There eventually comes a time every year when the grass begins to take off growing. It's a limited time because you have to decide whether you're going to hire a lawn company or go ahead and purchase your own mower for the up and coming summer. This time you want to make up your mind quicker than previous years. Because, the lawn will get out of control and you don't want your property to be dubbed the mosquito trap by sneering neighbors again.
So, as mentioned, the choice is yours. The kids are gone, so you now have to hire a lawn company or buy your own mower. If you've taken the stance as a new do-it-yourselfer, welcome to the club. Now, it's time to see which mower, push or ride, is right for you.
If you have anything bigger than a quarter acre (about 10,000 square feet), then you might consider buying a riding mower, especially if you're approaching retirement-and who wants to spend it all working! In any case, if your yard is near an acre in size, then purchasing a riding mower (or lawn tractor) is the right choice for you.
Subsequently, once this choice is made, you're going to have a bunch of other choices too. From differences in blade size to horsepower to maneuverability, it's all a question of need versus cost.
Another factor that you should calculate into your equation is maintenance costs. The bigger the model, the more you'll have to take care of each year. With sizeable machinery, you'll be buying more oil, filters, and costly blades. So, if the idea was to save money over time (rather than pay a lawn care company), you might stick with a model that fits your budget. In essence, while you've got a lot of choices, it's better to balance it all out. But you better hurry, before the neighbors start their scoffing!