I have a 3/4 acre yard that has a lot of dips and hole-like areas. I’ve been paying someone to mow it for the last few years, and I’m tired of spending money on it every couple of weeks. What would be the best mower for me to buy? I’m considering a nice used riding mower but I could also get a good self-propelled push mower at a similar price. Which one would be better? I have two capable kids who need to earn their allowance, and I want to show them that hard work pays off. But is a push mower too much work for them on a 3/4 acre lawn in south GA? If I go with the push mower, would gas or battery power be a better choice?
Is your lot really 3/4 acre of lawn? If it’s all lawn, you should definitely consider a ride-on.
Vesper said:
Is your lot really 3/4 acre of lawn? If it’s all lawn, you should definitely consider a ride-on.
Yes, it’s lawn. Thanks for the advice.
Your kids might end up hating you if you have them mow 32,000 sq ft with a push mower. You might also regret mowing it yourself with a push mower.
Zyler said:
Your kids might end up hating you if you have them mow 32,000 sq ft with a push mower. You might also regret mowing it yourself with a push mower.
You might be right. My youngest thinks he can handle it, but I doubt he realizes how tough it is to mow for an hour and a half in 100-degree heat. I’ll look for some used riding mowers soon.
Zyler said:
Your kids might end up hating you if you have them mow 32,000 sq ft with a push mower. You might also regret mowing it yourself with a push mower.
I agree, it’s much easier to convince kids to mow with a riding mower. I know this from experience as a kid who had to be persuaded.
I think ‘small’ is all about perspective. I have about 15k sq ft, which feels huge for my city, and I enjoy using my reel push mower that runs solely on human effort. My parents had about 2.5 acres, and whether I used the push mower or riding mower, it took a lot of time either way. Plus, if your lawn has dips and holes, a riding mower might struggle depending on how bad those obstacles are. Honestly, folks complain too much about push mowers. As long as you’re able, I don’t see the need for heavy equipment on less than an acre. Good luck either way.
I mowed 20,000 sq ft with a battery-powered push mower for four years. In good conditions, I could finish in an hour. I mowed twice a week during the growing season and always liked it. I can’t picture a ride-on being better or faster.
Gas is better than battery. If you have a few hands to help and want to keep costs low, a used push mower should run you around $100. Toro Recycler or Honda are popular choices. A used Toro Timemaster will cost about the same as the others but can help you cut down on mowing time with its 30" deck. A decent used riding mower could cost $500-1000, but they have more moving parts which means more to break. If you can handle repairs like blades and oil changes, a used one could be worth it. I found a used Cub Cadet tractor with a 50" deck for $500 but was lucky with its engine. Just look out for brands like MTD, which aren’t reliable, and be cautious with lower-end John Deeres. But if you can get it at a good price and use it for a few years, why not? A push mower could be easier for your kids to handle and they would be less likely to speed through the yard and mess things up.
If you can afford it, a battery mower is a good option. It’s easy to take care of and you won’t need gas. Battery options can be expensive, but it’s nice to be ready to mow in under a minute. I have an Ego push mower for my 1/2 acre and it works perfectly.
3/4 acre isn’t too small. It’s usually cheaper to do the mowing yourself, and it can feel rewarding. Don’t buy a push mower for that size; it would be exhausting even if it’s self-propelled. My mid-tier Ryobi electric push mower may struggle and can only handle around 12k sq ft total from both batteries; the type of grass does play a role. Ideally, you need around 30k. An electric riding mower may have larger batteries, but they come at a high cost and the tech could change in a few years without updates. Electric mowers often have a lot of plastic, which might not handle the dips and holes well if they’re soft.