Choosing a ride-on mower for a big lawn

Mowing a large lawn can take more than an hour. Some gardens also have a paddock or a rough patch beyond the lawn.

A ride-on mower lets you sit down and cut the lawn in less time. These notes help owners of big lawns choose the right kind, and keep it cutting well for years.

Is a ride-on right for your garden?

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) says ride-on mowers are mainly for very large lawns. They can be petrol or battery powered, and they can have cylinder or rotary blades.

Which?, the consumer organisation, notes that a petrol or powerful cordless mower will cope with lawns over 150 square metres. A ride-on also needs somewhere to be stored.

The three main types

A ride-on mower has its cutting deck towards the front, with the engine at the back. Which? suggests one for lawns under an acre. They are small and easy to steer, so they cut neatly round flower beds and trees.

A lawn tractor is generally larger. The engine sits in front, with the blades under the seat. Its stronger engine suits large areas and a mix of flat lawn and rough paddock. Which? notes that a lawn tractor may not suit a sloping lawn.

A garden tractor is a heavy-duty machine for more than mowing. It can handle over five acres. A tow bar at the back lets it pull a trailer or carry other attachments.

Features worth looking at

A wider cut gets through open grass faster. Which? suggests checking the narrowest gap the mower must pass, such as a gate. The machine also has to fit the space where you will park it.

Hydrostatic transmission changes gear for you, and pedals control forwards and back. It is easier to use around obstacles, though it costs more. Four-wheel drive is worth thinking about for slopes and wet, muddy ground. A deck height that is easy to change helps you suit the cut to the season.

Twin blades give a smoother finish than a single blade. A mulching mower chops the clippings finely and blows them back into the lawn, where they feed the turf. If you prefer to collect the clippings, a bigger bag means fewer stops to empty it.

Cutting well through the year

The RHS advises never taking off more than a third of the grass height at one time. For the first cut in spring, or for long grass, it suggests the highest blade setting. A higher cut also lets small wildflowers thrive, which suits a flower-rich lawn.

Keeping it running

Most ride-ons need regular maintenance, set out in the owner's manual. Some makers link their warranty to an annual service. Which? also suggests checking how easy it is to clean under the deck.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) advises letting a petrol mower cool down before refilling it. Fill it in the open air, away from buildings. You can keep up to 30 litres of petrol at home without telling your local petroleum enforcement authority. Keep it out of the house, away from children and out of direct sunlight.

Mowing slopes with care

HSE guidance on tractors and other self-propelled machines, written for farms, notes that a slope can be steeper in some parts than others. A slope that is fine in dry weather may become unsafe when it is wet or frozen. Stumps and rocks hidden in long grass can tip a machine sideways.

HSE advises turning uphill when working across a slope, and coming down straight on the gentlest gradient. A roll bar, with a lap belt worn, protects the driver if a machine does overturn.

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