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Lawn tractor links
Lawn downsizing and alternatives
There's a growing trend toward downsizing lawns because there are alternatives that require less maintenance and are better for the environment. LessLawn.com has more information.
The Edible Estates movement, based on a book by Fritz Haeg, is based on the idea of replacing lawns with food gardens.
YouTube has a video about Edible Estates.
This is also a way to conserve water because vegetable and fruit gardens can use drip irrigation. The New York Times publishes an article on edible estates called "Water Saving Backyards."
Lawn tractor alternatives
Reviews suggest that those on a budget consider a high-quality used tractor. Most lawn tractors have an hour meter that records the number of hours used, just as cars have mileage gauges. Expert reviewers say that the average life of a lawn tractor is 250 hours, and the hour meter gives you an idea of the expected life remaining.
Newspaper columnist Peter Ferrara writes about his personal experience buying a used John Deere lawn tractor in the April 21, 2009, edition of the McCreary County (Ken.) Record. He says buying a used lawn tractor of better quality will cost less in the long run than buying a cheaper brand new lawn tractor that will need more repairs.
If you have a lawn of less than half an acre, you might not need a lawn tractor at all. You can save money (and get a little exercise) by going with a walk-behind mower. See our separate report on self-propelled and push
Walk-behind tractors are an in-between alternative. These are more powerful than a regular walk-behind mower and are capable of using various attachments. MotherEarthNews.com reviews "2 Low Cost Garden Tractors," the DR Field and Brush Mower and the BCS Walk-Behind Tractor.
At the other extreme, Grit.com's April 2008 article, "Mowing Machine Mania," is useful for anyone interested in larger garden tractors and mowers that attach to a regular tractor. It's a good buyer's guide, with links to a lot of lawn tractor manufacturers.
Garden tractors can last a lot longer. You can get good information on used John Deere garden tractors at WeekendFreedomMachines.com.
Fun lawn tractor alternatives
Just for fun, you might enjoy using a scythe. You can read about them in the article, "A Scythe You Say?" at Scythe Supply of Perry, Maine.
Some people really do let sheep "mow" their lawns. See the article, "California Winery Brings in the Sheep, Cuts Fuel Use in Half," by Treehugger.com's Jeff McIntire-Strasburg.
Google's Mountain View, Calif., headquarters is now renting a herd of goats to mow part of its property. The company says it costs the same as mowing and is more fun to watch. Read more on the Google blog.
The Baltimore Sun reports that the town of Hampstead, M.D., is using five Nigerian dwarf goats to mow the city's 50-acre preserve.
A May 2002 article in Popular Science by Trevor Thieme, "Big Men on Their Tiny Tractors," sheds light on another use for lawn and garden tractors: racing.
To learn more about lawn mower racing, visit the website of the U.S. Lawn Mower Racing Association.
Wikipedia also has an article on lawn mower racing.
Solar-powered lawn tractors
Solar-powered lawn tractors offer environmental and economic advantages such as recyclable batteries, more efficient motors, excellent traction and much lower costs for fuel and maintenance.
A September 2006 article in MotherEarthNews.com, "Solar-Electric Mowers and Tractors," predicts that solar-powered lawn tractors and lawn mowers are the wave of the future. Newer prototype solar lawn tractors are in full use.
An overview of past, current and future solar tractors is posted at http://www.coate.org/jim/ev/tractors/.
The Electric Tractor Store has used GE Elec-Trak tractors, parts, lots of links (including an owners' club) and an active blog.
The TractorByNet.com forum includes a long 2006 discussion about converting tractors to run on electricity.
Edmond Electric Co. in Canada plans to manufacture solar lawn tractors first for the European market (under the Lawn Boss brand), then for the United States. They've discontinued the gasoline-to-solar conversion kit mentioned in an article in MotherEarthNews.com because of a lack of interest.
With a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Ron Khosla of Hugenot Street Farm in New Paltz, N.Y., converted two old gasoline tractors to solar at a cost of about $1,325 each. The two tractors take care of a 13-acre community agriculture farm and have enough battery power left over to power the produce cooler and an entire house. As part of the grant, a complete instruction manual is available online for converting tractors to solar power.
Standing mowers
Another relatively new alternative is the standing mower. These are small, light lawn tractors on which the driver stands rather than sits. An April 2008 article by Jack Roberts in Landscape Management, "Equipment Management: Stand-on, Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers," says many users find them more comfortable than sitting for long hours because during sitting, shocks from bumps are transmitted directly to the back.
John Deere makes standing mowers, but Wright seems to be the most well-known manufacturer of these. A review of the Wright Stander Mower is available at The Lawn Advisor.
Lawn tractor information
The iVillage GardenWeb forum on lawn and garden tractors is a good place to ask questions, particularly about maintenance and repair problems. Quite a few contributors to the forum are knowledgeable about specific engines as well as lawn tractor brands and models.
Other active lawn and garden tractor forums may be found at:
ConsumerReports.org opens a seasonal lawn mower and tractor forum each spring, but it's available only to subscribers.
MotherEarthNews.com is another good site to check for lawn tractor articles.
Lawn tractor safety
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, noting an average of 95 deaths a year from riding mowers and lawn tractor accidents, has published a useful guide to safe use, "Riding Lawnmowers: Document #588."
Experts say it's important to register your purchase with the manufacturer; you'll be informed of any recalls for repair.
MotherEarthNews.com has an article by George DeVault, "Tractor Safety is No Accident."
Ear3 (*Est. $60) is a relatively new device that warns when hearing protection is needed. Sue Lindsey of The Associated Press has written about its development, "Device Created to Protect One's Hearing." Further information is at the Ear3 website.
"Mowing Lawns Efficiently," by Ruth S. Foster, has tips for safety, ease and speed.
Lawn tractor buyer's guides
ConsumerGuide.com offers a "Riding Lawn Mower and Zero-Turn Riding Mower Buying Guide" that includes a useful glossary of terms.
"How to Buy a Riding Lawn Mower," published at eHow.com, offers useful step-by-step tips.
One of the best guides to riding mowers and lawn tractors is at the National Gardening Association website. Michael MacCaskey's article, "Lawn and Garden Tractors," gives a run-down of lawn tractor types, describes which types are best for which uses and explains the most important factors to consider.
Karen Weir-Jimerson has been writing about garden tractors for Horticulture Magazine for several years. Her 2008 buyer's guide is called "Saddle Up."
In a July 2005 article on "The Trouble with Lawn Mowers," Stephanie Moore says lawn mowers, lawn tractors and riding mowers frequently need repairs, often with delays. Her buying guide recommends several strategies to avoid "the lawn mower blues," including buying a used model. She also suggests considering whether a feature is worth its extra cost, saying that lawn tractors with automatic transmissions can cost as much as $700 more than lawn tractors using a clutch.
Lawn care
ConsumerReports.org has a Greener Choices section available without a subscription, which includes a good article on lawn care called "Natural Lawn-Care."
Organic Gardening has a good article on lawn care called "5 Steps to a Better Backyard."
Lawn tractor maintenance
This brief guide to "lawn mower parts maintenance" also applies to lawn tractors.
Home-improvement guru Bob Vila's website offers a good article on "Maintaining Riding Mowers."
"Solving Riding Mower Maintenance Problems" offers helpful troubleshooting tips.
American Yard Products (AYP), which is owned by Husqvarna, makes lawn tractors sold under various brand names, including Craftsman, Husqvarna and Poulan. This site is among several that provides AYP replacement parts.
"The Small Tractor FAQ" has links to all kinds of helpful information on lawns and tractors, though many links are outdated.
For information on antique tractors, including tips on maintenance, see TractorLinks.com.
Lawn tractor manufacturers
Bolens (owned by MTD)
Craftsman (made by Husqvarna)
Cub Cadet (owned by MTD)
Husqvarna (spun off from Electrolux in 2006)
LawnBoy (owned by Toro)
MTD (builds low-end Toro models since 2007)
Murray (owned by Briggs & Stratton)
Poulan (owned by Husqvarna)
Simplicity (owned by Briggs & Stratton)
Snapper (owned by Briggs & Stratton)
Toro (residential lawn tractors now outsourced to MTD)
Troy-Bilt (owned by MTD)
White (owned by MTD)
Yard Machines (owned by MTD)
Yard-Man (owned by MTD)
Toro TimeCutter Homeowner (42") 21-HP Zero Turning Radius Lawn Mower - Z4220
 from Amazon.com
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