Welcome to our site. We have created a number of in-depth pages and comparison tools to assist you in choosing the best tractor for your landscaping needs. It is a common misconception that riding mowers are only for those of you with large plots of land or acres of grass to maintain. In reality, if you have a garden of any shape or size and you have other landscaping needs that need satisfying, you can find small garden tractors of utility versions that can be ideal for what you require. However, as with any purchase that you make, you should do your due diligence before buy one of the many sit down mowers you have to choose from.
On our site you will find information, reviews, quality guides and most importantly links through to the best prices on all the best buy yard tractors and other related items. We have done the hard work and compared all the most popular products so that you don’t need to. We have also laid out all the important information that you need to make an informed decision. You will find a complete buyers guide too, this will help you to understand what function you need to do the jobs you need doing. If you feel there is anything we have missed or a product that we haven’t reviewed you would like to see a review on please feel free to reach out and contact us and we will update as soon as we can and get the costs too. We hope the information within our site will help to lead you to the best value subcompact tractor for your requirements.
Page Contents
- Comparison Table of Different Garden Tractors
- Who should consider buying a tractor for gardening?
- What is the difference between a Riding Lawn Mower and a Garden Tractor?
- What are the best tractors for maintaining lawns?
- Garden Tractor and Riding Lawn Mower Glossary
- Garden Tractor Buyers Guide and purchasing tips 2023
- Infographics of Best Garden Tractor
- Top 3 Garden Tractor and riding lawn mower Reviews 2023
When you begin to shop around for your field mower there are a huge number of different factors that you need to take into consideration. Most importantly, of course, if price, you will need to set a strict budget first to ensure that you do not over spend. Fortunately, you will be able to find ride on mowers in pretty much every price bracket. So, even if you are on a tight budget, you will be able to compare the products within that price range and select the top product for you and your landscape requirements. When making your comparison and checking the various ratings that each product it is vital to do your research and check the requirements that you will need. Most sit on lawn mowers will come with a number of different attachments or at least the options of having them. So, you need to decide what functionality you will require to make you choose the right brand for your mowing needs.
Comparison Table of Different Garden Tractors
| Product | Engine | Cutting Deck | Speed | Weight | Dimensions | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Troy-Bilt 420cc OHV 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower  Check Price | 420cc Single Troy-Bilt Engine | 30 Inches | 0 - 4.25MPH | 340 pounds | 64 x 34 x 26 inches | 6 Speed |
Husqvarna YTH24V48 24 HP Yard Tractor, 48-Inch  Check Price | 24 HP Briggs and Stratton V-Twin engine | 48 Inches | 0 - 2.9MPH | 200 pounds | 69.3 x 59.8 x 41.4 inches | Fast CVT |
Poulan Pro 960420174 PB24VA54 Kohler V-Twin 24 HP Pedal Control Fast Auto Drive Cutting Deck Riding Mower, 54-Inch  Check Price | 24 HP v-twin Kohler engine | 54 Inches | 0-7.5 mph | 598 pounds | 72.8 x 49.5 x 46 inches | Pedal control fast auto drive transmission |
Raven MPV7100 Hybrid Riding Lawnmower Power Generator and Utility Vehicle, Red/Black  Check Price | 420 cc gas powered engine | 46 Inches | 0- 17MPH | 870 pounds | 85 x 44 x 50 inches | Foot Pedal - DC Motor to HD Differential |
Cub Cadet Xt1 Enduro Series Lt 42 In. 18 Hp Kohler Hydrostatic Gas Front-engine Riding Mower  Check Price | 18 HP Kohler OHV engine | 42 Inches | 0 - 5.5MPH | 580 pounds | 68 x 50 x 42.5 inches | Tuff Torq Foot-Controlled Hydrostatic Transmission |
Ariens 915173 Zoom XL 54 725cc 24 HP 54 in. Zero Turn Riding Mower  Check Price | 24 HP 725cc Kohler Courage Twin engine | 54 Inches | 0 - 6.5MPH | 645 pounds | 42 x 64 x 69 inches | Hydro-Gear ZT-2800 Transaxles |
Who should consider buying a tractor for gardening?
One of the key questions that needs answering before you buy a riding mower is, what it can do when compared to a standard push mower, a strimmer or another piece of grass cutting machinery. The simple answer is field mowers have the ability to cut and craft your lawn in pretty much any way you can imagine and they can do it extremely quickly and with minimal stress and effort from you. This is largely due to their size and often the amount of power they have. A job that may take a few hours with a standard lawn mower could be done in a fifth of the time with one of the many small lawn tractors available today.
Another big plus of buying a riding lawn tractor is the level of comfort that you get from these products as compared to a lawn cutter that needs to be pushed or even pulled. As you are seated when riding an LGT (light garden tractor) you get the benefit of being able to basically rest while you work, a big bonus for some people, especially if you are a little older. It means you can still do your garden chores regardless of age.
The comfort and the multi-functionality of these garden products is what makes them so popular across the United States. Buying the best garden tractors isn’t simple about finding what is cheap and then purchasing it. You have to research properly and confirm you are getting good quality and best value, not only the cheapest. Of course, how you pick will depend on you and your needs so you need to have a clear understanding on this first before you begin your search. Our buyers guide and comparison guides will help you with this and then you will be able to click through to Amazon and find the best prices for each product in 2023.
What is the difference between a Riding Lawn Mower and a Garden Tractor?
This is a question that often comes up and it’s an important one to answer before you deciding the best pick for you and how to choose. The key difference between the two lawn maintenance machines is the location of the cutting deck. With the mowers the cutting deck is always positioned at the front and with the tractors the deck is placed in the middle or mid-mounted. The implication of this is the machines with the front positioned deck are much more maneuverable that the mid-mounted as they tend to be a little more slender at the front and thus have a smaller turning circle.
It’s not a necessity, but generally, those of you that have a smaller lawn or one that has a few more obstacles to navigate around when mowing the lawn will be better suited to a riding mower than a garden tractor. You will find many good quality brands offering a number of zero turn mower options within their product ranges. This means there is literally no radius on the turning circle, they can literally turn on a sixpence. This can be a great help when gardening in tight spaces or on lawns with a lot of shrubbery to navigate around while cutting the lawn. These may not always be the ones with a low cost, but they are often the best value products for the professional or discerning gardener.
What are the best tractors for maintaining lawns?
There are a number of different manufacturers designing and building a wide range of tractors for the garden. This can make it a little hard to know what to look for and most importantly how to pick the best tractor for your needs. Finding the most suitable brand and product for you and your business or family can usually be done online by studying the various consumer reports available for both new and old machinery. You can easily find the most cost effective and best rated mowing machines and lawn tractors. However, the sheers volume of sites available can make it hard to know what to consider as the best and most reliable source of information.
We have tried to summarize for you what you need to take into consideration before buying so that you can use our site as your sole resource before clicking through to Amazon to get hold of the best prices for the product that suits your needs the most accurately.
Whether you are looking to buy a brand new or a used or second hand mowing machine you will first need to decide whether you want a front located cutting deck or a mid-mounted option. This will be the most important decision you make as it will define whether you seek a riding mower or a lawn tractor. We feel that riding mowers are definitely better if you have a smaller space of grass or a space that has a number of trees or decorative items that you will need to drive around while trimming your residential grass are or even a commercial space. Some of the best manufacturers of ride on mowers are John Deere, Craftsmen, Kubota and Simplicity.
Garden Tractor and Riding Lawn Mower Glossary
| Lawn Maintenance | Farming | Industrial/Heavy Lifting | General Garden/ Home work | Tractor/Riding Mower Maintenance and attachments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collector or bagger (attachment to collect grass and leaves) | Tiller(turns over/loosens soil in preparation for crops to be planted) | Front End Loader(large scoop or digger for relocating large amounts of earth) | Snow-Plow(removal of snow from driveways, roads) | Loading-Ramp(lifting heavy goods) |
| Mulching Kit(used to recycle or "mulch" chippings/waste) | Box grader/scraper | Utility-Cart (Many have a dump feature and can be used for removing large quantities of soil)) | Snow-Blower(move snow from roads and driveways) | Lift/crane(lifting large items) |
| lawn sweeper | Rake(spreads/evens soil or removes leaves) | Flat Bed Trailer(great for transporting large objects from point to point) | Rotary Broom(cleaning/brushing large areas) | Brush-Guard(protector) |
| Broadcast spreader or Lawn-spreader(used for spreading lime, seed, sand or fertilizer and other other products) | Plow(prepares soil for seeding/crops) | Scoop(soil, grass, leaves or garden waster removal) | Front Bumper(used to protect the front of your riding mower) | |
| Lawn Aerator(punches holes into the ground to enable grass to grow better | Disc Harrow (implement with sharp edges, readies the soil for crop planting) | Dozer Blade(similar to the front of a bulldozer. Blade at the bottom for pushing large amounts of soil) | Seat Cover(come in various shapes and materials and help to provide longevity to your seat) | |
| Lawn-roller(flattens or compacts the ground/lawn) | Cultivator(implement for secondary tilling of the soil for crops) | Rain/Sun shade/canopy(helps to protect you from the elements) | ||
| dethatcher/lawn scarifier(removes thatch from lawns) | Sprayer(fast and effective manure or crop protector spraying) | Battery Charger(provides battery with longer life/powers) | ||
| Rear-Deflector (propels grass from the rear of your tractor) | Manure/Muck Spreader(fast speading of manure) | Arm-rests | ||
| pull-behind mower (dragged behind your mower and provides additional width/cutting power and ability. Generally commercial usage) | Manure Vacuum(enables user to collect large amounts of manure with ease) | Storage/Rain/Elements Cover(protects your mower/tractor from the elements while not in use) | ||
| Tire-Chains(extra grip in the snow or wet conditions) |
Garden Tractor Buyers Guide and purchasing tips 2023
As with any purchase in life there are a number of different factors you need to take into consideration before you buy a lawn tractor or a ride on mower for your garden or farm.
How to decide your budget and set a price range
Unfortunately, as with anything that you buy, price will play a large part in what you ultimately choose. You will need to set a firm budget before you start searching, this will help you to not overspend and find the correct product within your price range. It is important to remember also that there are a number of different attachments that you may need to invest in also. These can be loaders, a bucket loader, mounted snow blowers, a landscape rake or even attachments to help with hauling or farming. If you buying the garden tractor for farm work some brands do have attachments for plowing and also earth mover add-ons. It is paramount that you price these attachments at the same time and factor them into your budget.
Should you be buying a 2 wheel or 4 wheel drive riding lawn mower?
Most manufacturers will offer a 4×4 option for a little extra investment. It’s not always worth the money and will really depend on the layout of the landscape that you will be maintaining. If for example you have quite a hilly area or you get quite a lot of rain and thus the ground can be a little muddy or wet you will probably need to invest the extra money. If you have a flat piece of land to take care of then a 2 wheel drive option will do the job for you. There are even 4wd conversion options you can invest in if you change your mind down the track.
Garden Tractor, riding mower or zero-turn riding lawn mower?
This will probably be the most important decision you make during your purchasing process. It will come down to the space you are maintaining, the grass type and of course what you need to drive around while you are cutting the grass. Smaller tight spaces are better suited to riding mowers, especially ZTR or z-turn options. The larger more open spaces with minimal obstructions to handle are better suited for the garden tractors.
It can also come down the attachments that you have decided you need to take care of the jobs you have. If you need a cultivator, an excavator, a plow, a backhoe or even a product with buckets and a tiller attachment you will need to (of course) ensure you pick a brand that supplies these and a product that is compatible with the attachments you will need to use on a daily or weekly basis. Picking a mower or tractor with a good quality battery is also important as these can be a little expensive to replace if you pick incorrectly. Once you have decided which kind of lawn mower you need you are good to select a brand and start to locate something that fits your specific requirements and most importantly falls within the budget that you laid out at the beginning of this process. You will find more detailed information about the best brands and best products in our review pages. We cover many of the favorite brands including Husqvarna, Toro, Snappe, Cub Cadet, Massey Ferguson and many more.
Infographics of Best Garden Tractor
Top 3 Garden Tractor and riding lawn mower Reviews 2023
Troy-Bilt 420cc OHV 30-Inch Premium Neighborhood Riding Lawn Mower
Overview
At a little under $1300 with most suppliers (including Amazon) this mower is one if the best value products in this range. It allows most purchasers the ability to get a high quality mower without forking out the high prices needed for top end commercial mowers. Obviously, there are some draw backs in the lower price bracket but this still remains one of the best selling ride on mowers available today. If you read on you will find the specifications and main benefits and negatives about this particular mowing product and why it ranks as one of our top recommended items.
What’s great?
Perfect size and price range for anyone with a small to medium land size looking for a riding mower
This mower is equipped with an excellent 420cc engine that provides an impressive top speed (forward) of 4.25mph. You also get a 6 speed gear box/transmission to help you manage inclines and declines.
The power can be taken off/switched off manually thus allowing rapid and simple blade control/engagement
Large cutting deck (30 inches) comes with a useful 5 different settings and manages to combine the features of a standard push functioned mower and a riding mower.
The small 13” x 4” front wheels and 16” x 6.5” wheels allow an impressive 18 inch turning circle / radius which really helps for maneuvering around trees of small bushes.
What’s not so great?
We found the gear shift is quite poorly located and the gear shift is not the best either. On occasion when using the shifter regularly we found the knob on the top could actually become loose. This can obviously easily be rectified so isn’t a deal breaker for us but was a little frustrating.
This mower isn’t great for uneven or steep land. If you have a piece of land that has steep slopes or a lot of lumps and bumps then it probably isn’t the best option for you.
Conclusion
For those of you seeking a great value riding lawn mower for a plot of land that would be classed as medium side (1-3 acres for example) this would be a great buy. As long as you are happy with the top speed and the maneuverability this really does tick all the boxes. The turning circle is great and the blade control and engine power is excellent for the price. If you need something that can handle corners as a high speed or steep or bumpy ground you may need to look at a slightly more expensive model or brand.
Husqvarna YTH24V48 24 HP Yard Tractor, 48-Inch
Overview
Husqvarna are widely regarded as one of the very best brands in the garden tractor arena and the YTH24V48 24 HP Yard Tractor is certainly no exception. Most users (as we did) find this ride on yard tractor super easy to use and extremely maneuverable, even around smaller objects or obstructions within your land. For a tractor that sits within the $2000 price range it is also crafted from good quality materials and is generally pretty long lasting. As long as you take good care of it of course and service regularly.
What’s great?
The cutting width is 48 inches which helps to reduce the time it takes to cut your grass (when compared to smaller measuring cutting decks of course)
Excellent quality materials used throughout (especially given the relatively low cost as compared to some other brands and models)
The rapid Hydrostatic pedal operated transmission really helps to give a super smooth riding experience. You can also take advantage of a number of different forward and reverse speeds that helps a great deal with the versatility.
You have a cruise control functionality to ease your effort when cutting larger fields or driving in a straight line for long periods of time. This can be a great relief, especially on hotter days.
Blade engagements is electrically controlled for speed, ease and efficiency.
The cutting deck is fitted with air induction technology. This drastically improves the air flow in the deck area and thus helps to provide a much cleaner and reliable cut.
What’s not so great?
We felt that the gas level read out could be a little more accurate. The lack of a “low fuel” alert or alarm means that you can easily run out of gas if you are not careful.
Size of the deck means sometimes can be difficult to cut thicker or tough grass
Some motor issues after a year or so have been reported but these should be covered under the warranty (some aren’t so be sure to check the small print before you try to make a claim). This can obviously happen with any brand or model.
Conclusion
Overall, we really like this model. At around $2000 with the majority of suppliers (including Amazon) it represents really good value for those of you looking for a reputable brand but without breaking the bank. As you will have read, there are a few drawbacks, but to be quite frank, this is true of pretty much every brand and model out there. We don’t feel these are deal breaking cons, especially within this price range. If you are seeking a perfect tractor for your garden, you will certainly need to spend much more than $2000. Within this price range you cannot go far wrong with the Husqvarna YTH24V48.
Poulan Pro 960420174 PB24VA54 Kohler V-Twin 24 HP Pedal Control Fast Auto Drive Cutting Deck Riding Mower, 54-Inch
Overview
Poulan are not the cheapest brand of ride on mower available, but they do provide excellent quality and the Poulan Pro 960420174 PB24VA54 Kohler V-Twin 24 HP is a prime example of this. It has a superb engine that pumps out 24 horses and a super comfortable seat that makes for a great ride, even if you are spending many hours at the helm. Looks wise it is one of the meaner looking machines you can buy and the black and yellow finish helps to give a sleek and cool finish.
What’s great?
The 24 horse power Kohler engine is a great piece of machinery and helps to provide excellent performance
The transmission (as with most mowers in this price range) is pedal operated and super easy to use, even for novices.
This machine has a larger cutting deck than most within this price range at 54 inches. You also benefit from a highly re-enforced make up and a comforting 10 year warranty
The Poulan Pro is fitted with a large 2.5 liter fuel tank which helps you to run for a decent amount of hours without the need to stop and re-fuel.
Large 20” rear and 15” front tires help to provide fantastic maneuverability and also great stability
The larger than average cutting deck helps to speed up your mowing time, especially good for large open spaces.
The turn circle or radius is also great considering the size and diameter of the deck.
What’s not so great?
We found no visible fuel gauge on this model or at least not one that is predominant and easy to access or read. This is obviously a little frustrating and can be a big pain if you run out of fuel!
Due to recent law changes the cutting deck turns itself off/shuts off when in reverse. This can be overridden but still a little annoying (it is the law though so can’t really be held against Pulan).
The speed in reverse is a little slow (just 1mph). If you have to reverse any large distances this can be particularly frustrating.
Conclusion
As you can see we haven’t found a great deal negative to say about the Poulan Pro 960420174 PB24VA54 Kohler V-Twin 24 HP. It is under the $3000 mark so for us that is in the “affordable” range and thus you can’t expect everything to be high end and perfect as you would from a $5000 and upwards model/brand. There are some small things that are a little frustrating like the reverse speed and the gas gauge but for us these certainly are not big enough reasons to not buy this product. The cutting deck is a fantastic size for the money and the overall build quality is also excellent for this price range. To top all this off we really love the look and feel of this ride on mower too. It is easy to see why this is one of the best selling products available on the marker today.