way into the motor or battery housing, which will not only hurt a whole lot but could also kill you.

Aside from the risk of injury, mowing wet grass is bad for your lawn as well. Water weighs down each blade, making it harder for your lawn mower to make an even, clean-cut, leaving behind uneven patches and huge clumps of clippings that can kill off patches of your yard and damage your mower if the discharge chute gets clogged.

Whether it’s from rain or morning dew, always allow your lawn to dry out as much as it can before you start mowing.

Best Electric Lawn Mower Overall: Ego Power+ Select Cut Lm2135sp

Were pretty sure when it comes to ranking household chores, mowing the lawn comes in close to the bottom of the list, right there with scrubbing the toilet and cleaning the gutters. Shudder. But when you add a self-propelled electric lawn mower to the picture? Turns out cutting grass doesnt have to be such a pain after all.

After testing six electric lawn mowers, the Ego Power+ Select Cut LM2135SP came out on top for its ease of use, simple and useful interface and high-performing dual-blade design. Its simply easier and more comfortable to use than the competition, and has a better-thought-out set of handy features that make mowing simpler.

Now, as far as cutting our grass went, every mower we tested did a great job both when mulching and bagging and required very little assembly, and all had many similar features .

First, the Ego Power+ Select Cut is practically ready to put to use right out of the box. Fully assembled, you need only put the included bag grass catcher together and charge the included 56-volt lithium-ion battery. Battery runtime will differ based on how long your grass is, moisture, density and other factors, but on average it lived up to its promise of about 60 minutes of run time on a single charge.

Finally, when youre done mowing, the handle easily folds down and can be stored upright, taking up little space. It also gets bonus points for front and rear handles on the body that make moving it extra easy.

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Engine Size And Power

Like other lawn mowers, a zero turn mowers engine power is measured in horsepower. More powerful engines can make easier work of thick, tough grasses and larger yards. Theyre also better equipped for handling rocky or hilly terrains.

Zero turn mower engines typically range in power from 14 to 27HP.

• For a small yard, choose a model with at least a 14 to 16HP engine.

• For a mid-sized yard, choose a model with a 16 to 18HP engine.

• For a large yard, choose a model with at least an 18HP engine.

“Zero turn mowers with wider tires have more evenly distributed weight, so theyre gentler on the grass. “

How To Choose A Lawn Mower

There are a number of factors to take into consideration when choosing the right lawn mower for you. Firstly, you need to decide whether you want a corded electric, petrol, battery-powered cordless or push mower.

• Corded electric mowers are generally in the mid-price range and are relatively light and quiet. You will need a charging point and possibly an extension cord and the electric cable can get in the way. Take a look at our pick of the best electric lawn mowers.
• Battery-powered cordless lawn mowers are the newest type of mower and are the most lightweight and manoeuvrable. You need to remember to keep the battery charged and they can be expensive, although prices are starting to come down. Check out our pick of the best cordless mowers.
• Push mowers are cheap and manually powered, so they are the most eco-friendly mower you can buy but, they can be hard work for the user, particularly if strength and mobility are an issue. Read our rundown the best hand push mowers.
• Robotic mowers automatically mow your lawn. Whenever the lawn gets a little long, a robot mower will nip out and clip it, saving you the job. However, bear in mind that this is the most expensive type of mower on the market even budget options will set you back about £500. Learn more with our tests of the best robotic mowers.
• Petrol lawn mowers are powerful but tend to be loud, heavy and are less environmentally-friendly. They need an annual maintenance check up and a supply of petrol and oil.

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How Long Should A Lawn Mower Last

As long as you perform proper maintenance , your mower should be expected to last 10 years or more. Keeping your gas or electric mower in good working order and your blades sharp go a long way towards extending the life of your mower since they reduce the risk of unnecessary wear and tear and mowing with dull blades can be dangerous since they won’t make clean cuts, causing discharge chute build-up that can damage drive spindles and the blades themselves.

Exmark Lazer Z: Best Riding Lawn Mower For Large Spaces

If you have a landscaping or lawn care company, you need a riding lawn mower that will work every single day for years without fail, and one that you can expect to perform at the highest level consistently.Exmark Lazer Z X-Series is the perfect fit for such a situation. It has 12 models to choose from that feature powerful engines and solid, heavy duty construction that can withstand a daily beating. Additionally, they utilize eMarkâs unique RED technology.It has on-board computer that helps different parts of the machine communicate with each other and optimize the performance based on whatâs happening at the moment. It monitors engine temperature, oil pressure and electrical components. If thereâs ever a problem, it will automatically correct or shut the machine down if it gets too dangerous.

• Read our Exmark Lazer Z Rider Lawn Mower review

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Honda Hrc216 Series Commercial Lawn Mowers

Start with a Honda GXV160 engine, tell the design team to build the best lawn mower they can think of, and you end up with the Honda HRC216 series. The flagship model is the HRC216HXA. Highlights include a hydrostatic transmission, RotoStop system that lets you take your hands off without turning off the engine, MicroCut twin blades, and more. Its not just a bunch of hype, either. This mower is powerful and built to a level that stands up to legitimate commercial and possibly even battlefield use.

If you want to save a little money and the Blade Stop feature doesnt feel like a requirement to you, check out the HRC216HDA mower which drops the price to $1,379.

Price: $1379 $1489

What Is The Best Lawn Mower

The Husqvarna YTH18542 is the best lawn mower you can get. It has a mow-in-reverse feature that’s perfect for navigating tricky areas or going back over spots you may have missed, as well as a 42-inch, dual-blade deck that’s great for lawns up to 1 acre. The 16-inch turn radius makes it easier to maneuver around trees, lamp posts, decorations, and mailboxes, and the deck can be outfitted with either a bagger or mulching attachment for easier cleanup and lawn re-feeding. The automatic, hydrostatic transmission makes operating this mower similar to driving a car: the harder you push the pedal, the faster you go. So you don’t have to mess with manually adjusting any speed levers.

Finding the right mower for your yard can be tricky. It may be tempting to spring for the fancy zero turn model with the 60+ inch cutting deck or the robot mower, so you don’t have to waste your Saturday afternoons cutting the grass. But not all mowers are suited to every lawn, and not all mowers are created equal.

Zero turns are similar to commercial-grade lawn mowers, featuring very wide cutting decks and pivot turning for exceptional maneuverability around obstacles. They’re perfect for 2+ acre lawns or 1+ acre lawns with lots of trees.

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Can I Get A Lawn Mowers For A Reasonable Price

Lifelong companionship is typical for lawn mowers. When you fast open your lid, spending more money will reward you with increased speed, a better view, and better quality of the product. Again, the average price of a new lawn mowers is between $$ and $$$. Okay, so some luxury options are not available.

Gas Versus Electric Mowers

Many riding lawn mowers are gas-powered, meaning they require gasoline to operate. Others, meanwhile, are electric and use a battery-powered motor that needs to be charged. Though gas riding mowers are more durable and typically better suited for large lawns, Hill cautioned that theyre usually much louder than their electric counterparts and are less eco-friendly since they emit fumes.

Electric riding mowers can be cheaper and easier to maintain since they dont require purchasing or changing out the engine oil, among other upkeep requirements. However, electric riding mowers do have their downfalls: Their functionality is limited to the amount of time they can be used in a single charge if you have several acres of land , the power may not be enough to cut your entire lawn in one sitting.

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Basic Lawn Mower Types

There are two basic formats of lawn mower: walk-behind or riding. Walk-behind push lawn mowers are the traditional type, consisting of a motor positioned above the cutting area, with long handles at the rear for the user to push. The oldest walk behind mowers were completely manual, with no motor to turn the cutting blades. The user needed to provide all the power. These kinds of walk-behind mowers are extremely rare today and have been replaced with push mowers. A cordless push mower has powered cutting blades, but it still needs the user to push and pull the mower around the lawn.

More modern walk-behind mower models improve on this basic format by adding a self-propelled mower feature. This is where the motor drives the rear wheels and powers the cutting blade to take the effort out of pushing and guiding the tool.

A self-propelled mower makes it much easier to mow large lawns of up to half an acre, especially on land with a mild gradient. These models are available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

But for larger areas or lawns with more challenging terrain, a ride-on mower is more suitable. The best lawn mower models with ride-on are fully self-propelled, come complete with manual or automatic transmission, and are controlled from a comfortable seated position.