The wife and I live on 1 acre and found the time has come for me to purchase a lawn/garden tractor to maintain. In looking online at reviews, I see different opinions from each on which brand is "best" so I thought I'd inquire among the many on this site who have a machine.

Purpose is to cut weeds and then to drag the yard frequently to keep the weeds down for the dogs to do agility.

I would appreciate any input and suggestions you may offer. Please include make and model.

For an ordinary lawn, I have been seriously considering the JD x350 but my 27 year old JD has yet to kick the bucket.

I believe there was a thread here on tractors not too long ago. I will see if I can find it and update my post with the link.

As for me, I had a 2-acre yard and had a John Deere (LX 188 (IIRC)). It had a wide deck and a mulcher which made things a lot easier.

EDIT: I found the thread here. It's not quite what you asked about as it discusses more "general purpose" tractor use, but is still a pretty informative and entertaining thread.

My parents had 2.5 acres and my Step-dad bought a John Deere. Mostly cutting grass and pulling a trailer with stuff from the yard and creek.

My Step-dad is not cheap, but I was a little surprised he spent the money on the John Deere.

That tractor lasted the 30+ years they lived there. My Step-dad even used it to cut one of the storm sewer lids down by the street. We would always grin when we heard the noise of him running over the sewer lid.

It was one tough tractor and if I am ever in the market, I will give JD first consideration.

Cub Cadet XT1 Enduro LT 42 in. 56-Volt 60 Ah Battery Lithium-Ion Electric Front Engine Riding Lawn Tractor
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Cu...ctor-LT42e/311630104

Since you are in CA, maybe something like this?

Have you considered a zero turn? I just got a toro timecutter and love it. Zero turn is a much quicker way to mow than a tractor unless you need a tractor.

My B-I-L is a professional lawn care guy, he is hardcore JD and recommends going to a dealer, not a big box store for your needs. The big box stores carry their lowest tier.

I would avoid ANY lawn tractor with the K46 Hydro, including the X350. Move up to something with a K56/58 at least. Expect prices to be around $4,500 and up for a decent lawn tractor and more like $7,000 and for a decent garden tractor.

I'm VERY happy with my Kubota zero turn and I do several acres at times.

A lawn tractor and a garden tractor are two different beasts that can look similar. A garden tractor is built heavy duty from the frame up. In your case either should do the trick. I have a lawn tractor ( craftsman 22 Hp.) for 18 years and it has served me well. A garden tractor can do more, some have a pto which can come in handy. I don't have a particular brand to recommend, but don't but a model from a big box store. The big box store models are a lesser grade whether it be a JD or Cub Cadet.

I know several people that have JD and love them, I have a Toro zero turn and it’s been nothing but great. I had a Cub Cadet and it was a piece of shit! The engine block cracked 2 months out of warranty. Cub Cadet wouldn’t do anything for me. Not discount on parts nothing.

quote:

Originally posted by Valpo Fz:
I know several people that have JD and love them, I have a Toro zero turn and it’s been nothing but great. I had a Cub Cadet and it was a piece of shit! The engine block cracked 2 months out of warranty. Cub Cadet wouldn’t do anything for me. Not discount on parts nothing.

I love my toro timecutter so far....will run circles around my old craftsmen lawn tractor.

For one acre you do not need a zero turn. If you want something that lasts with nothing more than regular maintenance then get a legit John Deere, Kubota or Toro. You will probably spend more than you expected but you will also (outside of a freak accident or bad luck) have a piece of equipment that’ll nearly outlast you.

I have less than 3/4 acres with a part that's a steep hill. I'm cheap when it comes to this type of thing. We first bought a Troy Built and it lasted 15 years with annual service. For the new one I went with a Cub Cadet, don't have the model handy but it was $1500.00 from Tractor Supply, less $150.00 sale and a military discount of $100.
00. Plenty of power for what I have and importantly it goes up the hill.

When my neighbor moved in he just had to have a lawn tractor. After watching me mow twice as much ground in half the time, and having a blast doing it, he bought a zero turn and never looked back.

I have had several John Deere mowers and tractors, and I will never have another, because my JD Dealer (Atlantic Tractor) is the absolute worse dealer I have ever dealt with. They are geared towards the Ag Industry, and if you spend less than $100K they won't give you the time of day.

My zero turns are Grasshopper (Woods) and Bobcat, at 27 and 17 years old, respectively. Both shops are top rate.

So ask your neighbors who they like. The service department is the key, there are lots of quality brands.

I have a JD lawn tractor that I bought used 5 or 6 years ago. It is probably 25 or 30 years old and still going strong. It has an engine built by Kawasaki.

quote:

Originally posted by UTsig:
I have less than 3/4 acres with a part that's a steep hill. I'm cheap when it comes to this type of thing. We first bought a Troy Built and it lasted 15 years with annual service. For the new one I went with a Cub Cadet, don't have the model handy but it was $1500.00 from Tractor Supply, less $150.00 sale and a military discount of $100.
00. Plenty of power for what I have and importantly it goes up the hill.

I mowed 1.5 acres on a hillside with my first CC that I bought from a dealer in 2007. It was shaft drive. I gave it to my son two years ago as I wanted a snowblower and they no longer made one for that model. I bought another CC, the XT3 Enduro to replace it, also from a dealer.

The only thing I've replaced on either machine is filters, oil, and belts. I have no complaints.

If you aren't doing ground work, a Cub Cadet (from a dealer) is an option to consider.

I'd recommend a Cub Cadet Ultima (zero turn) with 42" deck. Its speed is faster than a tractor and it can haul a trailer. You can get a Kawasaki or Kohler engine (I'd recommend Kohler). As mentioned, go to a dealer as you'll pay the same amount if you go anywhere else.

I bought the 54" last year and it's terrific.

I have 50 acres but only mow a fire break and between the trees in the living snow fence and windbreak, ~1000 trees.

I recommend a John Deere. Buy it from a JD dealer, not a big box store because the warranty from the dealer is much better. Cost more, so what.

What is your budget for this project? The durability of John Deere mowers 25 years ago doesn't have much to do with the durability of today's models. As mentioned above, the K-46 Hydro is pretty light duty. All of the lower priced models are pretty frail when compared to the ones years ago. I have a very nice John Deere garden tractor but for $12,000 it darn well ought to be. ridewv's post above has it right on price estimates. What are you dragging to keep down the weeds? Zero turns get stuck very easily which is not a problem as long as you have something around to pull them out with and don't mind dealing with it.