Moved to an acre lot, totally lost on what I should get

[Jayrandom]

We moved from a 1/3 acre lot that was mostly moss and trees to an acre lot that's mostly grass. I did one mow late last fall with my old cub cadet push mower and while it still works well, it took me about three hours.

Yard details: A little over an acre total lot size, roughly square. Gentle slope, maybe six feet total drop from front to back. There are a few trees and beds in front, but no really narrow gaps. Backyard is wide open, with trees along the border. Grass doesn't reach the trees, so no real trim problems. No fences in play anywhere. I'm near Boston and the lawns grow but not crazy fast.

What I want: I'd like to find a healthy balance between the amount I spend on lawn care and the amount of time I spend on it. I roughly estimate I could get a lawn service for about $2k/year (not sure, just a guess). So that's one extreme, keeping my current mower would be the other. If I could find something that would reduce my mowing time to say an hour per week and cost under $2k I think that would be an improvement. I'd also really like something that would help with leaves in the fall. Other than that I don't have any big plans for the mower.

Should be easy, right? Unfortunately I've read too many sites and forums and am now totally confused. Some people say any old mower from a big box store is fine for the kid of light use I'm planning, others say cheap mowers are more trouble than their worth and a sturdy used mower is better. Some have suggested wide area walk behind mowers like the Toro Time Master or used commercial walk behinds from Craigslist. I went to a local dealer and saw the Cub Cadet XT2 and it seemed nice, but then Consumer Reports among others suggested that Cub Cadet wasn't very reliable and should be avoided. Another website liked the Craftsman mowers but I'm concerned that Sears isn't going to last very much longer.

I know way too little about mowers to know what to listen to and what to ignore. I'd appreciate suggestions and buying advice for my situation. Thanks.

 

[Shughes717]

We moved from a 1/3 acre lot that was mostly moss and trees to an acre lot that's mostly grass. I did one mow late last fall with my old cub cadet push mower and while it still works well, it took me about three hours.

Yard details: A little over an acre total lot size, roughly square. Gentle slope, maybe six feet total drop from front to back. There are a few trees and beds in front, but no really narrow gaps. Backyard is wide open, with trees along the border. Grass doesn't reach the trees, so no real trim problems. No fences in play anywhere. I'm near Boston and the lawns grow but not crazy fast.

What I want: I'd like to find a healthy balance between the amount I spend on lawn care and the amount of time I spend on it. I roughly estimate I could get a lawn service for about $2k/year (not sure, just a guess). So that's one extreme, keeping my current mower would be the other. If I could find something that would reduce my mowing time to say an hour per week and cost under $2k I think that would be an improvement. I'd also really like something that would help with leaves in the fall. Other than that I don't have any big plans for the mower.

Should be easy, right? Unfortunately I've read too many sites and forums and am now totally confused. Some people say any old mower from a big box store is fine for the kid of light use I'm planning, others say cheap mowers are more trouble than their worth and a sturdy used mower is better. Some have suggested wide area walk behind mowers like the Toro Time Master or used commercial walk behinds from Craigslist. I went to a local dealer and saw the Cub Cadet XT2 and it seemed nice, but then Consumer Reports among others suggested that Cub Cadet wasn't very reliable and should be avoided. Another website liked the Craftsman mowers but I'm concerned that Sears isn't going to last very much longer.

I know way too little about mowers to know what to listen to and what to ignore. I'd appreciate suggestions and buying advice for my situation. Thanks.

A ztr mower would be worth looking at. If you want to mulch leaves you may want a mower with a high blade tip speed, such as the hustler raptor sd, husqvarna mz, etc. Any mower in that range will handle a 1 acre lawn with ease. It will save you at least a couple of hours and you will have a blast mowing. It will cost you more than $2k but should last you several years, so in the long run it will save you money. You can go to a local dealer and finance a mower.

 

[bertsmobile1]

If you have some time call each of the local lawn care companies and get them to do a once only ( keep it honest ) yard mow.
If you are up front i.e., "I haven't got around to getting a bigger mower what would recommend." most will give you an honest evaluation.
Look at what they use and the time they take and the ease of doing your yard and you never know some might even have some "retired" equipment they might be willing to sell to you.

Other than that you will get the prefferences & prejudices of the members of this group
I am over 60 and can mow an acre in just over 1.5 hrs with a 24" push mower throwing out the side discharge chute.
Takes a bit over two with the 19" push mulcher and just under an hour with 24" or 30" ride ons ( 1960's modles ).

Most who post here are pros and will steer you towards the biggest machine that could possibly fit in your yard because to them, seconds saved on a job are precious.

Under $ 3000 most mowers are about the same so pick a colour you like and don't get into a lather about which engine or which gearbox/hydro they are fitted with.
For the amount of time you will be using it just about anything will be fine as you will not be working the machine to its cpacity all day long.
$3000 to $ 6000 there is a massive difference one machine to another but that sort of money on your yard will be getting well towards the sledge hammer for walnuts territory.

Two options for the leaves. bagger or mulcher, again it will be your personal preference .
Mulching will take a little longer to do but look neater and have no disposal problems main downside is the requirement to have at least 2" and 3" is better lawn height which will mean very frequent mowing in high summer.

 

[SeniorCitizen]

We moved from a 1/3 acre lot that was mostly moss and trees to an acre lot that's mostly grass. I did one mow late last fall with my old cub cadet push mower and while it still works well, it took me about three hours.

Yard details: A little over an acre total lot size, roughly square. Gentle slope, maybe six feet total drop from front to back. There are a few trees and beds in front, but no really narrow gaps. Backyard is wide open, with trees along the border. Grass doesn't reach the trees, so no real trim problems. No fences in play anywhere. I'm near Boston and the lawns grow but not crazy fast.

What I want: I'd like to find a healthy balance between the amount I spend on lawn care and the amount of time I spend on it. I roughly estimate I could get a lawn service for about $2k/year (not sure, just a guess). So that's one extreme, keeping my current mower would be the other. If I could find something that would reduce my mowing time to say an hour per week and cost under $2k I think that would be an improvement. I'd also really like something that would help with leaves in the fall. Other than that I don't have any big plans for the mower.

Should be easy, right? Unfortunately I've read too many sites and forums and am now totally confused. Some people say any old mower from a big box store is fine for the kid of light use I'm planning, others say cheap mowers are more trouble than their worth and a sturdy used mower is better. Some have suggested wide area walk behind mowers like the Toro Time Master or used commercial walk behinds from Craigslist. I went to a local dealer and saw the Cub Cadet XT2 and it seemed nice, but then Consumer Reports among others suggested that Cub Cadet wasn't very reliable and should be avoided. Another website liked the Craftsman mowers but I'm concerned that Sears isn't going to last very much longer.

I know way too little about mowers to know what to listen to and what to ignore. I'd appreciate suggestions and buying advice for my situation. Thanks.

So your basic task will be mowing xx number of weeks x 1 hour/week plus a one time / year of leaf clean up. Possibly the total annual use will be 30-40 hours.

With this in mind I would not allow the leaf clean up once / year have any influence on my purchase being there are other options available for that. ie, rent equipment, hire that done or use a large leaf rake for exercise.

A John Deere D 110 with the foot controlled hydrostatic transmission feature can be purchased for $1,699 according to their web site. I have one similar to the D series with about 210 hours that has had very minor problems ( rectifier ). According to the above numbers of use it would be going on its 6th year at your residence.

If you are mechanically inclined to the point you like work on things that need repair then consider pre owned. If not then I recommend disregarding used from craig list or any other source.