We’re starting to see more and more stand-on mowers and aerators being used across the country by lawn care professionals. Stand-on lawn equipment has clear advantages in certain situations that make them a good addition to your fleet of commercial lawn equipment.
Stand-On Features
Stand-on mowers and aerators merge several benefits of walk-behind and seated riding lawn equipment. Both stand-on mowers and aerators provide key advantages in maneuverability, speed, and compact size.
Stand-on lawn equipment is faster and requires less effort to use than walk-behind lawn equipment. In this, they are like seated riding lawn mowers but have a few advantages over them in terms of size and maneuverability. Stand-on mowers are compact compared to seated lawn mowers with the same-size cutting deck, making them easier to transport and maneuver in tight spots.
Lawn Mowers
While seated riding mowers are still the more popular choice and the fastest way to mow large areas of open land, stand-on mowers have become a viable alternative. Mowing speeds are very similar to zero-turn mowers, and you can get cutting decks up to 61 inches wide. Stand-on mowers are generally more maneuverable in tight spaces than riding mowers. Also, the extra height you get from standing makes it easier to see and avoid obstacles on the lawn.
There are a few things to keep in mind that limit the usability of stand-on mowers. While they are better at mowing slopes than many zero-turn mowers, standing mowers still cannot handle steep slopes and hillsides. You also can’t use them to mow under low trees. For those situations, a walk-behind mower is better. And in large open places, a speedy zero-turn mower with a large cutting deck (like the 72-inch Scag mowers) can be a better option.
Aerators
There are no sit-on versions of aerators available. If you want an alternative to the physically demanding walk-behind aerators, then you have a choice between stand-on and tow-behind models. The tow-behind models can be a good choice, but for speed and maneuverability, the stand-on aerators stand out.
For landscapers and lawn-care professionals, aerators like the Toro 30-inch stand-on improve productivity. They’re much faster than walk-behind models – moving about 7 miles per hour – and are more comfortable to use. Designed much like stand-on mowers, the standing aerators feature comfortable riding platforms with suspension systems that minimize bumps and jolts. They’re also heavier than other aerators, which helps provide the force necessarily to aerate hard, dry, and compacted soils.
