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Riding lawn mowers become a necessity for many homeowners for a variety of reasons. For example, maybe you have moved and your lawn is just too big for a push lawn mower or health reasons have made a riding lawn mower an absolute must have. Whatever reasons you have for needing a new riding lawn mower, you should be aware of few things you need to know when it is time to buy.

First, you should have a good idea of your yard size. This will help you determine the engine size and cutting width you need in your riding lawn mower. As a general rule of thumb, if you have a lawn that is a half to one acre in size, you should get an engine with a minimum of 14 ' horsepower and with a cutting width maximum of 42 inches. If you have a lawn the size of one to two acres, you will generally need a cutting width of 42 to 46 inches and your engine will need to be between 14 and 16 horsepower. A lawn of more than three acres and you will need what is called a garden tractor. This will need a cutting width of 46 to 54 inches and the engine will have to be 18 to 24 horsepower.

Your next decision will be whether you should buy a riding lawn mower or a garden tractor. Both do the same basic function of mowing your lawn. However, the garden tractor can be used to pull a variety of yard attachments. For example, you could pull a tiller, disc harrow, a plow. You can even use a snow plow or snow blower with it. The garden tractor is perfect for those big mowing jobs as well.

Once you have taken care of the bigger decisions, the easier ones are next to come. You need to choose whether you want an automatic riding lawn mower or a gear driven one. Your choice should be based on the amount of obstacles you have in your lawn. A gear driven lawn mower would be good for lawns with little obstacles, while an automatic is perfect for those with many.

You can then choose mulching, bagging, cylinder types and any attachments you want with your riding lawn mower.

It is also important that you follow safety precautions when using any riding lawn mower. Make sure all potentially hazardous debris and other items are clear out of the yard. This includes pine cones, rocks, and other debris. Also, avoid allowing children to ride on or operate the riding lawn mower. Children can easily fall off the lawn mower often resulting in injurious or fatal accidents occurring. You should also avoid running the lawn mower next to anyone and make sure children are not playing in the area you are mowing.

By choosing the right riding lawn mower and following the proper safety precautions, you will be able to enjoy your riding lawn mower for years to come.