Lawn tractors need to be simple to drive and nippy enough to get round trees and garden furniture and zero-turn ride-ons are becoming increasingly popular.
And those from Toro, an American manufacturer with a long pedigree, certainly fit the bill.
The Toro ZS5000 Timecutter Zero-Turn Ride-On Mower has twin hydrostatic drive so you can control the speed and direction of the drive wheels independently by using the levers.
Don’t be worried about using these instead of a steering wheel, you’ll very quickly get the hand of them as they give very precise control, hence the zero-turn ability.
Powering it along is a 726 twin cylinder Kawasaki engine, very reliable and featuring a large 11.3 litre fuel tank.
It has a Toro’s acclaimed Smart Speed system so you can select the speed which best suits the terrain and grass you’re cutting. The maximum speed is 7mph so you can cut the biggest lawns quickly.
It is fitted with a three-bladed mower which gives a 127 cm cutting width and has anti-scalp wheels on the cutting deck to prevent damage to an uneven lawn.
Cutting heights are from 38 mm to 114 mm. Side discharge an d mulching are standard and you can buy a twin bagging system if you wish to collect the cuttings as an extra.
And when you’ve finished there is an easy way to clean the cutting deck – just attach the garden hose to a little nozzle and run the cutting blades.
It costs £3599, £400 less than the maker’s recommended price and we deliver it free within three to five working days. It has a three year warranty from Toro.
You can buy a large range of accessories for this lawn tractor as well.
The Toro ZX4820 Titan Zero-Turn Riding Mower is a similar machine with levers to give the best manoeuvrability – it even has hydraulic dampers on the control levers to give really smooth steering.
This is fitted with a 21.5 hp Kawasaki V-twin engine and a 19.5 litre fuel tank – it is after all designed to tackle the largest lawns and grassy areas like paddocks and orchards.
The height of cut control is foot operated and the side discharge chute is made of 8mm thick rubber to withstand the odd bump.
There is a bumper at the front to protect the engines if there is an accident and it is also fitted with a roll bar which can be folded down for storage or when passing under low-hanging branches.
Large wheels give a smooth ride and a foam-padded and adjustable seat makes it comfortable to drive for a long period.
You can buy a twin bagger attachment for £679 if you want to collect the clippings – they are normally discharged or mulched.
This one costs £4799, £500 less than the maker’s recommended price and delivery is free within five to seven working days.
It has a three year warranty.
If you are thinking of buying a lawn tractor, see these pages for a full selection and give us a ring on 020 3026 8712 if you would like advice before buying.
