If you’ve never mowed with a zero-turn mower, you might be wondering if they would be a good fit for your home lawn. They’re definitely faster than walk-behind mowers, or even lawn tractors, but is that’s not the only thing to consider in the list of pros and cons of a zero-turn mower.
Pros
Zero-turn mowers excel at making lawn mowing faster and easier.
- Tight turns – zero turn mowers can turn completely within the space the mower takes up. This pretty much eliminates missed spots in the lawn, makes the cut grass look neater, and reduces how often you’ll need to backup.
- High maneuverability – the mower’s ability to make sharp 180-degree turns makes it simple to navigate around trees and other yard obstacles. You can mow closer to obstacles while also saving time.
- Faster speed – zero turn mowers average 6 to 8 miles per hour while a typical lawn tractor averages 3 to 4 miles per hour. Some models move even faster – the Scag Cheetah can travel up to 16 miles per hour.
Cons
The only cons of zero zero-turn mowers are increased cost and safety concerns on slopes.
- Poor on slopes – zero-turn mowers are not really safe to use on slopes with an incline greater than 10 degrees. There’s a danger that the mower might flip over and these mowers are also hard to steer when going downhill.
- No brakes – most zero-turn models do not have brakes. The mowers are designed to stop when the handles are in neutral but do not include a braking system, which makes mowing on slopes more difficult.
- Loose traction – zero-turn models that are light-weight have trouble maintaining traction on wet grass. This can cause ruts if you mow when the grass is damp and makes mowing on slopes even more dangerous.
Final Thoughts
If you’ll be using a zero-turn mower any slopes, always mow when the grass is dry and make sure the mower you buy has a roll-over bar and seat belt. The rollover protective structure (ROPS) is designed to keep the operator safe if the mower tips over, but you have to remember to buckle the seat belt and the systems are not fool-proof. For slopes greater than 10 to 15 degrees use a tractor mower, push mower, or landscape the slope so it won’t need mowing.
For yards with a level lawn, however, there’s every reason to choose a zero-turn mower. They’re faster and more maneuverable, and that means they’re more efficient. A zero-turn mower reduces cutting time by 30% to 40% compared to a lawn tractor – and even more if you’re mowing a yard with lots of obstacles.
