How to buy the best lawn mower for your needs

So, after years of faithful service, your trusty lawn mower finally stopped working. It’s time to select a new one, but where do you start?

Or maybe you’re moving from an apartment to a home. Or you’ve decided to save a little time on the weekends.

Whatever your reason for needing a new lawn mower, you’ve come to the right place. Husqvarna can help you weigh important factors, including:

• Yard size
• Yard features
• Mower features
• Schedule and availability

Let's go through these four factors one by one.

1. Consider the size of your lawn

Do you have a postage stamp yard in the suburbs? Or a sprawling lot in the country? Your yard’s dimensions are an important factor to consider when choosing between different types of lawn mowers.

Here’s the approximate capacity of each of the common mower types

• Push mowers are suitable for lawns up to 1/3 acre.
• Self-propelled walk mowers are suitable for lawns up to ½ acre.
• Riding mowers, frequently sold as lawn tractors or garden tractors, are suitable for yards up to 2 acres or more.
• Zero-turn mowers, the style that’s relied on by professionals, are suitable for yards up to 2 acres or more.
• Robotic mowers are suitable for yards up to 1 ¼ acres (or more by using multiple units.)

Let's go through these four factors one by one.

2. Think about hills, slopes and obstacles

Is your backyard home to flowerbeds and trees? Do you live on a sloped, empty lot? The features in your yard are nearly as important as its size.

Here are some good rules of thumb:

• Be sure to choose a push mower with high rear wheels to make it easier to maneuver around obstacles.
• Front-wheel drive (FWD) mowers can handle flat terrain, while rear-wheel drive (RWD) mowers perform better on slopes. Choose an all-wheel drive (AWD) mower for the best of both worlds.
• If you have obstacles in your yard, a zero-turn mower is smart choice. Plus, zero-turns typically perform well on slopes (though caution should be exercised on steeper grades.)
• Robotic mowers can handle narrow passages and even slopes. For example, Husqvarna’s Automower® can handle grades up to 26°.

3. Pay attention to mower features

With such a huge variety of mowers on the market, choosing between them can be difficult. You could easily go cross-eyed while comparing technical details!

So, rather than spend hours pouring over engine specs, consider the following points related to the mower types we’ve covered thus far:

• Push mowers and self-propelled walk mowers offer bagging, side-discharge or mulching options. Choose a model that’s capable of all three to maximize versatility.
• Some models of riding mower accept attachments, including aerators, dump carts and snow blades, boosting their usefulness in outdoor projects of many kinds.
• The steering style of zero-turn mowers offers excellent maneuverability and speed in complex spaces.
• Robotic mowers cut just a little grass at a time on a frequent basis. As a result, they naturally fertilize the lawn with tiny clippings. The result is greener, healthier turf that requires less use of chemicals.

4. Evaluate your personal schedule

Of course, perhaps most importantly, consider your own schedule and lifestyle:

• Do you consider mowing the grass an enjoyable opportunity for exercise? If so, a self-propelled walk mower or push mower is the obvious choice.
• Do you have plenty of spare time to mow the lawn, as well as engage in other outdoor projects? Riding mowers offer great versatility.
• Are you a lawn fanatic who loves having perfect stripes in the grass? Zero-turn mowers are trusted by professionals for a reason.
• Would you rather spend your time working in the garden or doing something around the house? Look no further than robotic lawn mowers.

Conclusion: When choosing a lawn mower, it’s important to consider yard size and features, mower features, and your personal schedule.
Regardless of what you choose, Husqvarna is ready to support you and the green spaces you call home. For professional lawn care providers, Husqvarna also offer a full lineup for commercial lawn mowers.