If it takes longer than one hour to cut it with a walk-behind and the topography of the land permits it, I think a rider might be in order. I guess this would come out to about 1/2 acre.

1/2 acre mowable grass, or 1/2 acre lot including the house, driveway, sidewalks, etc.?

I agree with Saxman that the answer really depends on how much real estate you have to mow and how long it will take to get it done. What have you been using.

I haven't used anything yet. The house is brand new, as is the lot. I'm trying to decide what kind of grass cutter to buy. I think I have between .25 and .33 acres of actual grass to mow.

Hills, trees etc. It makes a difference.
If you have a lot of bushes etc., you can spend a lot of time backing up etc. Same if it's fenced. It's hard to get a big machine into a corner.

Hi,

I made a mistake when I went to consider my lawn. I think I have about 1/2 acre of lawn to mow. This was my first time and it was a new house. The professional guys were asking for about $US 100 a time to mow it. That pans out to $US 3,500 per year. Ouch.

So muggins me goes an buys a mower and says to my wife I will do it. I mean for $US 3,500 a year it's got to be worth it.... right ....

It turns out it takes me about 4 hours to mow my lawn. I have been at it like this for three years now. I was expecing it would take like maybe an hour. Fortunately I got a good mower, a Honda HRC 216 commercial and it works great. Did I choose the right mower, hmm not so sure.... the main issue for me was storage during the winter months. I am in the NorthEast. And that restricts the mower size.

My recommendation is therefore this. Get a few professionals to come and give you a quote to mow your lawn. Get one of them to come mow it and see what they use and how long it takes them.

I used to have a commercial guy come, but he used one of these 52 inch walk behinds and gets the job done fast. I only have room in my garage for a 21-inch, and hence it takes me ages.

In your choice of mower I would consider the following:

1) Where are you going to store it? Not sure where you are but I only need to mow for 6 months out of the year. Get a machine that you can store.
2) Can you get a big machine around your yard? If so get the biggest one you can .... it will cut your lawn cutting time significantly
3) If your lawn is hilly with slopes go for a walk behind. If your lawn is flat go for a rider
3b) If a rider: Rather than a lawn tractor, I would recomend a Zero turn mower, these are much more manouverable although more expensive

I also have a trimmer, Honda HHT 31. This I use for the super hilly bits and the jungle areas in my yard. Also to get to the bits of lawn which are too tight for even a 21-inch mower.

Warmest regards, Mike.

4 hours ?! That sounds like more then 1/2 acre to mow ... Wow !!!

My yard does have a nice slope in the front, but I've been told over and over that a Rear Engine Rider will hold the ground much more securely (assuming no bagger) then a regular LT.

Excellent advice from stinkytiger. jopopsy; for .25 acre, a regular lawn mower is the answer. It will probably take you 30 minutes or so with the mower, plus string-trimmer and blower time which would be the same with any machine. My lot is .5 acre and only about a third is in grass. A rider would be overkill.

I think I'm just going to go out and get the Honda HRX217HXA. It has the beefier residential grade GCV190 engine, supposedly mulches superior to the Snapper, and carries one extra additional year of warranty.