While expansive lawns aren’t the foremost feature of a cottage property, cottagers with large lots often have tricky areas to cut, and a number of landscaping tasks that make a garden tractor a must-have cottage tool. If you’re thinking of purchasing a garden tractor for your cottage property, the following tips will allow you to get the most use out of it.
Consider your cutting width: In general, the larger and more open the grass area, the more important it is that the machine has a generous cutting width. If the area has lots of obstructions like trees and bushes, it’s more important that the cutting width is small enough for the tractor to move through tight passages.
Choose the right collection method: Depending on the characteristics of your property, different collection methods may be best for your lawn. In most cases, accessories can be added to switch between modes.
For quick and efficient cutting, choose a side-ejecting tractor. Side ejection is also the most effective cutting deck when you’re mowing high and coarse grass.
Go for a model with an integrated collector when you want to collect clippings and achieve tidy results. And, since tractors with integrated collectors don’t have a deflector that sticks from the side, they can work in tighter spaces than the side-ejecting models. For lawns that need extra care, mowing with a mulching accessory contributes to a healthy lawn by returning clippings to the soil as fertilizer.
Select your transmission: A tractor with hydrostatic transmission is much easier to operate than a tractor with manual transmission. With manual transmission you have to stop the tractor each time you change gears.
There are two different hydrostatic transmission options. The most comfortable option is usually a tractor with pedal-operated transmission, where speed and direction are controlled by separate pedals for forward and reverse. The other option is the lever-operated hydrostat. The lever is placed on the fender and is easy to access from the driver’s seat.
Accessorize for all-season use : For maximum versatility and year-round use, choose a tractor that offers a wide range of accessories. Useful garden-tractor add-ons for cottagers can include a collector for leaves, a moss rake, a scarifier and spreader for lawn preparation, a front-mounted brush, a snow blade or snow thrower for clearing driveways and paths in the winter, and a trailer to make other work around your property easier.
For more lawn tips and information about tool options for proper maintenance visit husqvarna.ca.
