Upgrading Your Lawn Mower

Big property means big problems, and if you have substantive lawn care requirements, you’ll need substantive lawn care equipment. A push mower just won’t cut it with big lawns. They’re far too slow and laborious without the refined results guaranteed by a quality lawn tractor or riding mower.Keeping a straight line for a suburban backyard might be a breeze, but holding it steady for two or three acres can be a tall order. Luckily, there are some great options for upgrading your home lawn mower and they can be extremely affordable if you know where to look.

At Mike Cooper Tractors, we want our customers to have access to all the gear and upgrades they need to get their important work done. Whatever kind of property management you have to get done, we can help. In that spirit, we’ve put together this short guide to upgrading your lawn mower to better fit your property.

Read on for some tips, or if you’re interested in seeing a great selection of new and used lawn mowers for sale, head into our Fort Gibson, Oklahoma showroom, located near Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Muskogee, and Tahlequah.

Zero Turn Mowers

Zero turn mowers use a drive system that gives them an effective turn radius of zero. With a zero turn mower, you can mow a strip of lawn, turn around on a dime, and meet up exactly with the line of lawn you just mowed, meaning no gaps in your cutting and no areas that need to be touched up. Zero turn mowers are faster than lawn tractors, too. Zero turns often average 5-8 mph cutting speed, and commercial models can sometimes go as fast as 13 mph. If you have grass above 6", you’ll need to look elsewhere, as zero turn mowers aren’t designed to cut tall grass. If they hit anything like a rock or stump that’s hidden by grass, it can cause serious damage. Because of their superior performance, zero turn mowers are often more expensive than comparable lawn tractors.

Lawn Tractors

Lawn tractors are a popular choice for homeowners since they’re reasonably priced relative to other riding mowers and produce good results. Because of the traditional steering wheel design and conventional steering system, they don’t have the tightest turning radius on the market. You might need to reverse and realign to start long lines next to the line you just mowed, which wastes time and produces a less precise result. Lawn tractors are often slower than zero turn mowers, and usually average about 3-4 mph. Like zero turn mowers, they aren’t well-suited for cutting grass above six inches.

Pull Mowers

Another lawnmowing solution is a pull mower, a small implement that can be pulled behind a tractor or, in some cases, and ATV. Many pull mowers are better equipped to deal with grass over 6 inches tall and even non-grass vegetation. Usually these mowers have a set of spinning blades that are powered either by a power take off (PTO) or an independent engine located on top of the mowing deck. The speed and maneuverability will depend on the vehicle towing them, but they’re usually less maneuverable than a zero turn or lawn tractor. Price can vary greatly, but if you have a large plot of overgrown property, this could be your best bet.

Clipping Collection Vs. Mulching

The final consideration to make is whether you’re going to go with a clipping collection system or a mulching blade. Clipping collection systems are often preferred by professional landscaping services because they leave a clean, manicured surface which looks good in heavily landscaped areas. Since these areas often have their own irrigation systems, they can keep the grass sufficiently hydrated to not produce any adverse effects such as browning and spotting. However, for those who don’t necessarily need a totally clean mowing surface, a mulching blade might be the better option. With a mulching blade, the grass clippings are shredded up and left on the grass to insulate the turf from heat and sunlight. These clippings also get composted back into the grass, meaning their nutrients are lost. One important consideration to keep in mind is that a clipping collection system is also much more expensive than a mulching blade.

When you’re ready to take your conventional lawn mowing game to the next level, call or stop by Mike Cooper Tractors in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. We’re proud to serve Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Muskogee, and Tahlequah. Our staff of knowledgeable and courteous professionals are standing by, eager to answer your questions and help you find what you’re looking for. Come in today and let us show you the true meaning of customer satisfaction.