Best Lawn Mowers for Large Yards

As easy as it can be to hire a professional landscaping company to handle mowing your large yard, it’s more cost-efficient to buy a mower, like the ones from Bradley Mowers, and do it yourself. It can also be a relaxing task depending on how you go about it. Knowing what to look for before you start shopping can help you pick the ideal option that will provide you with the best experience and the perfect option for your large lawn.

Having a small lawn is relatively easy to mow, but there’s a lot more to consider when you have a large yard. You want a mower that will help you get the job done well in as little time as possible. Even if you enjoy mowing the lawn, chances are you still don’t want to be out there all day, especially during the summer.  

Types of Lawn Mowers

The multiple types of lawn mowers can seem intimidating while shopping for the best lawn mower for your large yard. For example, walk-behind mowers are usually ideal for smaller areas. There are several options, including a push mower (which you manually operate by pushing it over your grass) and a cylindrical mower that can give your grass a good cut as long as your lawn is relatively flat. 

There are also stand-on mowers and ride-on mowers. These two options are typically excellent for larger yards consisting of an acre or more. One of the reasons is you’ll be in a position to be more comfortable for the extended task rather than walking behind the mower, and they can get the job done in a shorter time with less effort.

Gas-Powered Mowers

One of the benefits of using a gas-powered mower is you won’t have some long cord — or a line of them — leading from your mower to an outlet. When you have a large yard, you don’t want to have to worry about avoiding the cord while also trying to properly and safely operate the equipment. However, one downside is you’ll need to make sure it has enough oil and gas. If it doesn’t and you’re in the middle of a job, you’ll have to stop what you’re doing and go get one or both.

Self-Propelled Mowers

The biggest draw of a self-propelled mower is you don’t actually have to push it forward. You gently guide it, so it goes where you want it to. Let it go evenly and at the same speed to encourage beautiful, consistent results across the yard. As great as they are, self-propelled mowers aren't typically a terrific option for larger yards. 

Mulch Mowers

A perk of mulch mowers is it basically takes care of the clean-up process for you, with no need to put any clippings in large bags of which you need to dispose. The blades on a mulching mower cut the grass clippings into such fine, tiny pieces. 

Having mulching blades on options, such as ride-on mowers or stand-on mowers, can be ideal, but not all riding mowers and stand-on mowers can accommodate a mulching blade. If you’re interested in this feature, make sure to look into whether the equipment you want offers it. 

What Features Should You Look For in a Lawn Mower For a Large Yard?

There are several features to look out for when choosing a lawn mower for a large yard. Make sure to check out reviews and look for whether people had issues with the mower's size, durability or ease of use. Since you'll be mowing a large yard, look for a lawn mower with an aluminum deck that can prevent a significant grass build-up underneath. Here are some other important aspects to consider when shopping for a new mower. 

Cutting Width

The deck of the lawn mower can give you a good idea of the cutting width, which is the width of the grass you’ll be cutting each time you go over it. The larger the cutting width, the less time it will take you to do a large yard.

Cutting Heights

The height of your grass doesn’t just impact its appearance. It also can affect its health and condition. Depending on where you live, you may even have to follow grass height limits. Your starting point for knowing how high to cut your grass should be learning the type of grass your property has and if there's a neighborhood grass height limit. 

When you get your lawn mower, don’t automatically assume it’s set to cut at the right height. Follow the instructions for your particular lawn mower and adjust the cutting height accordingly before its first use. This will ensure you’re ready to have your grass at your preferred height right from the start.

Terrain

It’s often much easier to choose a lawn mower when you have relatively level property than if it’s uneven. For example, while a self-propelled lawn mower is often good for navigating uneven terrain, it’s not great for a large yard. You need a mower, like a stand-on mower or a riding mower, that's capable of handling the combination of different obstacles, uneven terrain and a large yard. 

Engine Features

The more lawn your mower needs to cut and the more obstacles it has to get through, the more powerful of an engine your equipment will need. Look for an engine that doesn't require mixing gas, so you can just fill it up and start mowing. 

Zero-turn mowers are often the best you can get when it comes to comfortably taking care of large yards, even ones with uneven terrain and obstructions. They typically require the least operational effort but have a powerful engine. However, they're more expensive and can be harder to service, which can be a factor if you're on a budget.

The larger a lawn mower is, the more horsepower it typically needs in order to be able to handle the size and weight of the mower itself and the task it's expected to do.

Starting Mechanism

The type of starting mechanism is a key feature to consider when choosing a lawn mower for your large yard. Lawn mowers usually come with either a manual pull cord or an electric starter. 

As mentioned earlier, pull cord options aren’t ideal for those with certain health conditions or injuries. It may take you several tries to manually pull the cord to get the lawn mower raring to go. An electric start usually allows for a more simple beginning to your lawn mowing task. If you have any type of health issues that could prevent you from easily using a pull starter, such as arthritis, an electric starter would be ideal.

Lawn mowers with an electric start also tend to be less noisy than ones with a manual pull cord, something you, the residents of your home and your neighbors will likely appreciate. The noise level should especially be a consideration if you tend to mow somewhat early on weekend mornings.

Riding lawn mowers usually have a traditional key start. You will need to turn the engine on, set the throttle and then turn the key until the engine turns over, similar to a car.

Mulching and Bags

You’re unlikely to find someone excited about continuously stopping to empty grass clippings from a lawn mower bag. It can be a huge hassle, especially when you’re trying to do a large yard. It’s even worse when it’s hot out, and you just want to complete the task. Although many feel that mulching diminishes the overall look of the lawn, that’s not necessarily the case if the job is done correctly and with the right equipment. 

Rather than grass clippings ending up in your local landfill, they can actually help improve the health of your lawn. As those tiny mulched grass clippings decay, they’re putting nutrients back into your yard, basically providing your property with a form of free fertilizer that’s a much healthier alternative to use for the environment and around pets, kids and the elderly.

Safety Features and Tips

Unfortunately, many people had to get injured or lose their life for multiple safety features that are part of lawn mowers to come into existence. Even still, lawn mowers — although often referred to by some as garden toys — are not the type of toy with which you want to take safety risks. One wrong move and it could severely hurt you or someone within your vicinity.

There are several types of safety features on or available for lawn mowers, such as a rear flap. It may not seem like a sufficient protection barrier, but it prevents grass, pieces of twigs, pebbles and other debris from shooting up at a high speed and striking you or someone else. It also prevents various items, such as your footwear, from going in the lawn mower.

The kill switch on options, such as riding mowers, is vital as a beneficial safety feature. It’s under the seat, so when you sit down, it deactivates, and when you leave the seat, it activates. Let’s say you suffer an unexpected health emergency while mowing the lawn. If you fall off, the lawn mower won't keep running all over your yard and potentially over you or a small child. Many riding mowers have this feature, but if yours doesn’t, it may be possible to have it installed or to do it yourself.

As far as safety tips, the most important one is not to put anything near the blades that shouldn't be there. Everything needs to be completely (and safely) off before you start cleaning the lawn mower, trying to fix a component or lifting or moving it for any reason. 

It’s also a good idea to wear the right gear, and we’re not just talking about the proper footwear. Many don’t think debris will shoot into their face, especially if there's a rear flap on the lawn mower, but it’s possible. It’s one of the reasons it’s a good idea to wear safety glasses. Hearing protection is also important, even if the lawn mower is one of the least noisy options. 

Always do a pre-check of your lawn mower every time before you start it. It may seem pointless, especially if you used the lawn mower recently, but you want to make sure nothing is damaged, out of place, clogged or doesn’t seem like it will work as it should. All safety features should also be in place and ready to protect you. This is particularly important if you loan out your lawn mower, even if you trust the person. 

You should also take a look around your property before starting the task. Look for any hiding animals or potentially harmful objects, such as large rocks. 

Lastly, when you get your lawn mower, take the time to read the instructions. It may seem like a nuisance, but it can help you operate the lawn mower safely and efficiently. 

Maintenance

The first step in maintaining your lawn mower is knowing the type of maintenance it needs in the first place. The instruction manual can be paramount in determining the information. For example, find out how often you need to sharpen the blades, what type of oil and gas the equipment needs and how often you need to replace or clean the air filter. If you have a riding lawn mower, it can be helpful to have it professionally serviced once a year before mowing season starts to head off any issues and keep it in good working order.

Our Top Picks

Our top picks are the lawn mowers that help our customers get their large yards in excellent condition. It’s one of the reasons we offer customer reviews on our website. We want you to see how many reviews each product received from customers and how much they liked them. However, some of our favorites include:

• Bradley 48-inch Stand-on Compact Mower Briggs Vanguard

• Bradley Brush Buster 36-inch Brush Mower Briggs

• Bradley Even-Cut 24-inch Self-Propelled Commercial Push Mower

• Bradley 48-inch Hydro Walk-Behind Mower T Bar Briggs

Feel free to contact Bradley Mowers if you need personal recommendations based on your particular property, and our experts can offer you guidance. Fill us in on the type of lawn you have, including how much acreage, its terrain and if you have any trees and unmovable decor. 

Get in Touch With Us

Bradley Mowers is an outdoor power equipment manufacturer located on a 14-acre complex one hour south of Chicago, Illinois. With over 300,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, We are well positioned to distribute its products throughout the United States. Please feel free to call 815-935-8383 or fill out our online form with any questions or concerns you may have.