In the spirit of the mowing season coming into full swing, Green Industry Pros asked readers what type of mower they prefer and why.
After it all, here at Green Industry Pros, March does seem to be the month of the mower. Our March/April cover story will dive in to mower trends and how landscape professionals can match the mower to the application, and our annual Mower Madness competition kicked off in mid-March.
While both autonomous mowers and stand-on mowers have gained traction in recent years, the results across survey respondents varied.
Fifty percent of respondents say they prefer ride-on mowers, 33 percent say they prefer stand-on mowers and 16 percent say they prefer walk-behind mowers.
Landscape pros who prefer ride-on mowers seemed to be among the group needing a "workhorse machine." High quality of cut in a shorter amount of time ranked as the top reasonings for this selection. Some respondents also included that the operator is less fatigued at the end of the day when using a ride-on mower.
For example, one respondent said, "Zero-turn riders turn around faster, are lighter in weight than some other units and cut nice straight lines."
For those who prefer stand-on machines, the reasonings included versatility, agility and visibility.
One survey respondent said, "Easy on and off, sitting too long isn't good. You can get into tight areas easily with a better view of what's around you and way less fatigue."
While walk-behinds enjoyed less popularity among survey respondents, those who prefer them say they provide benefits that other mowers don't.
For example, one landscape pro said, "A large walk-behind mower is my favorite because it can mow just as fast as a full-size zero-turn riding mower (when using a sulky), but it is superior when it comes to mowing steep slopes, under low-hanging branches and on soft ground."
Many walk-behind mowers can also fit into tighter areas such as through the gate of a residential yard and often aren't as heavy as other types of mowers.
For instance, one survey respondent replied, "I like the idea of no pressure except for the weight of the deck floating on the grass."
It's not surprising that landscapers lean toward different types of mowers based on what type of work they do. In fact, in the March/April 2024 cover story, most mower manufacturers stated that jobsite condition was the top consideration when deciding on the best type of mower for an operation. The rest of it likely comes down to personal preference and whether an operator would rather sit or stand for the majority of their day.
What about you? Do you have an opinion on the best type of mower? Email me at [email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn.
