If you have moved to a home with a larger yard or if health problems prohibit you from using a push lawn mower, then you may want to consider purchasing a riding lawnmower. No matter the reason, there are a few things that you should know before purchasing a riding lawn mower, which may be of help when you are deciding what type to buy.

Naturally, you should know the actual size of your yard, which can help you determine what size lawnmower engine you will need and what cutting width is needed for the lawn mower blades.

riding lawn mowers
As a general rule, if the area you need to mow is from one half to one acre in size, then you should consider an engine that has a minimum of 14.5 horsepower and a maximum cutting width of 42 inches. If you have a yard that is one to two acres in size, then the cutting width should generally be from 42 to 46 inches and the engine between 14.5 and 16 horsepower.

For a yard of more than three acres it is generally considered best to purchase a garden tractor with a cutting width of 46 to 54 inches and between 18 and 24 horsepower.

A garden tractor and riding lawnmower both do the basic function of mowing the lawn; however, the garden tractor can be used to substitute for a variety of lawn and garden tools. It can even be used with a snow plow or snow blower.

lawn mowers
Once you have taken care of the bigger decisions, the smaller ones are a little easier. You will need to choose whether you would prefer a gear driven or automatic riding mower. This is normally based on the number of obstacles, such as trees, patios or gardens that are in your yard.

An automatic mower is great for yards that have a great deal of obstacles, while a gear driven one is perfect for a yard with less obstacles. You can then decide what type of accessories or attachments you want.

You need to be sure that you understand and follow all of the safety precautions when using any riding lawn mower. Be sure that all potentially dangerous or hazardous debris, such as rocks or pine cones, along with toys or other tools are cleared out of the yard before you start mowing.

electric lawnmower
You should avoid allowing children to use and lawn tractors or operate the mower as they can easily fall off, which often results in serious or fatal accidents. Also, try to avoid running the mower next to anyone in the yard while mowing the grass, as debris may get run over and flung out, thus causing an injury.

Following these precautions and choosing the right mower, such as one of the John Deere lawn mowers, will ensure that you are able to enjoy your mower for many years.