2016 Spring Home Improvement

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Page 16 2016 Spring Home Improvement LINCON DAILY May 2, 2016
Riding lawn mowers are probably the better
choice if a yard takes more than an hour for
mowing. Most models are very simple, coming
with most of the same features as walk-behind
mowers and minimal comfort. These machines
can cover the widest range of cutting distances,
with the largest covering up to four feet.
Lawn tractors, a step up from that, can come with
more options, such as tillers, chipping tools, or
even snow throwers, providing use for the winter
months.
Tractors or riding mowers are the best bet for
yards with a high difference in terrain, such as
steep slopes, but may be a problem if your yard
has a lot of clutter.
Riding mowers and tractors cross into four-digit
costs, as prices hover around $1,000 to $1,300 or
more.
Finally, zero-turn mowers, once belonging
primarily to lawn-care specialists, have
become more common in the general
public. Zero-turn mowers can be difficult to
learn how to drive, as they are steered with
handles and not a traditional steering wheel.
As the name implies, they are much easier
to maneuver around obstacles than other
machines.
The downside is likely to be the sheer cost
to consumer, as well as the necessity for
flat terrain. Being so new to the market,
zero-turn mowers at minimum will cost
$2,500. Cheaper zero-turn models can cut
between thirty and sixty inches of grass, and
professional models can cover as much as
seventy-two.
Proper mower maintenance is an important
chore for anyone with a lawn when the spring
arrives. In order to ensure a relatively easy
season for mowing, anyone with a lawn
mower will need to size it up and make sure
it is in proper working order, and that may
mean it’s time for a new machine altogether.
[Derek Hurley]