It is easy to think that a ride-on mower and a lawn tractor are the same thing. Many people use the terms interchangeably, but they are in fact different. What makes them so, and why does it matter when you are choosing a machine to cut your grass?
Vive la difference!
The key difference between a mower and a tractor is all about where the cutting deck is located. A ride-on mower has the cutting deck at the front of the machine, while a lawn tractor has its mid-mounted underneath the chassis.
The location of the cutter makes a significant difference to how manoeuvrable the machine is. Having it at the front is better if you need to navigate round lots of trees and other obstacles. Both types of machines can be fitted with different accessories, such as brushes for cleaning up leaves. If you have a very large lawn, a tractor will generally be preferable.
Choosing a mower
This type of mower is not cheap. As with any other major purchase, you need to take your time when choosing a mower and weigh up the pros and cons. Think about the long term. If you choose a well-known brand such as Mountfield parts will be available from suppliers such as https://www.diyspareparts.com/parts/mountfield/, so you can be sure the machine will have a long and reliable life.
The size of your lawn also makes a difference, so you need to look at factors such as the cutting width. A wider mower will enable you to complete a large lawn faster, but it will be less nimble when navigating around obstacles. You probably won’t want to try going for the fastest mower record though! Also look at the features you want, such as whether you would rather the machine collected the cuttings or mulched them and returned them to the lawn. Do you need a machine with lights so that you can cut your grass in the evenings?
Consider also how easy the machine is to use. How simple is it to adjust the cutting height for example, what regular maintenance is needed, and how easy is this to do? Look for reviews online or in magazines so that you can get a feel for the features of the machine and compare it with others on the market.