Yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous weather day with a high in the mid-70s (23.89°C), making it perfect for getting the lawn mowed and another shot with the new zero-turn mower.

For some background, when I bought the house, I ordered a John Deere 1025R tractor with all major accessories, basically the Swiss Army knife of tractors because of the size of the property. There were lots of yard projects I wanted to tackle, including drainage issues and so just a riding lawn mower wouldn’t do. It would also help dealing with the woods, keeping trails clear, and occasional deep snow removal in winter.

The 1025R mower is heavy and there isn’t anything subtle about it. It’s a beast. It’s a diesel engine with lots of torque and it can do a lot. However, it has some drawbacks. For one, it has a high center of gravity, and long distance between the frame and the mower deck. You can’t get too sideways on a hill and seatbelts are a must.

Combined with a wide deck, it makes for a sometimes uneven lawn, however with all-wheel drive and strong grip, it’s never ever out of control on any of the hills on the property and it never ever slides.

Because there are lots of trees to mow around, especially in the back yard, mowing the entire acreage and the meadow with the 1025R takes about three hours. It can be done in less time, but with some scuffing of the lawn.

Chelsea has advocated hard to add a zero-turn mower of some kind, claiming it would save me at least an hour and it would free me up to do other things. There have been three times now where we’ve needed a second mower because the tractor was either in the shop or it was needed for something else at the same time.

When the tractor had to go in for service the second time in one week and each visit lasting more than ten days, I decided to add the zero-turn and after hours of reading reviews and looking at options, I settled on the John Deere Z530M-54. I didn’t want another 60” (152cm) deck, and I didn’t want to go with the cheapest or most expensive either and the Z530M was right in the middle. I didn’t know how much use it would get, but it would come in handy if Chelsea was on one side, and me on the other. Combined, we could get the entire lawn done in a little over an hour and that time savings is a big deal to me.

I’ve used the zero-turn twice now as I write this while I wait for the tractor to come back from service. The thing is still terrifying as it doesn’t handle hills all that well and requires a lot of skill to use. It's faster than the tractor at getting in tight places and mows with far more precision, but the tractor is a lot safer on hills and holds a straighter line. The zero-turn will wheelie on the hills and can easily get out of control on the downhill run where it can’t stop no matter what you do. The steering is also your breaks, so you sometimes have the choice of either turn or stop but not both. Yikes!

In total, on my second run with the zero-turn, it took about two hours to mow everything, so about an hour less time overall than the tractor. The lawn has never looked better. What the zero-turn does that the tractor can’t do is mow with complete height precision from side to side. You don’t have to lean much to cause a long deck to be above the cut on one side and below on the other. It has to do with how far the mower hangs under the tractor versus the zero-turn, combined with the width of the deck. The yard now looks amazing. I’ll put up some before-and-after photos from the tractor to the zero-turn.

There are a few differences that you can see in the photos. The tractor has a 60” (152cm) mower deck, which is the width. If the tractor, with big rear tires, tips just slightly, the mowed corners from side to side are uneven. The deck hangs about a foot (30.48cm) under the tractor, which doesn’t have to lean very much to make the deck uneven from side to side. The zero-turn mower is much lower with only a 54” (137.2cm) mower deck. It’s only about six inches (15.24cm) below the frame of the mower, so it has less lateral difference in height on uneven surfaces. The 6” (15.24cm) in width difference means one extra pass every 9th pass.

In retrospect, I’d have gained more precision with a 54” deck under the tractor, but it does mean more passes. The tractor is much safer and far easier to manage on the hills.

The zero-turn was designed to do one thing, and that's mow a lawn. The tractor is in constant use because it does so much more, but none of them perfectly. I use everything on the tractor, especially the bucket in front to clear brush and for leaves in the fall. I also use the backhoe to clear brush and push dead trees. The zero-turn will never do anything else but mow a lawn. It can pull a little wagon, but that's about it.

Chelsea tried to control the zero-turn down the hill on the side of the yard and had the crap scared out of her too as she knocked some rocks out of hill. If you don’t plan ahead, it can be dangerous. No doubt the zero-turn lawn results look better when finished, but it's a little terrifying to use on slope.

I get the tractor back either today or tomorrow. The repair work was covered under warranty and apparently something came apart somewhere on the deck. The tractor has been trouble-free, but the mower side, not so much.

Just for fun, I asked GPT-4 about the advantages and disadvantages of a zero-turn. Notice it uses all of my prior writings on the subject as a part of its answer.

I asked, “GPT-4, what are the advantages and disadvantages of a zero-turn mower?”

Certainly! Zero-turn mowers are popular in both residential and commercial landscaping. Here's an overview of the advantages and disadvantages:

Advantages

1. Maneuverability: Zero-turn mowers are highly maneuverable and can easily navigate around obstacles, such as trees and garden beds, which can lead to a cleaner cut.

2. Speed: Generally faster than traditional lawn tractors, zero-turn mowers can significantly reduce mowing time.

3. Efficiency: The precise control allows for more accurate mowing, often resulting in less need for trimming around edges and corners.

4. Cutting Precision: Their unique steering control provides a more precise cut, giving the lawn a more manicured look.

5. Wide Range of Sizes: Zero-turn mowers come in various deck sizes to suit different lawn sizes and requirements.

Disadvantages

1. Cost: Zero-turn mowers are generally more expensive than traditional mowers, both in initial purchase price and maintenance.

2. Hill Performance: As you mentioned in your earlier text, zero-turn mowers can be unstable on hilly or sloped terrain. This may lead to uneven cutting or potential safety issues.

3. Learning Curve: Operating a zero-turn mower requires some skill and practice, especially for those accustomed to traditional riding mowers.

4. Limited Utility: Unlike tractors, which can often tow attachments and perform other tasks, zero-turn mowers are primarily designed for mowing. This makes them less versatile.

5. Potential Lawn Damage: Their sharp turns and rapid movement can sometimes damage soft or wet lawns, leading to tracks or ruts in the grass.

Conclusion

Zero-turn mowers are excellent for large, flat areas where speed and precision are desired. However, their high cost, specific learning curve, and limitations on uneven terrain might make them less suitable for all users or landscapes. Like any piece of equipment, the decision to invest in a zero-turn mower should take into consideration the specific needs and characteristics of the lawn and the preferences and skills of the operator.