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Browse 798 expert reviews and buying guides covering riding lawn mowers and lawn tractors of every type. Whether you are comparing John Deere models, shopping for the smallest riding mower for a compact yard, exploring zero-turn options, or weighing new versus used machines, this category brings together detailed, hands-on guidance to help you choose with confidence. Each guide breaks down performance, cutting width, engine power, and value so you can match the right machine to your lawn size and budget.
Yes, battery-powered lawn mowers are a practical choice for most residential yards. They deliver adequate cutting power, low maintenance, and quiet operation, but runtime, charging time, and upfront cost create real tradeoffs that matter depending on your yard size, grass type, and mowing frequency.
Electric snow throwers are effective and practical for light to moderate residential snow clearing, offering low maintenance, quiet operation, and zero emissions. However, they have genuine tradeoffs: battery-powered models have limited runtime, corded models require proximity to outlets, and neither matches gas engines for heavy, wet, or densely packed snow. The right choice depends on your climate, snow volume, yard size, and priorities.
Lawn sweepers can save time and effort for many homeowners, but they aren't the right choice for everyone. This guide helps you decide based on your yard size, debris type, terrain, and budget.
Learn the complete process for sharpening mower blades with a file, including safety precautions, proper technique, blade balancing, and common mistakes to avoid.
Edwin Beard Budding, an engineer from Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, patented the first lawn mower in 1830. He developed the machine in partnership with John Ferrabee, drawing inspiration from cloth-trimming shears used in textile mills to create a reel (cylinder) mower that replaced the scythe for cutting grass on lawns and sports grounds.
Most riding lawn mowers use four-stroke engines that require SAE 30, 10W-30, or 5W-30 motor oil with an API service classification of SJ or higher. The ideal viscosity depends on your operating temperature: SAE 30 for consistently warm conditions, 10W-30 for variable temperatures, and 5W-30 for cold starts. Synthetic oil is acceptable and often preferred for better temperature stability, but always verify the exact specification in your owner's manual.
Most residential lawn mowers run on regular unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or higher and no more than 10% ethanol (E10). Always verify your specific mower's requirements in the owner's manual or on the fuel tank label, as some commercial or older models may have different needs.
Learn the correct step-by-step process to operate a riding lawn mower and mow your lawn safely and efficiently. This guide covers pre-mow checks, deck height adjustment, starting the mower, choosing a mowing pattern, executing turns, and post-mow care.
Learn how to start your Toro lawn mower with the Guaranteed to Start feature. Follow our clear step-by-step instructions covering cold starts, warm starts, primer bulbs, choke settings, and electric-start models.
Learn the recommended lawn-mowing cadence based on grass type, season, and growth rate. The core rule: mow every 5-7 days during active growth, never removing more than one-third of the blade height at once.
