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Which Lawn Mower Is Best For Hills

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What Should I Do If The Hill On My Property Is Too Steep To Mow

Can It Mow Steep Hills, Zero Turn Mower Cub Cadet Pro Z 972 SD

If you have a slope on your property that is steeper than 15 degrees, we dont recommend risking your safety to cut it. Since you likely want to slope to still look good, Home Depot recommends filling in the area with perennial plants and ornamental grass.

Some of the top recommendations to plant on a steep hill include creeping thyme, asiatic jasmine, and catmint. Other attractive plants you can put there are agapanthus, creeping Jenny. creeping phlox, and cotoneaster.

Best Riding Lawn Mowers For Hillstroy

While its important to be cautious when using a riding mower for steep hills, the Troy-Bilt Bronco riding lawn mower is made to handle it. This best riding lawn mower is on the small side compared to some other ride-on mowers or lawn tractor models built for professional use but this reduces the risk of tipping over when mowing on hills.

It has a steering wheel for easy navigation and several customers wrote that this Troy-Bilt riding mower handled the hills in their yards with power and ease. One customer wrote that it had the best traction on hills of any lawn tractor I have had.

Specifications

Cutting height: 1.25 to 3.75 inches

Stamped

Different Types Of Mowers Based On Functionality

Theres certainly no shortage of mowers that can help you maintain your hilly yard. But, before going to the market to buy that mower which your neighbor suggested, you should know that the best lawn mower for you might vary entirely on your necessity.

Lets look into the different varieties of mowers based on their functions.

Reel Mower

Reel mowers are the most basic lawn mowers. You will find this particular type of mower all around the American suburbs. These have a central spinning reel and one or more stationary knives. The reels rotation and the knife create a scissor-like motion to cut grass perfectly. Reel mowers have different types, but basically, two kinds are suitable for homeowners: push mowers and pull mowers. For mowing steep hills, pull mowers are not so fit as they require more labor pushing up a steep hill. However, a self-propelled reel mower can get the job done.

Hover Mower

Just like the name suggests, Hover mowers float above the grass surface like a hovercraft, creating an air cushion between the blades of grass and the mulching blade. Its usually very lightweight and super-easy to maneuver. You will be able to cut any terrain- flat or uneven lawn- with equal precision using this type of mower. Because of its lightweight and maneuverability, you can easily carry hover mowers to any hill and be done with mowing super quickly. The only drawback could be the power source, depending on the model.

Rotary Mower

Riding Mower

Zero-Turn Mower

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What To Look For In A Robot Lawn Mower

Lawn size

The size of your lawn is the first factor to consider when choosing a robot lawn mower, since every robot mower has a maximum lawn size it can handle. A small lawn next to your house will require a lawn robot made specifically for it, meanwhile a much larger lawn will need a robot mower built to mow large lawns. The battery capacity, ability to manage slopes, and pricing of a robot mower are all determined by the maximum lawn size it can cover. Robotic lawn mowers built for small lawns typically manage small slopes and are the most affordable.

Unique lawn features

While choosing a robot mower, its also important to consider the landscape features of your lawn. Landscape features to think about include narrow pathways, multiple zones, obstacles like flowerbeds, etc. The unique features of your lawn will help you to determine the ideal robot lawn mower for it. For instance, if your lawn has narrow pathways with flowerbeds, then you need a robotic lawn mower that is compact and able to maneuver through the narrow passages while effectively avoiding the flowerbeds. Also, if you have a multi-zone lawn, then your lawn mower should be able to efficiently cover every part of the lawn during each cutting session.

Drive system/wheel design

Slope rating

Battery type and Auto-charging

Weather sensors

Edge-cutting/Adjustable Cutting Height

Safety features

Security features

Sturdy Build With Replaceable Parts

Smart controls

How To Use Riding Lawn Mowers

5 Best Lawn Mowers for Steep Hills, Slopes, and Banks (2022) (2022)

Heres how to use a riding mower to mow your lawn for the first time.

  • Check the gas and oil levels and add any fluids as instructed in the manual.
  • Sit in position on the seat of the mower and start the engine. A manual model may require you to press on the brake and clutch as you activate the ignition in order to start the engine. Automatic and hydrostatic models will start when you turn the key or switch on the ignition, just like an automatic vehicle.
  • Drive to where you want to start cutting your grass and set the blades to your preferred cutting height. When you are ready, touch the blade engagement lever or switch to start the blades.
  • Mow your lawn, steering as you go. Make slightly overlapping paths as you progress.
  • You can also check the following video to get the full details of using a riding mower efficiently on a sloping land

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    Powersmart Db9422sr: Best Self Propelled Gas Lawn Mower For Hills

    Product Dimensions: 1651.00 x 610.00 x 1041.00 InchesEngine: 200 ccCutting Height: 1.2 to 3.5 in.Warranty: 2 years Manufacturer Warranty

    Features:-

    • It comes with a very powerful 200 cc engine to give you a decent amount of power to mow the hilly areas
    • This mower has an easy to start feature
    • It comes with 3 in 1 rare bag, side discharge and mulching capabilities
    • During mowing, you can release all the grass clippings from the side and spread them on the lawn, so the key nutrition will be back on the soil
    • This mower comes with a 5 position height adjustment feature, so according to your requirements you can select the cutting height and get your desired cut
    • To give you extra traction on the hilly areas this mower comes with 8-inch wide rare wheels which give you extra control on the rough areas and hilly areas
    • Its 22 inches wide cutting deck helps you to mow quickly

    Description:-

    This Gas Powered Self Propelled Lawn Mower is a great option to mow the hilly areas. You can easily mow up to 1/2 acres of areas with this mower. It comes with a powerful 200 cc engine to generate a sufficient amount of power to mow the hilly areas. It comes with 22 inches wide cutting deck to mow very quickly. Its 8 inches wide rare wheels help you to climb the hilly areas. It is very easy to control. It is very easy to operate in narrow areas. It has 5 cutting height adjustment features that give you your desired cut.

    Pros:-

    Cons:-

    • This mower is a little bit heavy

    Description:-

    Best Walk Behind Mowers For Hills

    There is a wide range of lawn mowers available in the market. Some of them are more suitable for flat lawns while others can perform equally well on slopes and uneven terrains. Mowers that have rear-wheel or all-wheel drive system are suitable for hills as they have better traction. Here are the five best walk behind mowers for hills that buyers can consider.

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    Honda Nexite Gas Walk Behind Mower

    Honda needs little introduction when it comes to engines, and they make some of the finest lawn mowers in the world as a result.

    This is their new GCV200 model, with an integrated select drive speed system for all the control you could wish for. A four-in-one design allows you to mulch, bag, rear discharge or shred leaves, giving you the ultimate choice in how to dispose of clippings, with the MicroCut twin blades that will make short work of anything in their path.

    A three-position, quick-release adjustable handle caters for all users, and a flywheel brake system has been included for added safety.

    Pros

    • Pricey for a walk-behind machine.

    Honda have knocked it out of the park with this mower, and you could easily cut the grass of that park with this powerful beast. Offering more control and cutting options than ever before, with a rear-wheel drive to make hills a breeze this is up there with the very best lawn mowers for hills on the market.

    How To Choose The Best Riding Lawn Mower For Hills

    The Slope Test

    While there are a lot of mowers on the market, its particularly challenging to find a riding lawn mower that will perform on hilly or uneven terrain.

    Here are some of the most important features to consider.

    1. A High Quality Engine

    You want a high-quality engine from a well-known manufacturer like Kawasaki, Briggs & Stratton or Kohler, as these are built to be durable and last even in tough conditions.

    In terms of power, a good engine usually offers 15-17 horsepower which is sufficient for the job. Remember, a more powerful engine wont make you faster, but they are a good choice if you plan of hauling a cart or snow blade.

    2. Electric vs Gasoline Riding Mowers

    Riding mowers can run on gasoline or electricity. While both options are powerful, there are pros and cons to consider.

    Electric riding mowers

    An electric riding lawn mower is battery-powered, which makes it eco-friendly, easy to maintain and very quiet. However, it will need to be recharged every 30-45 minutes, which can be frustrating if your lawn takes longer to trim.

    Gasoline riding mowers

    Gas powered riding lawn mowers emit fumes and are pretty noisy to run, but theyll keep running as long as you have fuel for them. Although they need more maintenance than electric mowers, they are much more cheaply priced.

    3. Size Of Your Mower Deck

    4. Mower’s Transmission Type

    Gear Driven Transmission
    Automatic Transmission
    Hydrostatic Transmission

    5. Your Lawn Terrain

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    Types Of Lawn Mowers For Hills

    Some of the types of lawn mowers available include:

    Riding Lawn Mowers: As the name indicates, this is a lawn mower that is ridden. The most common type of riding mower is the lawn tractor, but those arent as safe an option for rough terrain as they are for flat terrain. Some riding mowers can have a lower center of gravity, however, making them safer for slopes. Riding lawn mowers are best for large yards with lots of ground to cover. A riding lawn mower can have an automatic transmission or a hydrostatic transmission. The latter is most common in a zero-turn mower.

    Zero-Turn Mowers: This is another type of riding lawnmower that is often the preferred mower for hills since it doesnt have a tall center of gravity like other ride-on mowers, such as lawn tractors that tend to be quite high and prone to tipping over. These lower zero-turn mowers often have cruise control, too. Although they are the most expensive types of mowers, theyre the best mower types for mowing hills of many acres, however, some are only designed for gentle slopes, depending on the model.

    Self-Propelled Lawn Mower: Self-propelled lawn mowers have a drive system that propels the machine forward when its activated. It has to be manually activated, otherwise, the machine will act like a push mower. Self-propelled mowers make the job easier without being as expensive as a riding lawn mower. Self-propelled mowers help to cut down on both time and effort.

    Rear Wheel Drive Versus Front Wheel Drive

    Where possible, Ive tried to go for mowers with rear-wheel drive in this review.

    Thats because they offer much better traction than front-wheel drive mowers which is what youre looking for when trying to mow up and downhill.

    The trade-off is that rear-wheel mowers can be a little bit harder to maneuver than their front-wheel-drive counterparts.

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    What Are My Options

    It’s been said: “a problem well-defined is a problem half-solved.” This couldn’t be truer for lawnmowers. Once you’ve determined the size and terrain of your lawn, you’re half-way to getting the best mower for your needs.

    The next step is seeing how each mower class performs for your specific lawn. Use the chart below to easily compare them and then read more about the options below:

    Mower Acreage Chart

    Why Choose A Riding Mower For Hills

    Best Lawn Mower for Hills and Steep Slopes 2019: Riding &  Walking

    In addition to the advantages mentioned above, riding mowers are an especially good choice for lawns that are sloped, hilly or uneven.

    • They are powerful and durable, able to take the strain of less even terrain.
    • Riding lawn mowers can do the job much faster than a regular push mower.
    • They make it much easier to mow difficult terrain, where the risk of strains, overexertion or injury are higher.
    • They make a job that usually involves taxing manual labor easy, relaxing and even fun.

    Now that we have answered the “why”, you should also know when is the best time to buy a riding lawn mower.

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    How To Mow Hills With A Zero Turn Mower

    Zero turn lawn mowers are larger than standard options and are most appropriate for properties that have an exceptionally large area of grass that needs to be cut. Generally, a zero turn mower is not considered the most ideal option for steep hills and slopes.It is not impossible to mow steep hills with a zero turn lawn mower though. There are just a few things you have to always be aware of.

    Ensure that the tires are still in good shape and firm before you do any mowing. Be sure to check the treading of the tires. A lack of tread on the back tires of a zero turn lawn mower will give you less traction and make slipping more likely to happen. In terms of tires, it is always a better idea to opt for a wider set of tires on the rear side of the mower. This way, the tires that are doing all the steering will have better traction on the ground.

    Always mow up and down the hill. Never mow the incline sideways. If the incline gets very steep, mowing uphill might become dangerous, as there will be the risk of flipping over. In this case you might want to reverse up the hill, and drive forwards down the steep hill.

    It is important you are gentle on the controls. If you pull the sticks too abruptly, the center of gravity will shift too quick, and can cause the zero turn mower to flip in extreme cases. In less extreme cases, it will hurt your lawn as the wheels will spin and skid, tearing up your lawn. Do not make any kind of sharp turns while you have the zero turn mower on the hill.

    Ryobi 38 In 100 Ah Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower

    • Includes: Ryobi 38 inches 100 Ah Battery Electric Rear Engine Riding Lawn Mower RY48111.
    • 3 Brushless motors for superior power and performance.
    • Up to 2.5 hours of runtime or 2.5 acres of mowing.
    • Charges through standard 120-Volt outlet.

    Check Latest Price

    Lowest Price

    Product Details

    Easily mow your large yard with this Ryobi 48V riding lawn mower. Instead of using gas, this mower is powered with 100 Ah lead acid batteries with two and half hours of run time. This quiet mower only emits 70 dB of sound so you dont disturb your neighbors.

    Premium features like LED headlights, USB phone charger and cruise control make this a top-of-the-line choice. The 38 in. two blade deck has 12 positions and the rear access charging port makes charging this mower simple.

    100 Ah

    Reviews From Real Customers

    I didnt buy this mower to use as a mower so much as to use as an electric cart to pull garden trailers with. I think it is somewhat underpowered as a mower, but I took the mower deck off and it makes an awesome electric cart!! No more fighting to start the gas engines when I stop and start frequently with trips around my couple if acres with utility wagons if some sort.

    Fir my purposes it is fabulous! Very happy with it. And the batteries last a long time when not powering a mower.

    Great move! So when my Craftsman rider messed up, over and over, I bought this. Best thing I have ever done. Now got to have an electric carand solar panels.

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    Gardena Sileno City Minimo Life Range

    Gardena SILENO Minimo is a fully automated robotic lawn mower programmed to manage lawns of up to 2700 sq ft. The Minimo is fitted with a suite of sensors for detecting and avoiding obstacles on the lawn to avoid accidents. It has a battery runtime of 65 minutes, and it automatically recharges itself, so your help is not needed.

    This smart mowing bot quietly trims the grass without leaving streaks, even when its raining. It also has a slope rating of 35% and has no problem with climbing inclines within that range. Controlling the Minimo is easy via the Gardena Bluetooth App you can schedule mowing times and easily configure your robot. Gardena SILENO Minimo ships with a complete installation kit and users manual for easy setup.

    • Maximum lawn slope: 35%

    Best Riding Lawn Mower For Hills Reviews

    30″ Commercial Lawn Mower – Toro® TurfMaster®

    With the above lawn considerations in mind, lets explore the top machines available. Below are the best lawn mowers for hilly terrain.

    My criteria for selection were first and foremost: can the riding mower operate safely and effectively on hills or slopes. Then I have accounted for cutting efficiency, build quality, and value for money.

    • A fantastic riding mower for 1-2 acres
    • Built around the exceptional Briggs & Stratton 724 V-Twin engine
    • 20 wheel with good tread for firm traction and stability

    Cons

    • Not the fastest mower on the block

    The Husqvarna 100 Series riding mowers are designed for residential lawns and offer a range of features and function-based around cutting performance and comfort.

    Starting with the Briggs & Stratton 724cc V-Twin engine renowned for its reliability. This engine puts out 22 horsepower, which is ideal for this size machine allowing for a steady 5.2mph pace across undulating lawns. Theres also a cruise control function to maintain a consistent speed across larger flat areas.

    Forward and reverse gears are foot controlled allowing me to keep both hands on the soft-touch steering wheel at all times.

    The 46-inch cutting deck is stamped but features a reinforced frame for extra strength, and as you would expect from Husqvarna the mower is built to a high quality throughout. From the controls to the comfortable seat all of it feels premium.

    Cons

    • Nothing at this price

    Cons

    • Small fuel tank

    Cons

    • The seat is not fully adjustable

    Cons

    Cons

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