Spring is upon us, and many of you will be gearing up for working outdoors. If you find that your old, trusty mower has finally kicked the bucket, then now is the time to act. Quit borrowing your neighbor’s mower now, because Consumer Reports says that April and May are the best times to make the purchase! If you live on an half-acre or more, a riding mower is a worthwhile investment, and they’re great for more than just cutting grass. Riding mowers are useful for aerating your lawn, and spreading fertilizer and weed control via tow-behind attachments. Here are some other features and uses to consider before spending your hard-earned money.
Riding Mower Uses
I’ve already mentioned a few uses for riding mowers, but let’s explore those benefits in detail. If you have a large lawn, core aeration and spreading lawn treatment is best achieved using a riding lawn mower and tow behind spreader or aerator.
Core Aeration Aerating your lawn is a proven technique to help grass thrive. Core aeration removes tiny plugs of earth, improving drainage and allowing water to better penetrate the soil. Deeply watered lawns are beneficial because the grass root system grows deeper, improving drought resistance. Lawn aeration also helps prevent runoff from causing fertilizer and weed control to end up in water systems rather than deep in your soil.
The University of Illinois states that over 1/2″ of thatch makes for poor grass growing conditions and encourages pests and disease. It’s important to mow your grass regularly, and avoid over-watering and over-fertilizing. If you have excess thatch, core aeration followed by topdressing is the best way to control buildup.
Clayey soil, especially high-traffic areas, becomes very compact. This type of soil will readily absorb water but has very poor water-providing capabilities, meaning that vegetation experiences drought-like conditions. Core aerating your lawn helps loosen compact soil, improving growing conditions.
Spreading Fertilizer and Weed Control It’s important to determine which species of grass you have so that you can spread fertilizer when your grass is actively growing. For instance, Bermuda grass and Zoysia grass are warm-season grasses that grow during the summer months and go dormant when cooler temperatures arrive. Alternatively, Kentucky Bluegrass and Tall Fescue are cool-season grasses that grow during the spring and fall.
Pre-emergent and post-emergent weed control involves putting down chemical to prevent grassy weeds, like crabgrass, from taking hold. This protective barrier prevents seeds from germinating, and should be applied when soil temperatures reach 50-60 degrees.
Purchasing a Riding Mower
If you’re looking to purchase a riding mower, it’s important to research options and specifications so that you get a mower that will fit your needs. There are several options available on modern riding mowers that you should consider. Check out these features then take a look at The Home Depot Outdoor Power Equipment. The Home Depot a large selection of outdoor power equipment, with brands such as John Deere, Cub Cadet, Toro and Ariens.
Horsepower Most riding mowers will have adequate horsepower, and some retailers don’t even list it because of a class action lawsuit in Wisconsin. Look for a riding mower with more horsepower if you have a larger lawn or often cut taller grass. The increased horsepower is better able power through taller grasses and is less likely to clog.
Blade Brake Clutch A Blade Brake Clutch (BBC) is a great safety feature, and is worth the higher cost. It allows you to disengage the blade but leave the mower engine running. This is beneficial because you often want to step off the mower to remove obstacles or dump clippings. Keeping the engine running saves wear and tear on the starter mechanism and enables you to continue mowing faster. A BBC is often apart of the Consumer Product Safety Commission required “deadman” switch that shuts off the blade and engine should the operator fall or accidentally leave the mower running.
Mulching vs. Bagged Clippings Mulching mowers feature a special mulching blade that cuts and re-cuts grass clippings. These clippings return to the lawn and provide the soil with ground cover to lock in moisture. It is especially helpful during drought and heat waves since grass blades are predominantly water and mulched clippings return this water to the soil. They also add a small amount of nitrogen, a key ingredient in fertilizer. If you mulch your grass, it’s very important to mow regularly. Large clumps prevent grass from receiving sunlight and contribute to excess thatch buildup.
Bagging your clippings is important to help control weeds. Broadleaf weeds, like dandelions, are easily identifiable because they are flowering plants. In turn, these flowers drop seeds and perpetuate new weeds. By bagging your clippings, you can break into the weed cycle helping to eliminate weeds. It’s also beneficial to have a mower with bagging capabilities when you cut tall grass. Mowing tall grasses often clumps and contributes to excess thatch. Rather than mulching, you should bag your clippings.
Zero Turn Zero turn radius (ZTR) mowers are able to turn on a dime and have superior maneuverability. They allow you to mow your lawn faster and easier because you don’t need to take as many passes and often can get closer than regular riding mowers. ZTR’s have different controls, and lack a gas pedal and clutch. Instead, zero turn mowers are control with levers. There is a small learning curve but you’ll quickly get the hang of it.
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