Reel mower tractor attachment. Explore all Lawn Mowers

Explore all Lawn Mowers

Discover the eco-friendly and low-maintenance way to mow with Greenworks’ push and self-propelled electric lawn mowers. From 24V to 80V, find the perfect battery-powered fit for your lawn and ditch the noise, fumes, and hassle of gas mowers for good.

Compare Best Sellers

60V 25 Cordless Battery Self-Propelled Lawn Mower w/ Two (2) 4.0Ah Batteries Dual-Port Charger

60V 21 Cordless Battery Self-Propelled Lawn Mower w/ Two (2) 4.0Ah Batteries Dual Port Charger

60V 21 Cordless Battery Push Lawn Mower w/ 5.0Ah Battery Charger

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this mulch?

Yes, Greenworks mowers are designed for grass and mulching weeds and foliage—and has a side discharge and a bagging option.

What maintenance is required for my Greenworks mower?

Unlike traditional gas mowers, Greenworks electric mowers require no gas or oil changes, spark plug replacements, or carburetor cleanings. This makes maintenance a breeze, our mowers only need occasional blade sharpening and cleaning (discharge, bag, etc.) to keep them running smoothly.

Can I use these batteries with the string trimmer?

Yes, one battery allows you to mow, blow, cut, trim, cultivate, and so much more! One Greenworks 80V battery works with 75 tools. One Greenworks 60V battery works with 75 tools. One Greenworks 40V battery works with 75 tools. One Greenworks 24V battery works with 125 tools

Will it work in high grass?

Greenworks Intelligent Power™ senses thick, tall, or wet grass and maintains constant high blade speed for the perfect cut.

Does battery temperature matter?

Yes, to keep your lithium batteries in peak condition, store them indoors in a dry, cool place. Check the owner’s manual for storage and temperature instructions and let the batteries warm up to room temperature before using.

MR740 TRIPLEX REEL MOWER

The Ventrac MR740 Triplex Reel Mower is designed to be the ultimate trim and surround mower. With a 74″ width of cut, variable speed hydraulics, standard back lapping valves, and offset capability, the Ventrac MR740 includes many features to ensure superior, low-maintenance powered by the all-wheel performance. When powered by the all-wheel drive Ventrac 4500 tractor with dual wheels, the MR740 can be operated on hills and slopes up to 30 degrees — allowing you to go where no other reel mower can go. You will be amazed at the time and labor you’ll save, and the beauty you’ll leave behind.

MR740 TRIPLEX REEL MOWER Gallery

KR502 LANDSCAPE RAKE

Contact Us Today

We are the solution for all seasons, next time you need supplies think Sunset Outdoor Supply S.O.S.

Get in Touch

Office 304-777-2194 Fax 304-777-2471 Barry. Owner 724-557-8733 Hours Monday. Friday: 8:00 am. 4:30 pm Saturday: 8:00 am. 12:00 pm

All the machinery, equipment, parts, and accessories we sell are made in the USA. © 2023. Sunset Outdoor Supply. All Rights Reserved.

Their Ventrac Equipment

Ventrac 4231 Tractor, HM720 Mowing Deck, 48″ Tiller

Their Ventrac Story

When I bought my 4.5 acres of Hudson riverfront property back in 1997, I was concerned about the uphill battle of mowing 3 – 4 acres or lawn as well as having to blow out 250 feet of driveway, all with steep terrain. I passed a dealer in Rondout Valley NY who had a Steiner 430 tractor out in front. I knew immediately this was the only tractor for my property. The dealer, Tony Kowalchuck, Sr., was truly so enthused about his product that his passion was infectious, and I soon became as passionate about my tractor’s performance as he was.

I initially bought the Steiner 21.5HP diesel and several attachments including a 60-inch mower deck, a 48″ snow blower, a slip-scoop, and the leaf blower. Over the next few years, I added a 10,000KW generator and a stump grinder. My property was transformed into our own backyard garden of Eden. Tony Kowalchuck had given me great support over the years along with his son Tony Jr. and when I noticed a shiny new version of Tractor in their shop, I became aware of the Ventrac line.

This new tractor seemed to rectify a number of short-comings that the Steiner had, most notably for me a rollover bar and increased horsepower that could help tame my steep terrain. However, these are not low-end tractors or garden toys one would expect to find at a typical big box store, and I just wasn’t prepared to lay out for a new tractor when my existing one met 90% of my needs. Then, unexpectedly, the diesel tractor threw a rod due to a rollover mishap that had happened a few years earlier and I was faced with the dilemma of having to replace a relatively new tractor also knowing that I had a huge investment in attachments. Tony Kowalchuck came to the rescue and made me a great trade-in offer on my broken Steiner and I went home with my new Ventrac 4231. There were several key issues that made me buy the Ventrac. First of all, I knew I had one of the best dealers and friends and that was a huge factor in my decision. Second, the roll-bar on the Ventrac would help protect me on my varied terrain and unexpected lapses in judgment. Next, my diesel was sometimes hard starting in the winter unless I used the block heater. However, when the electric power was out because of winter storms, pre-heating wasn’t an option and I couldn’t get my Steiner going to run my generator. That was a big factor in my decision to go with the 31HP Ventrac gas model.

Then of course, I knew I would be able to leverage all of my investment in my Steiner attachments that fit perfectly on the Ventrac with some slight adjustments in belt sizes. I was so thrilled with the increase in power and handling ability of my new Ventrac, I quickly replaced the 60″ Steiner mowing deck with the 72″ Ventrac deck. I love the flip-up feature of that deck for routine spindle greasing and blade sharpening.

I also purchased the 48″ Ventrac Tiller and I am continually amazed at its ability to take the roughest ground and turn it into pure fluffy soil that is the easiest to plant and maintain. I have added the extra spotlight light bar and emergency beacon to the top of the roll-bar for when I venture up onto the roads in winter to blow out the driveway, and some added features of my own like stereo system and headphone jacks to make the mowing a little more enjoyable.

I’m just starting to train my 11-year old son in safe use of the Ventrac and he loves doing tractor work for me now all the time. I love my Ventrac as it cut my mowing time in half versus the old Steiner. This machine is built with incredible toughness and with the right maintenance, performs just like the day I brought it home new.

The best factor throughout all of the ownership period is clearly the dealer support from Tony Kowalchuck Sr., his wife Cathy, and their son Tony Jr. They always do their best to help keep minor un-expected repair, use-oriented wear-out costs and maintenance as low as possible, and they are always there for advice. That’s a quality factor you can’t manufacture, but says a lot about who the Ventrac folks allow to represent their product and the process in determining that. No surprise there. I’m always excited to visit the Ventrac website and see what new attachments they have dreamed up.

The support from the manufacturer’s staff has also been outstanding in my opinion. They are always timely with responses, and generous in consideration of issues that may not have been my fault entirely. The entire Ventrac team should be commended for the highest level of possible customer service and support.

On my wish list is replacing my Steiner snow blower with a Ventrac model, possibly a winter cab, and maybe the leaf blower as well. The kids want me to figure out how to turn the Ventrac into a sled lift for winter runs out in the backyard. I told them to wait a little and the Ventrac folks will come out with the Ventrac ski lift attachment. Hopefully, I just planted a seed.

I love the flip-up feature of that deck for routine spindle greasing and blade sharpening. Eric Pullman

Why they are a Ventrac fan

I have always been an ambassador and sales guy for the Ventrac tractor since day one. No one is more impressed with the quality of construction, ease of use, safety, and consistency of support. It makes the toughest jobs so easy that I always blow out my neighbor’s yards in the winter and save them lots of money. I till vegetable gardens for friends and helped transform one of my neighbors’ spare land into a fertile planting area where he now runs a CSA called Stonegate Farms. He would love to buy a Ventrac, but knows until that time, I’m always there to help him out. I got the Ventrac fever 5 years ago from Tony Kowalchuck and he’s right, it was one of the best investments I’ve ever made.

Their Ventrac Equipment

We operate three (3) 4200 VXDs w/ dual wheels, three (3) 72″ mowing decks, two (2) 60″ Tough Cut mowing decks with optional casters, one (1) Aeravator, three (3) power angle blades, one (1) stump grinder, and two (2) blowers.

Their Ventrac Story

LU is often referred to as “Liberty Mountain,” since it was actually placed on the western slope of Candlers Mountain in Lynchburg, VA. As a result, we have a LOT of large banks on campus, and all of which the administration wants maintained. I’ve racked up about 4000 hours of operating time mostly mowing these bad boys…it’s a full time job. The Ventrac does what no other machine can do, and safely…we mow hills, even while students are busily shuffling around us, with no fear of losing control. We also hold a lot of off-campus properties, for communication towers, off-site storage, etc., and have used our units for chain-hauling large trees we felled (up the side of the mountain, no less!), and even for pulling out stuck vehicles. They are definitely the work horses of our operation.

The Ventrac does what no other machine can do, and safely… we mow hills, even while students are busily shuffling around us, with no fear of losing control. Doug Mason

Why they are a Ventrac fan

I operate the 4200’s as a full time job in all seasons. I also do the majority of the upkeep on the units…I know them inside and out. I can tell if one of my tires is more than 1 lb. off of the desired pressure (high or low) based on how the unit behaves on a slope. Ventrac has basically been my entire professional life for the last 5 years.

Their Ventrac Equipment

Owns: Owns 4131 31HP Gas Air Cooled Tractor and MJ840 Contour Mower – Often Rents ET200 Turbine Blower and KP540 Power Rake

Their Ventrac Story

My name is Jeff Hostetler. I played in the NFL for fifteen years. I was the winning quarterback for the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXV. I’ve been a contractor now for the past ten years and on the professional level, build some homes and develop some property. I currently live in Morgantown, West Virginia. I have a small horse farm. We have about forty acres and if you’ve been to West Virginia you realize there is no flat land. So we have a lot of hillsides and challenging areas to cut and mow.

I was looking for something that was going to be more manageable on hillsides, more maneuverable and safer than the current tractor that I was using. So I looked around and I actually came across a Ventrac dealership that was within a couple miles of my home. What caught my attention was they had this Ventrac out in the front parked on a hill side and I was thinking how in the world did they even get it there. So it kind of stirred my interest. I talked to the gentleman that had the dealership and he was a great salesman. He brought it out and said here, try it out. He showed me how the thing worked and operated and took me to some of the slopes that I have around the property and I was sold.

One of the biggest selling points for me was how secure I felt in the tractor being on some of these hillsides. When the salesman came out and drove it around I was able to watch him and I was nervous. Seeing him on some of the hillsides I’m thinking I will never be able to do that. But once you get in the seat it is a completely different feeling. You’re sitting low… it has such a great base that there are areas you get in and you hardly even know that you are on a hillside. Where as previously, the tractor that I had sat up very high and I was always concerned about rolling over or slipping. But this Ventrac is awesome, it is so impressive. Anybody that I see, I’m always telling them “I do all of this on a Ventrac”.

One of the great surprises for me was the versatility of the Ventrac. I had bought it basically to mow and all of a sudden I realized that there are all of these additional attachments that you can get. For me, on this forty acre piece of property and also as a contractor and a builder, I discovered they have a power rake which for yards and for landscaping, and I have a riding ring with horses, I use to keep that fluffed up and looking good and rock free. That has been an awesome piece of equipment. I also have lots of trees here on the property and in the fall where it took me weeks to get rid of all our leaves, I was able to do the same job in about five hours with the leaf blower that you’re able to put in the front. To be able to control it, the velocity, it is awesome. To save seven to ten days of work and be able to whittle that down to five hours on a Ventrac is pretty impressive.

Looking at Ventrac, I can say that is a professional machine. In my eyes being in the NFL, in that profession for fifteen years, you’re at the top of the line in that profession and to get there you had to do a lot of work – you’ve had to go through a lot of tough times- you’ve had to do a lot of research – you’ve had to do a lot of study – you have to prepare yourself – you have to be tough – you have to be durable and all of those things, I can relate to this piece of equipment. It is well made, it is VERY tough, it is sturdy and it performs. There is no doubt in my mind that that is a piece of professional equipment. This thing is well built, it’s muscle. Yet it has the finesse that you need to work around delicate items in yards and things like that, I’m totally impressed with this thing. This is a big leaguer.

One of the great surprises for me was the versatility of the Ventrac. I had bought it basically to mow and all of a sudden I realized that there are all of these additional attachments that you can get. Jeff Hostetler

Their Ventrac Equipment

We have the finish mower deck, the tough cut deck, the Aera-Vator, the power broom, the power rake, the edger, and the tiller.

Their Ventrac Story

When we first looked at Ventrac to do slopes on a steep bank we were using out-fronts and zero-turns and they couldn’t hold the slope, but the Ventrac could. So we either had to weed-eat or buy a Ventrac. Also, one of our biggest things is snow removal with the broom. It’s our job to get the sidewalks clean so the students can get out as soon as possible. It would take six people to do what one person can do with that machine in an hour with the broom. We’ve shoveled and used the broom and we prefer the broom.

The crew cited the broom as being one of the most valuable assets for the daunting task that snow removal can be. For example, the broom has helped them to prevent breaking up bricks when clearing snow from brick walk-ways. With the broom, they’ve even been able to accomplish in an hour what would have taken six people to do.

To go from merely cutting to completely redoing the landscape with one piece of equipment has been a huge savings for the NC State Main Campus Grounds Crew. From finish mowing, rough cutting, aeration, edging, all the way to tilling Ventrac has helped the crew maintain the high quality of the grounds.

We use the finish mower for many areas including hills and striping. The quality of the cut is very good, the best I’ve seen. Mark Tennant

Why they are a Ventrac fan

They’ve held up well on Main Campus. We’ve taken care of them and we do our own maintenance on them. We put a lot of hurt on it.

Riding Mower Attachments (what to own, what to avoid)

If you have a riding mower you probably either own attachments or are considering purchasing some. In today’s article I’ll talk about some of the most common riding mower attachments and I’ll discuss which ones are worth owning.

The reality is that some equipment is essential and well worth the investment and the space it will occupy in your garage or storage shed, but other riding mower add-ons simply won’t be used often enough to justify the purchase (you can spend that money better elsewhere).

I’ll go through everything you need to know here so you can make the best decisions when upgrading your mowing equipment.

First Thing’s First – Sizing Compatibility

Before you buy any attachments for your riding mower, make sure that they are compatible with the model you own.

You wouldn’t believe how many people email me asking why the attachment they purchased didn’t fit … well, it’s built for a different mower!

Best Electric Zero Turn Mower

The Zero Turn Mower I Recommend

Once you try this electric zero turn mower from Greenworks you’ll never look at battery powered tools the same way again.

• Mows up to 2.5 acres in a single charge.
• Fully charged in 90 minutes.
• Equivalent power to 24 HP gas engine.
• Quiet, no fumes, and faster than competitors (8 MPH max speed).

Save 10% on your order with promo code LAWNCHICK

Why Upgrade Your Riding Mower with Attachments?

One of the main purposes of getting attachments for a riding mower is to help the mower do more than just cut grass.

But more generally, we buy lawn equipment to make our life easier, and to accelerate the pace at which we can complete lawn care projects around the house.

Less time working on the lawn, more time enjoying the lawn. That’s the goal, right?

There are many different functions your mower can fulfill if you have the right attachments for it.

In many cases, whether an attachment is worthwhile for you will depend on the size of your property (how large it is). For example, a lawn sweeper will probably only be useful if you have an especially large area. If you don’t, it probably won’t be worth the cost and the trouble of having to store it.

Keep in mind that many of these attachments are quite large, so unless you have unlimited storage space, you will usually need to pick and choose, purchasing only the attachments that are specifically best for you.

If you have a zero-turn riding (ZTR) mower, you will find there is a more limited selection of attachments available than you might find for garden tractors and lawn tractors.

Now, let’s get into the nitty gritty.

Riding Mower Attachments

Here’s a list of some of the most popular and useful attachments for riding mowers (in no particular order).

Aerator

You can get aerator attachments for your riding mower that will give your lawn the aeration it needs.

Aeration helps prepare your lawn for fertilization and reseeding. It is process in which small holes are put in the ground, allowing for better air circulation and water and fertilizer penetration. This will make your grass roots stronger and healthier.

Buying an aerator attachment for your mower is a good investment in most cases. It will mean you always have an aerator on hand whenever you want to aerate your lawn during the course of the year. And the ability to purchase this attachment is one key advantage to riding mowers (it’s not an option on a walk-behind mower).

Aerator attachments vary in size, with between 40 and 48 inches in width being very common. Keep this in mind when planning where you will store it in your garage.

Aerator attachments for riding mowers can vary quite a bit in cost. They generally range from around 100 or 150 to 750. I like and recommend this model from Agri-Fab. It’s 48 inches wide and does a nice job.

In this article I compare spike vs plug aerators, to help you determine which style tow-behind aerator may be best for you.

Bagger

A bagger is a very common mower attachment. This is a useful attachment, as it makes collecting lawn clippings very easy.

You can get baggers in different sizes, including 9-bushel triple baggers and 6-bushel twin baggers. When deciding on what size of attachment to get, consider the size of your lawn.

Bagger attachments can be rather large. For example, it may be about 42 inches X 46 inches. You will need to find storage space for this, so plan this out before making your purchase.

These attachments can sometimes be quite expensive as well. In some cases, they can be as much as 500 or more, and in my experience many people are frustrated by the capacity of the leaf baggers they get from the manufacturer … it never seems like enough.

When a Simple Bagging Attachment Isn’t Enough

I have large maple trees on my property which drop a ton of leaves, and while I usual mulch and bag with my self-propelled Honda mower, I borrowed my dad’s rig one year and he has a large lawn tractor leaf bag like this one on Amazon which fits over his factory leaf bagger attachment. It allowed me to clear my front and back yard of leaves in a snap.

As long as you’re strong enough to muscle the full bag, it’s a great way to super-charge your leaf clean up, and I recommend looking into something like that if leaf clean up is a big job at your home.

If you don’t have a very large lawn, buying a bagger attachment is probably a waste of money for you – you may be better served by investing in a quality leaf blower that will take up less space (and is much more fun to use).

There are a lot of good backpack blowers on the market, but I’ve only used my PB-770T from Echo (Amazon link) because it has never given me reason to use anything else. I can recommend that model if you’re in the market for a backpack blower and are having trouble choosing one.

Lawn Roller

A lawn roller attachment is useful for getting your lawn back into shape after the winter. It will even out any parts of the ground that have been damaged in the cold weather.

The roll of a lawn roller is filled with sand or water to give it the necessary weight to press down and level your lawn as you drive across it. I generally recommend using water as you can empty it out when you’re finished (making the roller lightweight and easy to handle as you put it away.

If you ever need to put down sod, you can use the lawn roller to get your ground prepared and even for this process. You can also use it for tasks such as pressing seeds you have planted deeper into the soil to ensure good soil-to-seed contact for optimum germination.

There are lawn rollers available with different abilities and in different sizes. I use this one from Brinly by pushing it across my lawn, but it has a tow option as well. I love that it will work as a walk-behind roller or as an attachment for your riding lawn mower. There are always some areas of your property that are tough to get to on a riding mower while towing a piece of equipment.

Dethatchers

A dethatcher attachment is a fantastic attachment to have if you ever need to dethatch your lawn.

Dethatching is a process in which you remove matted grass and other kinds of debris from your lawn. This is essential for new growth to take place, and when you dethatch just prior to overseeding you’ll see great results.

Using a dethatcher attachment will make the dethatching process easy and a lot less effort than it would be otherwise. You will be able to get rid of barriers that are stopping your lawn from getting all the nutrients, water, and air it needs.

A dethatcher attachment is quite large (for example, about 40 inches wide), and it’s a bit unwieldly because of its design, but there are a few options which are better than anything else you’ll find out there.

Check out my list of the best lawn dethatchers – there are three tow-behind models that stand out as being great options.

Disc Harrow

A disc harrow is ideal for getting your garden beds ready for replanting. You can also use it to break up hard ground to begin a new garden.

Having a disc harrow attachment will come in handy when you want to prepare your garden beds for replanting. It’s also useful for breaking up hard ground when you want to start a new garden, or complete a lawn renovation by killing your existing lawn and starting over.

Truth be told, this isn’t an attachment you’ll want unless you have a very large garden area, but it’s worth including in the list because it can save time and prevent you from wrestling with a rototiller.

Spreader

We should all regularly fertilize our lawns in order to keep them healthy and beautiful. If you have a large lawn (which you probably do as you have a riding mower), it might be a good idea to buy a spreader attachment (you can see my favorite one right here).

An example of a spreader attachment is a tow-behind broadcast spreader. Using a spreader attachment will make it much easier for you to fertilize your lawn whenever you do so during the year. You can also spread good seed over your lawn, spread lime, iron, and other soil amendments with this attachment, making it a solid investment.

Spreader attachments come in different sizes, some of which are smaller than other kinds of riding mower attachments. Agri-Fab makes a good one.

Snowblower

If you live in a region that gets a lot of snow in the winter, it might be worth your while to get a snow blower attachment for your riding mower. This will make it easy to plow through all the snow that collects on your property.

You will be grateful you have this the next time you need to clear a driveway or pavement, and this is one attachment that can really extend the value of your riding mower, making it a year-round asset to your property.

Snowblower attachments are just as large as many other riding mower attachments, and they can be quite heavy, but if you live in a northern climate and have a large driveway it’s worth the cost and the space in your garage.

I can say from experience that if you’re buying a plow kit or snow blower for your lawn tractor it’s a good idea to invest in some snow chains for your tires as well. Most tires on riding mowers aren’t built for snow, and you’ll be frustrated with your investment unless you can get good traction. It’s worth the extra money. Measure your tires before you order, but these ones on Amazon will work for most riding mowers.

Canopy

If you have a large property and spend long periods of time outside doing mowing, think about getting a canopy. A canopy attaches to your mower to give you shade from the sun, and usually can be attached to any mower with a roll bar.

The canopy attachments for many riding mowers are collapsible, so they don’t take up too much storage space, and if you leave it on your mower it doesn’t increase the footprint of your mower at all.

Most manufacturers will sell you a canopy and roll bar that’s made to fit with your mower, but there are third-party universal canopies like this one that may work for you as well.

Attachments I would Only Consider for Large Properties

The attachments below are usually only worth buying if you have quite an expansive property. Buying them if you only have a small lawn will most likely be a waste of money.

Trail Cutter or Trail Mower

A trail cutter or trail mower is really only worth considering if you have an extensive property.

This attachment will reduce the amount of time it takes to mow your grounds. You can also use it to clear paths through saplings and brush.

If you have any places that need heavy cutting power, a trail cutter or trail mower is a good investment. Swisher makes a solid one, which you can see demonstrated in the short video below from Piney Life:

A lawn sweeper attachment will gather leaves, pine needles, pine-cones, acorns, and other types of debris in your yard. You can also use it to sweep up grass clippings after you mow.

When the lawn sweeper gathers this debris, it uses a rotating sweeper brush to put it into a hopper bag. When you see that this bag is full, simply empty it.

You can find lawn sweepers in different sizes, but they do tend to require a decent amount of storage space.

The cost of a lawn sweeper can range from 150, for example, to 700. It’s probably not worth your while to buy a lawn sweeper if you don’t have a very large property.

Cart

Many riding mower owners like to have a cart attachment. You might call this a utility trailer or dump cart. You can use this kind of attachment for tasks such as hauling soil or garbage, garden tools, or mulch in your garden.

If you have a large property and do a lot of garden work, a cart attachment might be a good investment for you, but if you already have a wheelbarrow and don’t mind using it, you probably don’t need one.

Some carts are quite large and they have deep containers, meaning it might be challenging to store if you don’t have a large garage. If you’re interested in a good one, my dad owns the Agri-Fab 45-0101 (pictured), and he likes it.

Which Riding Mower Attachments Are Right for Your Lawn?

It depends.

It’s clear that the types of attachments that you should consider getting for your riding mower depend on the size of your property.

The type of soil that you have will also play a role, however.

If you have a sandy lot, you may not have to invest in an aerator. You may be better off investing in a spreader to easily top-dress with compost.

If your lot is heavy clay, than an aerator will be essential.

Big trees? Get the lawn sweeper – you’ll thank me every fall.

Another factor you need to consider before you purchase any riding mower attachment is storage space. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you have more attachments than you have places to put them. And be sure that you leave room in your garage to comfortably maintain your mower every spring (even if there isn’t room to park your car in there).

Nobody likes having a garage they can’t use.

by Sarah The Lawn Chick

Sarah’s blog, Lawn Chick, is read by over 2 million homeowners each year and she is regularly cited as an expert source of lawn care knowledge by major publications. Her goal is to meet you where you are, and help you achieve a yard you’ll be proud of. Ready to take the next step toward improving your lawn? Grab her free lawn care cheat-sheet: What to Do When. Take the Guesswork Out of Lawn Care, or upgrade your garage by browsing her favorite DIY lawn care products.

thoughts on “ Riding Mower Attachments (what to own, what to avoid) ”

I was reading your April 2020 blog about Milo and Ironite….I couldn’t find anywhere to comment on that article. I wanted to ask you a question….in the article you say “I use Milorganite 4 times per year on my yard, and I supplement with a different iron supplement called Dr. Iron (Amazon link).” I was wondering HOW you supplement with Dr Iron….I do the same as you with Milo so WHEN and how much do you use Dr. Iron? Thank you….from one woman to another! Patti

Hi, Patti! Sorry about the comment situation – I’ll look into that and get it resolved this week. To your question – I do a soil test every spring and let those results guide me toward whether I need to do an Iron application in the spring (I usually choose to once every other year or so), and then I typically do one mid or late June because I have people over on the 4th of July and I want my lawn looking its best (that gives it time to take effect). Beyond that I might do it when my lawn starts to look a little tired, or if I’m having a party or gathering I apply it a few weeks beforehand to give it that nice dark green. There have been some years when I’ve just applied Dr. Iron with my Milorganite on every application and that has worked well too. If I’m applying that often I’d suggest using 1/2 the recommended quantity of Dr. Iron and just adjusting your spreader settings to reflect that and still get nice even coverage. If I’m doing the application at the same time as Milo I do them in two separate passes so I get nice even results and I don’t get clumps of Iron coming out here and there by mixing the two products. Hope this helps, and best of luck with your lawn this year! Thanks for visiting my blog.

Welcome to my blog!

Hi, my name is Sarah and I’m the chick behind LawnChick.com.

I’m glad you decided to visit and I hope you find the tips and advice about lawn care and maintenance that I this blog helpful.

Recent Posts

© Copyright 2023. All Rights Reserved | Home | About

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. To learn more visit the following pages: Advertising Policy | Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We’ll assume you’re ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

The Difference Between Riding Mowers and Lawn Tractors

David Beaulieu is a landscaping expert and plant photographer, with 20 years of experience.

Whether you’re the type of person who looks at mowing the grass as a giant chore or it’s your time to take a mental break, the tool you use makes a big difference in how you approach the task. For first-time homeowners, the prospect of having a lawn seems exciting, but once you get to buying a mower—that task alone seems daunting. How do you choose from push and riding lawn mowers and lawn and garden tractors?

In general, tractors are more heavy-duty and do much more than mowers. Before deciding, think about several factors. How big is the area that needs mowing? Is it large enough that you fear push mowing would be too much strain on your back? Other considerations include the attachments, mulching capabilities, double duty as a snow removal device, and so much more.

Read on to navigate the world of push and riding lawn mowers and lawn and garden tractors and learn about the differences, pros, cons, and buying tips.

Lawn Tractors vs. Garden Tractors

The creme de la creme of grass maintenance machinery is a garden tractor. It has the most functionality and is the most expensive piece of equipment you can get. Still, it does it all from hauling heavy materials, cultivating soil, plowing snow, and more with its stronger engine and sturdier construction. Most have tillers, seeders, snow throwers, front loaders, backhoes, and it has a cutting width of up to 54 inches wide, covering wider swaths than all the other machines. You can expect to pay about 2,200 to 8,000 for one. Also, it’s the largest to store.

One step down from a garden tractor is a lawn tractor. Lawn tractors usually have more power than a riding lawn mower, offering cutting widths of up to 48 inches, much more than a riding lawn mower but less than a garden tractor. You can also see a difference in power levels between them. A garden tractor operates at about 24 to 29 horsepower (HP), a lawn tractor averages between 15 and 29 HP, and a riding mower has about the same power as a lawn tractor. A lawn tractor costs about 1,200 to 2,200 and can usually tow a cart. It may have some attachments, like a snow thrower. It’s also a large piece of equipment.

Lawn Mowers vs. Riding Lawn Mowers

Before we get into the differences between riding lawn mowers and push mowers, let’s review the difference between riding lawn mowers and lawn tractors. Lawn tractors have a mid-mounted cutting deck, while a riding lawn mower’s cutting deck is under the front of the vehicle. Riding lawn mowers are more maneuverable with the cutting deck at the front. Maneuverability is essential when a lawn is dotted with shrubs and trees. Riding lawn mowers are usually a little more affordable than tractors, priced between 800 and 1,400. Riding lawn mowers may also have some snow removal and spring cleaning attachments, and they are a little smaller than tractors.

Warning

Riding and push mowers are cutting tools with sharp blades and are potentially hazardous around children. Providing a child a “vehicle” may seem like a great way to the lawned mowed, but only mature, responsible adolescents should be tasked to handle heavy equipment.

However, if storage space is an issue, and if your yard isn’t very large, then a riding lawn mower may be a little much for what you need. Next to consider are walk-behind mowers, including electric push mowers and self-propelled push mowers. If your yard is on the smaller side, an electric push mower may be a good fit for you. But, if you want some help getting the task done, then a self-propelled mower might be the better option.

Generally, a battery-powered electric push mower is adequate for yards up to a quarter of an acre. It is not as loud as a gasoline-powered model and can handle mowing up to a quarter of an acre on a single charge. Electic mowers come in battery-powered and corded models and are more eco-friendly than gas models. A cordless mower is best if you have about 1/4 an acre, but if you have a much smaller yard that’s only about 100 feet from the house, a corded mower might work best for you. A corded model costs about 100 to 300. A cordless starts about 120 and up. Gas-powered models are 300 and up.

A self-propelling lawn mower is suitable for a yard that’s between a quarter to a half-acre (or you detest the thought of mowing the yard). If a self-propelling mower with powered wheels is more your speed, they come in electric or gas-powered models. start at about 350 for an electric self-propelled mower and 400 for a gas-powered one.

Tips for Shopping for a Mower