Outdoor Power Tool Reviews » Zero-turn Riding Mower

How to get your lawn ready for winter

admin — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 05:42:48 +0000

Winter Lawn Care Tips
If you want to make sure that your lawn is healthy and hearty in the spring them, then you need to follow some basic winter lawn care tips not only in the winter time but also in the fall to keep it healthy all year long. Although most lawns seem to be dormant during the late fall and winter season, how you care for your law during this period can make a really big difference when it comes to your lawn's overall health and beauty during the spring and summer months. Below is a look at some of the ideas that will allow you to keep your lawn healthy all year long by properly maintaining it throughout the fall and winter.

If you live in an area where regular snowfall is normal, then you are going to want to make sure that your winter law care strategy involves keeping your grass free of clutter and debris before the first snow should fall. Proper lawn maintenance in preparation for the first winter snow involves removing sticks, raking away the leaves and disposing of any other debris that should not be on your yard, before they end up buried beneath the snow.

Even if you are not exactly expending a great deal of snowfall, it is still vital that you make sure that your grass is free to breathe rather than left buried beneath piles of leaves, sticks and other rubbish. This rubbish can interfere with the grass needing to receive proper air, proper nutrients and proper moisture which is why it is so important that you clean up your yard before the first snowfall. Your grass may not be growing during this period of time, but if left buried for too long, it can still end up dying during the winter season.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that the summer is the most important season when it comes to controlling and preventing the growth of weeds. The opposite, however, is actually true because weed control is most important during the winter season. Weeds actually grow much more quickly during the winter than your grass can. If the weeds are allowed to grow without any control, your lawn may be dead by the time the spring runs around.

Because your lawn will be growing so slowly during the fall and winter season, it is rather simple to find the weeds that are growing during this time. All you have to do is make sure that you pay attention to your grass during these months, pulling weeds or applying weed killer as needed so that the weeds do not overrun the lawn, ruining your landscaping during the colder season.

If you plan on planting winter grass varieties like rye grass, then these will have the best chance of thriving when planted in October, which is the best time for them to take root. Make sure that your newly planted grass seeds get plenty of water even when the weather is chilly outside.

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How to grow a green lawn organically

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 05:27:42 +0000

Organic lawn care tips: How to grow a green lawn organically You don't have to use chemicals to get a lush, green lawn. Scott Meyer, editor of Organic Gardening discusses tips to get a great lawn without harmful chemicals.

Riding Mower and Lawn Tractor Review

admin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:54:10 +0000

The following review information was taken from ConsumerSearch.com, an indepedent research firm. They synthesize research results from multiple sources such as Consumer Reports, Consumer Digest, Smart Money, Amazon.com and others and draw their conclusions.

Best Lawn Tractor Overall
John Deere X304
Est. $3,500

The 42-inch John Deere X304 lawn tractor gets the highest ratings in reviews for smooth, even cutting, as well as easy changes between side discharging, mulching and bagging. Four-wheel steering makes it easy to maneuveraround obstacles and the tight 15-inch turning radius leaves a smaller circle of uncut grass than most lawn tractors (which means less trimming). In addition to automatic transmission and cruise control, the X304 is loaded with conveniences for comfortable driving, and it's powered by a reliable 17-hp Kawasaki V-twin engine and has a four-year (or 300-hour) warranty.

Best Zero-turn Lawn Mower
Cub Cadet iSeries ZTT 42
Est. $2,700

The big advantage of the iSeries ZTT 42 is that it can turn on a dime -- so it leaves no circle of uncut grass at the end of turns (which means less trimming later). Unlike other zero-turn lawn mowers, the Cub Cadettractor is easier to learn to use since it has a regular steering wheel instead of two levers. It also slips less on sloping lawns ? a problem with typical zero-turn lawn mowers. Tests show the 42-inch ZTT 42 doesn't mulch clippings as well as the John Deere X304 above, but bags them as well and side-discharges better. The main drawback is that Cub Cadet lawn tractors have a spottier repair record and a much shorter warranty of three years or 120 hours.

Best Value, Medium-duty Lawn Tractor
John Deere LA115
Est. $1,650

This two-wheel drive John Deere lawn tractor doesn't handle slopes as well and leaves an uncut circle of grass at the end of turns. However, reviews recommend this 42-inch tractor for flatter lawns up to 1.5 acres.Highlights are its even cutting, ease of use and excellent bagging when equipped with an optional kit (*est. $350). Conveniences include an automatic transmission, headlights and an adjustable seat. Though not as sturdily built as the John Deere X300 series, this lawn tractor cuts and handles nearly as well on relatively flat lawns with few obstacles. The warranty is for two years or 120 hours.

Budget Lawn Tractor for Light Duty
Bolens M762F
Est. $900

This manual gear-shift lawn tractor is about as basic as you can get, but owners say it's fine for light duty. It's not the most comfortable tractor, and the 38-inch deck cuts a narrower swath compared with others. Butoverall, owners say this tractor is fine for flat lawns up to an acre in size. MTD-made lawn tractors aren't known for long-term durability, but the Bolens M762F does carry a two-year warranty. This model is also sold as the Bolens 13AM762F065.

Best Zero-Turn Lawn Mower
Toro TimeCutter ZX440
Est. $4,400

Though it's a bit tricky to learn to steer because it uses two levers instead of a steering wheel, Toro zero-turn mowers are popular because they maneuver around obstacles well and don't leave circles of uncut grass afterturns. Compared to the less expensive Cub Cadet iSeries mower, the TimeCutter has a larger 44-inch deck, better mulching performance, a slightly faster maximum speed of 7 mph and a higher max cutting height of 4.5 inches. The Toro zero-turn mower also has a longer three-year warranty. But it costs much more.