is a zero turn worth buying for my situation?

[bowie]

Hi,

I run a landscaping business in Australia and while i dont focus on doing lawns I have had around 30 residentail lawns on the books since i started the business in 2006. The lawns range in size from 150 square metres up to around 1000 square metres (1/4 acre). They need mowing every three weeks on average, all year long. Up until now, i have been doing them with a 19 inch push mower, usually catching the clippings, and putting them in greenwaste bins on site. Recently the amount of lawns has increased to 40, and I could take on another 10-20 immediately if i want to.

My question is this.... Is it going to be worth it buying a small zero turn (possibly the hustler super duty 36 inch) in my situation? Or is it going to be a better bet to just keep mowing with a push mower (possibly a slightly larger one)?

I know the zero turn would need to have a mulch kit as the lawns need to be kept looking good, as a majority of them are on holiday rental accommodation.

Is a zero turn going to be more efficient, and save me time and money? Would love to hear from contractors that have faced a similar situation.

 

[Ric]

Hi,

I run a landscaping business in Australia and while i don't focus on doing lawns I have had around 30 residential lawns on the books since i started the business in 2006. The lawns range in size from 150 square metres up to around 1000 square metres (1/4 acre). They need mowing every three weeks on average, all year long. Up until now, i have been doing them with a 19 inch push mower, usually catching the clippings, and putting them in greenwaste bins on site. Recently the amount of lawns has increased to 40, and I could take on another 10-20 immediately if i want to.

My question is this.... Is it going to be worth it buying a small zero turn (possibly the hustler super duty 36 inch) in my situation? Or is it going to be a better bet to just keep mowing with a push mower (possibly a slightly larger one)?

I know the zero turn would need to have a mulch kit as the lawns need to be kept looking good, as a majority of them are on holiday rental accommodation.

Is a zero turn going to be more efficient, and save me time and money? Would love to hear from contractors that have faced a similar situation.

If you're mowing with a 19" push mower a ZTR would definitely cut your mowing time dramatically . A zero turn would be more efficient in every and it would be a lot easier on you.:smile:
I started my business with a lawn tractor and switched to the Ztr and cut my time in half, I can't imagine how much time you'll save over a 19" mower and your customers will have better looking lawns.
I don't know the whole situation with your lawns but you might want to consider going up to the 48" Hustler and BTW the Hustler is a good choice. What type of crew do you have or are you the owner/operator?

 

[jenkinsph]

A good zero turn or all wheel steer mower would certainly cut down the amount of time you spend mowing. Since you will save time with the faster and easier to use mowers you may get better results if you mow the lawns more frequently too. This will reduce the amount of clippings you are trying to mulch with each mowing and result in a better looking lawn.


I find mowing every three weeks on average to be too long a period of time for most lawn grasses. I live in the mountains at about 7500' elevation and mow once a week in the summer. When I lived in the deep south in a warmer and more humid climate we had to mow every four days or so. Curious what kind of conditions such as high/low temperatures, amount of rainfall and type of grass you are dealing with to only mow every three weeks.

 

[KennyV]

...
Is a zero turn going to be more efficient, and save me time and money?

Absolutely... The ZT dominates commercial work here in the states, for exactly those reasons...

Hustler has an excellent line....
:smile:KennyV

 

[Turf & tree]

If you have exmark there you might want to check out a stand on model ztr. Or wright makes one. I use the exmark vantage stand on. It is super maneuverable and shorter then a sit on z. I also bought the micro mulch kit. I never bag, it is so much better to return the nutrients to the lawn and I never deal with the debris.
Jim

 

[KennyV]

Jim is right, ...
The stand on, or walk behind ZT's are very agile... very nice machines for speed and small spaces.... :smile:KennyV

 

[mowitall.cl]

Ferris evolution is the real deal short and compact with large hydro's and u can sit or stand, if not this then the scag v ride or wright sentaur, have had them all ferris rides best with full suspension, sentaur not bad but worse scags in the middle, price wise ferris first wright sentaur last, dependable ferris first, scag n wright same, hill climbing wright first scag last, hope this helps in these brands if available