Name: Dewalt 125 mph 450 CFM 20V leaf blower
Brand: Dewalt
Rating: 9 (1 reviews)

November 16, 2021April 20, 2024

Husqvarna MZ61 Zero-Turn Mower: A Massive Beast

The Husqvarna MZ61 zero-turn mower is simply a beast. One of the biggest, baddest zero-turn mowers I have had the pleasure of reviewing, this thing absolutely means business.

If you don’t want to read much further, here’s the bottom line: the Husqvarna MZ61 zero-turn mower is from an extremely high-performing class of mowers and is extremely wide, making your job way quicker. I recommend it.

The folks over at Husqvarna have a reputation for putting out monster equipment so I am excited for us to roll up our sleeves and dig in.

Let’s get started, click these links to jump ahead:

Husqvarna MZ 61 feature review
MZ61 price and value
The official review: The Husqvarna MZ61
Husqvarna and mowers
Zero-turn 101

The Husqvarna MZ61: Feature review

The first thing to know about the MZ61 is that it is one of the biggest zero-turn mowers offered by Husqvarna. The 61 obviously stands for a 61 inch cutting deck, which is over 5 feet wide. This is not your neighborhood lawn mower, but more for those of us with a lot of land or commercial obligations.

Power provided by Briggs and Stratton

The Husqvarna MZ61 boasts a 27hp engine, which is on par for some motorcycles. This thing is an absolute beast. Briggs and Stratton manufactures the engine, which is a feature I love. Husqvarna often outsources their engines to Briggs and Stratton, who have perfected and refined small engines. They provide lawn mower engines to some Toro mowers as well.

The engine is a V-twin Endurance engine that features premium air filtration, chrome plated valves, super finished bearing surfaces, and an oversized cooling fan. Translating all of this into English, this mower is super durable and can handle several days in a row of runtime, thick brush, and high speeds.

Super wide cutting deck and operations

As mentioned earlier, the Husqvarna MZ61 has a 61 inch cutting deck (or 5 feet and 1 inch). That is huge. The deck itself is fabricated 11 gauge steel with three anti-scalp wheels. Anti-scalp wheels prevent against scalping, or when the blades run into the earth when maneuvering over uneven terrain or hills. The deck lifting system is manual and foot-operated whereas the blade engagement system is an electric clutch. The cutting height has 12 steps, or levels, that dictate the length of grass you would like to cut.

The three (yes, three) blades underneath this beast rotate at about 18,500 fpm and can handle even the densest of brush. Unfortunately, the MZ61 does not come with a deck wash port that allows for a hose to be directly connected to the deck to remove any built up debris like caked-on grass.

Another often overlooked feature of this mower is the 6 inch castor wheels on the front. These are massive front wheels that allow for a sturdy ride that is also easily maneuverable.

Comfort

Of course one of the best things about Husqvarna zero-turn mowers like the MZ61 is the comfort. Husqvarna designers are definitely people who have used zero-turn mowers before and every user experience detail is confronted.

First, the Husqvarna MZ61 has armrests. So many dang lawn mowers come without armrests and I always wonder why. They are absolutely essential for anyone who has to mow more than 10 minutes at a time, and they are a huge pain to go without.

Second, the super high-back chair on the Husqvarna MZ61 is unrivaled. Most zero-turn mowers have a 15 inch chair, and that is being generous. The MZ61 has a 21 inch chair back. Yep, the designer has mowed a large property before. It is so crazy how this is easily overlooked – I am guessing that it is an expensive feature or something?

I always love the other simple things like a cup holder and phone holder. The Husqvarna MZ61 has all of these.

Durability and maintenance

Something missing from a lot of mowers is an hour meter. Hour meters keep track of how long you have been mowing so that you know when you need to do an oil change and other routine maintenance. The Husqvarna MZ61 has an hour meter with a service reminder built in, which helps keep you focused on the job instead of manually tracking.

The built in hour meter on the MZ61, with a service reminder.

The transmission on the MZ61 is also an integrated zero-turn transmission with features that contribute to longer life like charge-pumps, larger axles, and expansion tanks. For other features underneath like belt replacements, etc. you can simply remove the foot pan to access a significant amount of deck-related hardware.

The oversized chassis with massive dimensions help provide a durable frame. In combination with the 6-inch caster wheels and massive rear tires, the frame and drive on this mower are extremely durable. You can also buy a roll over protection system (ROPS) as an optional add-on to protect against any rollover concerns.

The easy access points on the Husqvarna MZ61 for any service needs.

Frankly, this thing is built like a tank and you will not have any concerns about durability.

Cost and value

I do not particularly like talking about the cost and price associated with mowers like these because these are truly investments.

The MZ61 comes in at just over $5,000. To me, this is a high-value purchase. With proper maintenance and attention, this mower is going to last you for a decade or longer. If you have more than 2 acres, this mower is absolutely the top of the line.

The official review: Husqvarna MZ61 zero-turn mower

Feature	Husqvarna MZ61	Comparable residential ZT mower
Difficulty to use	Below average difficulty	Average
Durability	Above average durability	Average durability
Maintenance	Average maintenance	Average maintenance
Value	Super high value	Medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Would not fit	Would not fit
For lots <1 acre	Too large	Probably overkill but is fun and looks cool
For lots >1 acre	Highly recommended	Highly recommended

Why we review lawn tools

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

Husqvarna’s reputation

Husqvarna is one of the leading product suppliers for commercial lawn care companies including government and public agencies. Ever wonder how a vast open area at a park gets trimmed? Golf courses, national parks, etc.? It is likely a Husqvarna product.

Husqvarna makes chainsaws, lawn mowers, trimmers, leaf blowers, snow blowers, pressure washers, edgers, – basically every tool under the sun. Their color scheme of grey and bright orange sticks out like a sore thumb. When you pass by the big commercial mowers, you can almost always spot a Husqvarna product.

If you are wondering how to pronounce Husqvarna, you have come to the wrong place. But this company’s 330 year history started in Sweden by manufacturing muskets. In 1919, they began engineering their first lawnmower engines. Since then, they have become a dominant force in all outdoor equipment.

Zero-turn mowers

I usually give a run down of zero-turn mowers and why they are superior for large yards. I compare them to lawn tractors and push mowers and all that jazz. But if you searched for the Husqvarna MZ61 and stumbled upon this review, I am guessing you are an experienced mower and have had a zero-turn mower in the past.

The long and the short of it is that Husqvarna’s are high quality machines. Their zero-turn mowers, particularly this one, are top of the line and absolutely sweet. Let’s not waste any time trying to explain what the best yards are for zero-turn mowers and get into the review.

November 16, 2021April 20, 2024

The Dewalt 20V Leaf Blower Is Great For Backyard Use

The Dewalt 20V leaf blower is a light, handheld, electric blower from Dewalt’s 20V series of equipment. Whether moving leaves across your deck or cleaning out the garage, the Dewalt 20V leaf blower can get the job done.

Every fall, interest in battery-powered leaf blowers seems to absolutely peak. For me, however, electric leaf blowers are a year-round tool to get rid of grass clippings, clean my garage, and clear off my patio and deck. With Dewalt being a household name, let’s check out the different features of the blower.

Bottom Line: This Dewalt 20v blower made our list of the top blowers because it is super easy to handle, powerful enough, and has a massive battery system.

Jump ahead in our review:

Dewalt 20V products
Electric vs. gas leaf blowers
Dewalt 20V MAX feature review
Dewalt blower price
The official review

Dewalt 20V MAX electric leaf blower: Features

The Dewalt 20V MAX leaf blower has a lot to like, but a lot to be desired. One of the most necessary items you need in your garage for keeping a neat and manicured lawn, the blower is an investment. Let’s check out some of the features in this blower and who would best benefit from each one.

Pure power

Power is one of the most important things in a blower. While most of the time, we don’t need massive amounts of power to blow the leaves off of our deck, there are other times that it is an absolute must. There is nothing more frustrating than a wet leaf stuck to the deck, or some wet grass clippings clumped onto your driveway.

In those situations, power is of utmost importance. The leaf blower frankly does not have much power. Or perhaps better put, does not have much focused power. Let me explain.

The Dewalt 20V leaf blower has 450 CFM of air output. This is actually on par with some gas blowers and on the higher end for a blower of its size. Sadly, it only outputs 125 mph of air. For comparison, many gas (and even some electric) blowers blow upwards of 200 mph of air.

The reason the Dewalt 20V power does not provide high-speed power is the width of the opening. The blower itself has a very wide opening, so despite all of the air coming out, it is not focused into a narrow, more powerful stream. To truly get the right amount of power, you need to use a concentrator attachment.

Usability of the Dewalt 20V Blower

With the shortcomings in power, usability is definitely impacted as well. The lower airspeed output means that you will want to use this blower in certain situations. The blower will work well with dry leaves, dry grass clippings, or other lightweight debris like sawdust.

What the Dewalt 20V leaf blower lacks in power, it makes up for in comfort and ease of use. This blower comes in at just over 7 lbs, making it one of the lightest blowers on the market. The variable trigger and speed lock allow for easy power adjustments and a more comfortable overall experience.

Love how the handle here is similar to a power drill – made for comfort.

Another important feature of the 20V MAX leaf blower from Dewalt is the low amount of noise during operations. This is great for not frustrating your neighbors! There is nothing worse than being woken up by a super loud gas blower that sounds like it will never finish the job. The Dewalt 20V max leaf blower makes the same amount of noise as the background of a business office.

The last piece I will say about this blower is that it is a part of the 20V series from Dewalt. This makes usability slightly easier by simply shifting the battery from one tool to the next and only taking up one plug for all related tools in that line. This is a big plus for Dewalt loyalists!

Maintenance and durability

This blower will require absolutely no maintenance. One thing to love about the Dewalt 20V Max leaf blower is the brushless motor. Remember earlier on in this post I talked about burning through two electric blowers? Well the blowers I had before were not brushless, so after periods of long use the engine would burn out. Brushless blowers are impervious to the friction that occurs in traditional blower engines, making them last significantly longer.

Price (regular and tool only)

The Dewalt 20V leaf blower will run you just over $200. The Dewalt 20V blower tool-only comes in at about $150, which is a great deal. You can purchase the tool-only version from Amazon for a great price or grab it from your local Home Depot (check price here).

Sadly, I don’t think this is a high-value blower. For slightly more money, you could get a much more powerful blower (like this one from Ryobi) or a gas powered backpack blower (like the Husqvarna 150BT).

The official review: Dewalt 125 mph 450 CFM 20V leaf blower

Feature	Dewalt 20V leaf blower	Comparable blowers
Difficulty to use	Easier to start	Easier to start
Durability	Avg. durability	Avg. durability
Maintenance	No maintenance	No maintenance
Value	Moderate value	Low to medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Highly recommended	Highly recommended
For lots <1 acre	Recommended in certain situations	Less recommended
For lots >1 acre	Not recommended	Less recommended

Why we review battery powered blowers

Dewalt 20V products

Dewalt has a series of 20V MAX compatible battery products. Simply buy the battery once, and you can use it across over 200 products. For example, the same battery that powers this leaf blower is one that powers the hedge trimmer (click here to see the review we did).

The benefits of having interchanging battery-powered tools are two-fold. The first benefit is the storage space in your garage. I have a few outlets that are constantly taken up by different battery-powered tools. One for my Ryobi, one for my Black and Decker tools, and another for Dewalt. With only having one battery for all of your tools, you can save space and wire clutter in your garage.

The other benefit of having interchanging battery-powered tools is a lower cost. Typically when you buy an electric tool, you pay for the tool AND the battery. With a product in Dewalt’s 20V MAX line of tools, you can purchase each tool as “tool-only”. This leaves out the battery and takes a good chunk off of the overall cost of each tool.

Electric vs. gas-powered leaf blowers

Obviously you have two options when selecting a leaf blower: electric or gas.They are worlds apart in just about every aspect. Electric leaf blowers tend to be cheaper, less powerful, but easier to maintain. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I used to have a Ryobi leaf blower attachment that came on their 3-in-1 tool kit. I have now gone through two of the leaf blower heads in which they start making a high pitch scraping noise when I am using it.

There are exceptions in the electric leaf blower world. One of those is the Ryobi 40V Brushless whisper series blower. It is quiet, extremely powerful, and built to last. It is, however, one of the most expensive electric blowers you can buy.

Gas blowers are superior from a power and durability standpoint. They are super strong, last many seasons, and quickly get the job done. They do require maintenance, gas, and crank-starts, which are a little more difficult for most people. I always recommend an electric blower for smaller yards, whereas larger yards are better served with gas blowers.

November 14, 2021April 20, 2024

The Husqvarna Backpack Blower with Extreme Power

The Husqvarna 350BT is a big, bad blower offered by Husqvarna. The Husqvarna backpack blower was designed for the large yard owner, and it shows.

The long, wide tube of the Husqvarna 350BT

Bottom Line: The Husqvarna 350BT is great for large yards or commercial landscaping use. You can grab it on Amazon or at a local Husqvarna dealer.

Let’s check out the guide for today’s review:

Husqvarna 350BT feature review
Husqvarna 350BT vs 150BT
The official review!!!
Leaf blowers 101
Backpack blowers and the 350BT

Husqvarna 350BT Backpack Leaf Blower review: Features

The Husqvarna 350BT has a ton to love, while a few things that are less than ideal. Let’s check out each focus area to see what to think of this blower.

Top tier power

The Husqvarna 350BT has a 50cc engine with about 2.1 hp of power output. This has a cfm of just over 494, which puts it in a slightly higher range for gas blowers. The airspeed leaving the pipe is about 180 mph. The Husqvarna 150BT has a little less cfm, but higher airspeed….how is this possible?

The Husqvarna 350BT has a wider nozzle, meaning it blows a wider path at a slightly lower speed. This is what contributes to the 350BT being a large yard blower. The backpack blower simply moves large quantities of air at a time versus being a focused, narrow streamline.

For those looking to move large piles of leaves, the 350BT will likely be better suited for the job. The 150BT will be great for things like cleaning up grass clippings that have a propensity to stick to concrete. This narrow stream of the 150BT allows for focused power in specific areas.

Comfortable experience

Here is an area of the Husqvarna 350BT that is simply unmatched. You can tell when you strap on one of these blowers that the designers and manufacturers have simply done a lot of yard work.

The 350BT comes with an ergonomic handle that is to the side of the blower. The positioning of the handle is important. Some handles are right over the top of the blower arm, meaning you are constantly thrusting against the direct force of the blower. This one is slightly offset, meaning you feel less of that “kick” against your hand while blowing. The handle is also adjustable and has settings right at the tip of your fingers so that you do not have to fidget around making adjustments.

The offset handle on the Husqvarna 350BT.

One downside to this blower is the back. While the straps are comfortable, the back is hard plastic and has the engine parts screwed into it. This makes it feel like you are wearing an engine sitting on top of hard plastic. It does not necessarily feel like a solid machine but more of a conglomeration of random parts. Overall, the back part is just uncomfortable and unnatural feeling – especially compared to some of the competitor backpack blowers.

The blower will last a long time with proper maintenance

As is the usual situation with Husqvarna products, maintenance is super simple. These blowers do not require an oil change or anything like that, simply an air filter change. The air filter is super simple to pop off and replace, so that will be the bulk of any maintenance.

The handle on the 350BT, up-close with functions.

I have mentioned this several times, but my Ryobi blower attachment for my 3-in-1 Ryobi yard tool simply sucks. I have had to purchase a new blower attachment for two straight years because they are cheap and loserish. Husqvarna blowers will last you 10-15 years with proper maintenance. I highly recommend saving some money in the long run, and purchasing one of these today.

Husqvarna 350BT vs 150BT blowers

So basically, these are very similar blowers. The 350BT is going to have slightly more power with less speed, but directed over a larger area. The 150BT is going to be great for smaller yards, or more focused jobs (like blowing off wet grass). Both weigh about the same amount, have the same maintenance, and similar usability.

Price

The Husqvarna 350BT comes in at about $350 to $400 (or cheaper on Amazon). This is going to be $30 to $40 higher than the 150BT, but can be definitely worth it if you have a larger yard.

This price range is a really great value. Like I mentioned earlier, this blower will last you for 10-15 years if you treat it right. In that time, I would blow (ha) $600 to $800 on electric blowers that failed for whatever reason.

The official review: Husqvarna 350BT backpack blower

Feature	Husqvarna 350BT	Electric blower
Difficulty to use	More difficult to start and store	Easier to start
Durability	Much more durable	Avg. durability
Maintenance	Average maintenance	No maintenance
Value	High value	Low to medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Less recommended	Highly recommended
For lots <1 acre	Highly recommended	Less recommended
For lots >1 acre	Highly recommended	Less recommended

Why we review lawn tools

Leaf blowers: Electric vs. Gas

Obviously you have two options when selecting a leaf blower: electric or gas. They are worlds apart in just about every aspect. Electric leaf blowers tend to be cheaper, weaker, and only last a few seasons. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I used to have a Ryobi leaf blower attachment that came on their 3-in-1 tool kit. I have now gone through two of the leaf blower heads in which they start making a high pitch scraping noise when I am using it.

Gas blowers are superior in almost every way. They are super strong, last many seasons, and quickly get the job done. The reason you see every professional lawn care person using a backpack blower is because they work extremely well. Let’s dig into that more below.

Backpack blowers

As you may know, I have already reviewed a few other backpack blowers in addition to today’s. This includes the Husqvarna 150BT, a slightly different backpack blower offered by Husqvarna. One thing you need to know about backpack blowers is that they are the ultimate leaf blowers when it comes to medium to large yards.

Think about it – it takes a bit of time to get the backpack blower fired up, strapped on, and comfortable to use. Make sure it is worth your time to get a big, bad blower like one of these before you purchase. If you have a relatively small yard, consider a handheld blower or battery-powered blower. These can save you set-up time despite being weaker and limited.

November 11, 2021April 20, 2024

Scotts Turf Builder: A Great Budget Lawn Fertilizer

I’ll be honest, when I hear 3-in-1 like we do with Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action, I think of shampoo, conditioner and body wash all in one.

Man, I love to not have to switch bottles when I go to wash my hair and toes. All in one, baby, simple as that. So when I saw Scott’s assembled the next best dream team of lawn care excellence, I nearly collapsed out of my chair! Kills, prevents and feeds all in one?! You serious, Clark?

No more need to switch bags or remember measurements for each. Scott’s treats us like the cavemen and women we are and does it for us.

I’m always terrified I’ll scorch my lawn when I fertilize so the less that’s on me the better. BUT – Does this product really do what it says it does? Let’s discuss…

OUR RECOMMENDATION: Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action (3-in-1)

If you’re trying to save money: Scotts Turf Builder Southern Lawn Food

Why we review lawn tools

When to use Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action

The specs on this bag lead me to believe this packs an awfully powerful punch! But just like when you use a 3-in-1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash, you lose flexibility and oftentimes quality. So you’ve got to take the good with the bad here. Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action is a pretty good formula that kills some weeds, prevents crabgrass, and fertilizes turf to help ensure a thick, green lawn for you and your family to enjoy. At least right off the bat.

But it’s important to note that Scott’s only controls existing listed lawn weeds, including dandelion, clover, dollarweed, ground ivy, chickweed, plantain (I don’t think this is the banana cousin), and english daisy. If you’ve got other challenges in your yard, you’re going to need to use a non selective herbicide to clear those out.

We made a couple of web stories that highlight the power of Scott’s as well as when and how to use Scott’s.

A warning to heed

It will not kill existing crabgrass, it only prevents it for about 4 months. I’ve found 4 months is generous. Usually more like 2 to 3. You can use this on all several types of turf including tall and fine fescue, zoysia, kentucky bluegrass, bermuda and ryegrass.

When you apply this you’re going to make sure you use the Scotts spreader on a wet lawn, this helps adherence to leaves. Also, water it again 24 hours later so help it soak in. A bag will usually cover about 4,000 sq ft so you’ll probably need 3 to 4 bags to get the job done right.

Applying the turf builder to your lawn

When applying this to your lawn it is important you do it at the right time. Spring is usually best, though this can be applied in the fall as well. Just whatever you do please don’t apply this in the middle of the summer or the dead of winter. Both will leave you very disappointed and with a burnt up lawn.

Also, make sure you give your lawn a nice quick drink before you apply this. As discussed previously, this just helps it stick to the grass. If you’re putting it down in the spring, just do it in the morning when the dew is still on the grass. Also throw some more water on it in 24 hours to help soil soakage, (no I’m not talking about your baby’s diaper).

Using the Scotts Triple Action with the Edgeguard broadcast spreader.

As explained w/ the Milorganite it’s best to use the Scotts broadcast spreader for this type of material. The back of the pack tells you which setting to turn the dial to then just pull the handle and walk in a back and forth pattern across a lawn. I usually stick to 5 to 6 feet from pass to pass. This allows some overlap to ensure coverage but not enough to over apply. I also usually wear pants because fertilizers tend to dry my skin out pretty good. Just imagine what this does to your yard if overapplied.

It’s best to only apply this in spring and fall as not to overload your yard with chemicals. This is a key to keeping a healthy lawn. Growing lush lawn too fast can be a bad thing too.

Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action: Key Specs

A quick primer on Scotts Turf Builder from the experts themselves.

This particular fertilizer/herbicide uses a 16-0-1 which is pretty heavy on the nitrogen. A quick primer on fertilizer blends The three most important ingredients, which are usually displayed right on the front of the bag in the order, N – P – K. N means % nitrogen, P means % phosphate and K means % potassium. Ex, a bag of 10-10-10 fertilizer contains 10 percent nitrogen, 10 percent phosphate and 10 percent potassium. Basically, nitrogen helps you have a thick GREEN lawn, phosphate helps with the plant tissue and root development – very important for a new lawn, potassium helps you with a new lawn.

So with that blend, this particular fertilizer is not super great for helping you have a deep root system which is absolutely essential for having a healthy lawn. This is like building a beautiful hose on a pile of sand. It’ll look good for the first little bit but the minute a stresser is introduced it’s in trouble. It’s important to pick a fertilizer with a good blend of the three. I usually try to stick to a 10-10-10. But for what this bag does, kills and prevents weeds, it’s okay to add phosphate and potassium in a different application.

Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action: Official review

If you’re like me, easier is better. So Scotts Turf Builder Triple Action 3-in-1 is very enticing, 3 products in one is cool. But if those three products aren’t necessarily the highest quality or the “right blend” for long term lawn gains then it might not be a good choice in product.

This really comes down to a personal preference in my opinion. Do you want an easy one step approach? Then this product is right for you. However, if you want to be selective in the type of weeds you’re killing and controlling and want a more balanced fertilizer then you probably aren’t going to love this. The 16-0-1 blend is going to green you up really quick but like I said previously, it’s really not great for your yard in the long run. In order for lawn gains you’re going to need to have a more balanced fertilizer blend than that.

Do I use this on my lawn? No. Would I recommend someone to use this on there lawn? If they’re just looking to keep the weeds relatively at bay then yes. If they want the best lawn in the cul-de-sac then no. Break it up and apply each product one at a time.

You can grab this product on Amazon for a great price instead of trying to find a parking spot at your local home improvement store.

November 10, 2021April 20, 2024

Why I Really Like Husqvarna’s 150BT Backpack Blower

The Husqvarna 150BT leaf blower is a backpack blower that packs a punch. In fact, if you’ve spent any time driving around during the fall months, you will see professional landscapers wearing these things around. Backpack blowers are great for commercial landscapers, but also fantastic for homeowners as well.

While they aren’t quite as easy to use as electric blowers, backpack blowers have way more power, save you time, and last for years.

Let’s check out today’s review:

Leaf blowers 101
Husqvarna’s history
Husqvarna backpack blower feature review
Price of a Husqvarna BT150
The official review

Why we review lawn tools

Leaf blowers: An overview

Obviously you have two options when selecting a leaf blower: electric or gas. They are worlds apart in just about every aspect. Electric leaf blowers tend to be cheaper, weaker, and only last a few seasons. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I used to have leaf blower attachment that came on their 3-in-1 tool kit. I have now gone through two of the leaf blower heads in which they start making a high pitch scraping noise when I am using it.

Husqvarna’s reputation

Husqvarna is one of the most respected names in lawn care. Not only are they producers of great, high quality lawn care tools for residential property owners, but they also create really great machinery for commercial use in parks, golf courses, and all over construction sites.

Husqvarna’s bread and butter is the heavier, commercial machinery for sure. For example, they don’t have a huge presence in the push mower space, but have some absolute units in the zero-turn mower space. Likewise, they produce big boy commercial lawn mowers and chainsaws that you will see clearing forests. Even their robotic Automower shows how much innovation they do.

The Husqvarna 150BT Leaf Blower: Features

The Husqvarna 150BT leaf blower has a ton of features that you need to be aware of. Let’s check out how they measure up to their peers and what to look for when picking a backpack blower.

Power

The Husqvarna 150BT is admittedly a mid-size backpack blower that provides mid-range commercial power. Still blowing leaves at a whopping 251 mph, this blower is enough to get most jobs done.

The 150BT has a 50cc engine with about 434 cfm, which is cubic feet per minute, a measurement used in blowers to indicate the amount of air leaving the blower. 400-500 cfm is pretty standard for a gas powered blower and well above the normal range for an electric blower. While there is a lot left to be desired for commercial blowers, this blower is going to still get the job done. In fact, this blower will be well suited for a residential property as well.

Need more power? Check out the big brother review here.

Usability

The Husqvarna 150BT blower is pretty slick. It has an ergonomic handle on the right side that will help steer the blower, but also has a trigger and spring-loaded “On-Off” switch for easy starting.

Compared to other backpack blowers that I have used, the expandable, flexible, rubber portion on the right side attached to the handle is a lot shorter. This will not impact the operations that much, but does limit the range of motion slightly. Another thing that sticks out about this blower is the long nozzle. Long blower nozzles are great, especially for talk people like me, but it narrows quite a bit and again reduces the range of motion.

The backpack itself is a little different from other backpack blowers that I have reviewed. It really is an engine and all of the associated mechanical components attached to a plastic board that has straps on it. Compared to some of the other backpack blowers, it feels a little less ergonomic and more like something you would self-engineer.

Maintenance (the Husqvarna 150BT air filter)

Something beautiful about Husqvarna products is the incredible durability of their products. Unlike lawn mowers, backpack blowers take an oil-gas mixture when you fill up. For products like these, you only really need to worry about the air filter, which should be a straightforward change out process.

This handle is super easy to use and control.

When I first started checking out the Husqvarna 150BT, I heard from so many others that they had owned an older version for 10-15 years. I know the price tag on blowers like these can be intense, but truly – they are an incredible investment.

I have blown through (haha) two electric blowers in the span of one year. Each time I think I dropped close to $150 to replace. I’ll get more into the cost and value of a Husqvarna BT150, but I think you will be able to do the math on how much you can save by purchasing one of these.

Price and value

The Husqvarna BT150 comes in at around $300 to $350. As I just mentioned, this is a reasonable price. While higher than most electric or battery powered blowers, $325 (average) is great for a backpack blower.

This thing is pretty sweet, and will take your lawn care up a huge notch. We got it on Amazon and had a great experience, but it can also be found at other places.

For clarity, most electric blowers are north of $100 and in my experience, only last a few seasons. The BT150 will last you much longer with the right maintenance. In my opinion, it is a great investment.

The official review: Husqvarna 150BT backpack blower

Feature	Husqvarna 150BT	Electric blower
Difficulty to use	More difficult to start and store	Easier to start
Durability	Much more durable	Avg. durability
Maintenance	Average maintenance	No maintenance
Value	High value	Low to medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Less recommended	Highly recommended
For lots <1 acre	Highly recommended	Less recommended
For lots >1 acre	Highly recommended	Less recommended

November 8, 2021April 20, 2024

The Flexzilla Garden Hose Has Revolutionized My Lawn

The Flexzilla garden hose is a bright green (you can’t miss it) hose that is a rising star in the flexible hose game. Now I know what you are thinking – ANOTHER flexible hose that claims to be amazing. Well, let me start off by telling you that this one is different.

I have had quite a few flexible hoses in my day, and this one takes the cake. Let’s get started by reviewing today’s outline:

All about flexible garden hoses
The Flexzilla – feature review
Which size Flexzilla to get
Flexzilla price and value
The official review: Flexzilla Garden Hose

Shortcut: This hose is for real. Grab it on Amazon and choose your size.

We made an awesome web story highlighting how much we love the Flexzilla Garden Hose and can store it on our favorite a really solid and reliable hose reel.

Flexzilla garden hose review: Features

Okay – now that you have heard about my horrible experiences with flexible hoses, let me tell you about the Flexzilla. Let’s get started below:

Getting connected

A feature that is super important in any garden hose and picking up in popularity is the little handles that help you connect the hose to the nozzle. I’m not sure what these are called. Anyways, you can connect the hose, spin the little handles, and easily secure the hose to the nozzle. This takes away the pain of trying to keep it at the correct angle, find the grooves, and already create a kink in your garden hose before you turn it on.

Flexzilla’s handles on the ends of the hose help screw it on to a nozzle easily.

The Flexzilla garden hose has these handles on both ends, making for a seamless and secure connection to your sprinkler and nozzle. These handles also work well for things like attachable nozzles and more.

These are great for everyone, but in particular make it easier if you are wearing gloves or have arthritis in your hands.

Do Flexzilla garden hoses kink?

Every hose claims it does not kink. I mean my word, I had a guy at Home Depot sell me on a contractor hose a few years ago by telling me it would never kink. It was a hose that all the big contractors used and was expensive but totally worth it.

That thing kinked like a late night chat room, let me tell you what. At that point, I was jaded by any “anti-kink” system I saw. My first impression when unboxing the Flexzilla was “oh no, another tightly wound hose that will kink right away”.

Now, I do not know WHAT the NASA engineers or Elon Musk or whoever created this hose, but it will not kink unless you want it to. I could not and still do not believe it. It is easily maneuverable but is touted because it “lays flat”. And it does. I have no clue how it works, but I can say definitively, the Flexzilla Garden Hose does not kink (in my experience).

At this point, we were totally sold. A hose that doesn’t kink? And actually means it? So we checked out some of the reviews on Amazon and eventually bought it.

Durability

I’m not sure what sort of hybrid patented polymer the Flexzilla garden hoses are made from, but they are basically indestructible. Even in one of their demonstration videos, a car is shown to run over the end of the hose and it of course continues on just fine.

This hose won’t get the much-disliked cracking in it that you see from traditional hoses because it does not have all of the torque built up in it. Traditional garden hoses have consistent amounts of twisting tension that goes all along the length of the hose, with it obviously being the worst at kinks. When temperatures rise and fall or if there is water in the hose that expands and contracts, it can cause deterioration to the outside of the hose. With Flexzilla, you don’t have that issue.

When compared to other flexible hoses, the Flexzilla has twice the diameter (width) of others. This is a huge problem in some of the stretchy, self-retracting hoses. The way they can retract so much is because they narrow the diameter to about the thickness of a pen. No way are you going to get good pressure or water delivery from one of those.

Which size Flexzilla garden hose to get

While the Flexzilla garden hose comes in a variety of sizes (3 feet to 100 feet – I mean come on – who gets a 3 foot hose?), I recommend getting the 100 foot hose. I am in the camp of “you can never have too much hose” and “you would rather have too much than too little hose”. Come and join me.

The 100ft Flexzilla garden hose is going to be useful for anyone with a larger yard or simply wants to take their hose from the front yard all the way to the back.

Is the Flexzilla garden hose worth it?

If you have not read any of what I just wrote, then this may be something you are still seriously considering. In short, YES! It is absolutely worth it. The Flexzilla garden hose is slightly more expensive than other flexible hoses on the market, but will last you significantly longer.

The flexzilla more or less “falls into place” when you want to close it up for storage.

Additionally, the Flexzilla garden hose has better water delivery and is more durable. Regardless of flexible or non-flexible hoses, the Flexzilla garden hose is probably the best hose on the market. At least that I have ever used, and hoses were my main source of drinking water growing up.

The official review: Flexzilla garden hose

The Flexzilla garden hose is an absolute monster of a hose. It is durable, does not kink (for real), connects easily, and has a wider opening than any of the other flexible hoses.

I can tell you right now, do not waste money on any other hose. Go for the Flexzilla, and grab the 100 footer. You can get it on Amazon for about $65. There is a reason it has an astonishing 50,000 reviews on Amazon.

If I had to summarize all of the best things about this hose it would be:

The easy-to-attach and leakproof head(s)
The non-kinking ability. I mean my word, people.
The durability
The fact that I have thrown hoses in anger and they only went like two feet and it made me look stupid

About flexible garden hoses

Flexible hoses are a hot commodity. We have all had the frustration of getting tied up in a garden hose, having to really crank one back in, or having a big “pile” of hose eat up a section of our garden.

For those with small to medium sized yards (less than an acre), flexible hoses are the dream. They come in all different sorts, from a tight, cylindrical side that kind of looks like a slinky, to self-retracting ones that shrink back to their un-stretched size.

I have gone through a few flexible hoses. The first one we owned was a “WeGuard” hose that was initially short, but could be stretched out to a thinner style. It was great for storage and super light. But the dang hose sucked! It limited how much water came into a narrow little tube. It also would pull the sprinkler back with the self-retracting tension it had. Needless to say, we returned it after about two uses.

Another one I have used before is one of the “slinky” ones that has a harder tubing and then coils back up for easy storage. These are basically only for people who go about 10-15 feet away from their nozzle to do watering by hand. Otherwise, these are totally useless. Sadly, they lose some of their coil power over time and end up just being tangled messes.

November 6, 2021April 20, 2024

The STIHL BR600 is Basically A Jetpack Leaf Blower

The Stihl BR600 backpack blower is one of the most popular backpack blowers used by both residential and commercial lawn care teams. It is easy to see why this is such a top seller – between the power, the reliability, and the price, this thing is sweet.

Leaf blowers come in all shapes and sizes. I have had many electric leaf blowers and literally have burned through all of them. The gas powered blowers just mean business. They work harder, they last longer, and they save you serious time.

We also did an awesome comparison of this blower against a popular version from ECHO.

Let’s get started:

Leaf blower overview
Stihl products
Features of the Stihl BR600 backpack blower
Stihl BR600 backpack blower price
Official review: Stihl BR600

Why we review lawn tools

Leaf blowers: Electric vs. gas

Obviously you have two options when selecting a leaf blower: electric or gas. They are worlds apart in just about every aspect. Electric leaf blowers tend to be cheaper, weaker, and only last a few seasons. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I used to have a leaf blower attachment that came on their 3-in-1 tool kit. I have now gone through two of the leaf blower heads in which they start making a high pitch scraping noise when I am using it.

There are exceptions in the electric leaf blower world. One of those is the new Whisper series blower. It is quiet, extremely powerful, and built to last. It is, however, one of the most expensive electric blowers you can buy.

Stihl’s reputation

Stihl is an industry leader when it comes to yard products, but is probably most known for chainsaws and backpack blowers. The BR600 backpack blower is one of their best selling products because it is something they have completely mastered.

The Stihl family moved to Virginia in the 1970s and opened up their first factory dedicated to a single chainsaw. They have continued to grow and pioneer the lawn care space, most notably with backpack blowers.

Stihl has a great reputation that many commercial landscapers rely on each day. Many residential owners will be more than pleased with their products.

Stihl also makes some other backpack blowers like the Stihl BR200 and BR350.

Stihl BR600 Backpack blower review: Features

Let’s check out some of the features that you need to look for when picking a blower and how the Stihl BR600 backpack blower matches up.

The compact Stihl BR600 backpack blower.

Power

When it comes to a leaf blower, probably the most important feature is power. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, worse than trying to blow a wet leaf off of your driveway and it just will not budge. I have experienced this so many times with my electric backpack blower that I would get closer and closer to the leaf until I scraped it off the dang driveway with the tip of the blower.

Well, you won’t have to do any scraping with the BR600. This thing blows air at 238 mph. That is insanely fast. For perspective, the fastest hurricane wind speed ever recorded was 215 mph. You are walking around with a mini hurricane with the Stihl BR600 backpack blower.

Many blowers also boast a CFM, which is cubic feet per minute. Most electric blowers have a CFM in the 200-300 range. Some get as high as 700, but basically achieve this by attaching a tiny nozzle to the end to maximize the pressure.

At its normal function, the Stihl BR600 backpack blower has a CFM of 677. This is some serious power from a large nozzle blower. Needless to say, this blower is going to get the job done.

The BR600’s little brother, the BR350, is a slightly less expensive and less powerful version.

Using this blower is a breeze

The Stihl BR600 backpack blower was designed by someone who uses a blower several hours per week. For starters, the backpack is light – only 25 pounds. It sits consolidated into an ergonomic backpack that doesn’t have straps or extra parts flapping around. The BR600 is compact and solid, which I appreciate.

It has a handle that extends down from the right side where the air blows from. It is a flexible handle that can be easily navigated and maneuvered. This is a stark contrast to many electric blowers that have a long, hard, plastic tube that will not move. The beauty of this handle is that it also has all of the controls on it as well, like speed and cruise control and all of that.

The extended flexible hose of the Stihl BR600 backpack blower.

The anti-vibration system on the Stihl BR600 backpack blower also helps you be comfortable. It is so hard to carry around one of these when it is loud, shaky, and hot. The BR600 has anti vibration technology that reduces the “jetpack” feeling like you are about to take off.

Durability and maintenance

This is by far one of the most important things I look for in a blower, now that I have burned through two of the electric ones. The Stihl has a serious engine and is not going to burn up like the cheap plastic electric ones.

The purge pump primer helps keep the carburetor primed with fuel, making the starting process much simpler without flooding the engine. This blower also has lower cost, easier to maintain “in-tank” fuel filters.

Reading through the manual, it is easy to tell the spark plug and filter change are simple maintenance activities that do not have to occur regularly. As this does require a 50:1 oil mixture, oil changes are not required.

Starting the BR600 requires the blower to be placed on the ground, which is kind of an awkward starting position. There are choke positions for cold starts and warm starts as well to help make this a 1-2 pull blower starting process.

Cost and value

The Stihl BR600 costs about $500. While this may sound expensive, it is a good value. If you consider the price of a decent electric blower at about $150, you will quickly realize how valuable the BR600 is. Considering that I have blown through two $150 blowers in the past few years, I can save considerable amounts of money with the BR600 due to its longevity.

You can find the Stihl BR600 for sale from Ace Hardware, the only place we have been able to find it online.

If you use a blower for commercial purposes, this is a no-brainer. This blower will last you for years and has the comfort, ease of use, and power to get you through many, many seasons on the job.

The official backpack blower review

Feature	Stihl BR600 backpack blower	Other blowers
Difficulty to use	Easier to use cruise control function	Average usability
Durability	Very durable and backed by warranty	Average durability
Maintenance	Easiest to maintain	Easiest to maintain
Value	Highest value	Medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Highly recommended	Highly recommended
For lots <1 acre	Highly recommended	Recommended
For lots >1 acre	Highly recommended	Not recommended

October 31, 2021April 20, 2024

The Cub Cadet XT2 is the Official Mower of Dads

The Cub Cadet XT2 LX46 is the most popular model in the XT2 Enduro series by Cub Cadet. I have reviewed a few Cub Cadet mowers in the past, including an XT1 mower as well as one of their zero turn mowers.

Cub Cadet XT2 Enduro series, from the back!

The XT2 series is a slightly higher-end version compared to the XT1. They were both built on the same chassis, but some details were changed (more on that later). Let’s take a look at what we will be reviewing today:

Features of the XT2 series
Cost and value: The price of a Cub Cadet XT2
Pros and cons
The official review
Cub Cadet: A brief history
Lawn tractors 101

Cub Cadet XT2 Riding Mower: Feature review

The Cub Cadet XT2 Enduro series mower has a few options, but today I will look at the best seller – the XT2 LX46. The XT2 LX46 is a step up from the older and similar series from Cub Cadet and has new features not previously available. Let’s get started by checking each important feature out and then comparing the price and overall value of this lawn tractor.

Cub Cadet XT2 LX46 boasts a high horsepower engine

The XT2 Enduro LX46 has a 21.5 hp Kawasaki engine. This is a moderate to high horsepower engine for a lawn tractor. I always like seeing lawn mower companies outsource engines to quality companies. Folks like Briggs and Stratton, Honda, and Kawasaki have divisions that focus specifically on small engines and can provide outsized power and quality in ways that John Deere, Cub Cadet, etc. cannot. This takes a bit of humility on their part, but you will be thankful.

Another feature of this mower that separates it from the XT1 series and most lower-end mowers is the AGM battery that has slightly more voltage. This allows for reliable starting and reduces the chances that your battery will die in the offseason. Cub Cadet must have heard some negative feedback about the battery dying in the winter because this is a great adjustment.

Lastly, this thing has the power to pull a lawn mower trailer – which is cool.

Usability

The 46 inch mowing deck on the Cub Cadet XT2 LX46 is pretty standard for most lawn tractors. A differentiator for this mower is that it has a heavy-duty “AeroForce” deck. Frankly, I cannot tell much of a difference from this deck compared to others, other than the shape. It has a more angular shape instead of a smooth, round circle. The benefit to this is that it is sturdier and more reinforced than curved metal.

The deck also comes with 4 gauge wheels and 12 deck positions to protect against scalping. Scalping is when you are using a lawn tractor and hit an uneven surface and the blades start digging into the earth. There are two blades at the bottom of this mower, meaning you can drive at higher speeds and it will keep up compared to one bladed lawn tractors. The 16 inch turn radius means that you can still make tight turns without having to shell out the cash for a zero-turn mower.

The XT2 LX46 can go up to 5.5 mph forward and 3 mph in reverse, both are totally standard for a lawn tractor. One new feature to the XT2 not found on the XT1 enduro series is the front bumper. This can help keep brush away from the tires and body of the mower.

Comfort: what this mower does best

The Cub Cadet XT2 LX46 has done one thing that is absolutely perfect, and that is comfort. A noticeable difference from the XT1 to the XT2 series is the presence of armrests. While seemingly trivial, armrests make a huge difference if you are out moving for a long time. My arms get particularly tired as a tall person having to lurch over and keep my hands on the steering wheel.

The arm rests and cup holder on the Cub Cadet XT2 Enduro series.

Another feature that Cub Cadet always gets right is the high seat back. The seat back on Cub Cadet lawn tractors is higher than most other lawn tractors in the business. They truly understand that a comfortable ride makes a huge difference. With this in mind, this mower also comes with a cup holder.

Again, these small trivial features seem like they would not and should be make or break issues, but experienced mowers will pick these things out each time. To be completely honest, the functionality and performance of most of these lawn tractors are marginally noticeable to normal consumers. The difference makers will be the comfort and operator-centric designs on the Cub Cadet XT2 enduro series.

Maintenance

The Cub Cadet XT2 LX46 comes with a Tuff Torq hydrostatic transmission. Basically, this just means that the mower has a smooth transmission that requires less maintenance than standard automatic or manual transmissions.

Otherwise, this mower has a standard oil change system. This feature is basic, but a lot of folks like John Deere have figured out a way to save you 10-15 minutes on an oil change by just adding a simple cartridge. To me, this should be a negative for this mower because they simply have not innovated in this space.

I like the large Aeroforce deck on this mower, but I haven’t seen a washout port on it for getting rid of the clumps and mess after a long season. With attention to some details and not others, the durability of this machine is put into question. Keeping grass on the blades and inside the deck can lead to erosion and rust over time. Make sure to life up the deck and spray out after a few mows.

Cost and value: Price of the XT2 Enduro

The Cub Cadet XT2 LX46 comes in at just over $3,000. This is a pretty big price tag and slightly over the standard range for similarly sized lawn tractors. What sets apart the Cub Cadet from its peers is the attention to user experience as well as a powerful cutting engine.

I would rank the XT2 series at about expected value. Quite simply, you get what you pay for. The value is definitely there, but you will have to pay for premium features.

Pros and Cons

Now that we have a good understanding of some of the features, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the XT2 Enduro series

Pros

Powerful Kawasaki engine compared to its peers
Large, reinforced cutting deck means heavy-duty cuts
Attention to user experience, high seat back, arm rests, and cup holder
New features and upgrades from the XT1 including a stronger battery and front brush guard

Cons

A little bit on the pricier side
Nothing innovative in the maintenance space to help reduce time spent on oil changes

Attachments and accessories

Cub Cadet does a great job with attachments and accessories. One thing I love about the diversity in attachments is that it turns your mower into a year-round vehicle.

Some of the attachments include a snow cab, leaf collector, tire chains, double bagger, cargo carrier, sun shade, sprayer, snow plow blade and more.

The official review

Feature	Cub Cadet XT2
Difficulty to use	Less difficult due to tighter turn radius than peers.
Durability	Average durability of engine and transmission but above average durability of deck due to reinforced steel “Aeroforce”
Maintenance	Average maintenance, maybe even below average compared to peeers.
Value	You get what you pay for.
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Less recommended
For lots <1 acre	Highly recommended
For lots >1 acre	Highly recommended up to about 2 acres.

Why we review lawn tools

Cub Cadet’s reputation

The first Cub Cadet lawn tractor was designed and engineered in the early 1960s here in America. They did not develop another type of equipment until the early 90’s, when they developed a snow blower. Their first 30 years were dedicated solely to lawn tractors, but made cool walk-behind mowers as well.

While they do not have the same reputation as some of the older brands like Husqvarna, they absolutely are known for their innovation. In fact, they work on some pretty neat pieces of equipment. They develop consumer-centric upgrades like electronic power steering, robotic golf course mowers, and the first mobile app for maintenance.

Who should purchase a lawn tractor

Lawn tractors are great pieces of equipment and essential for many suburbanites. When choosing between a push mower, lawn tractor, or zero-turn mower, it really comes down to lawn size.

I recommend push mowers for those with yards up to ½ of an acre. After that, the job just takes too long and is not worth it. For those with a yard between ½ of an acre to 1.5 acres, I suggest lawn tractors. For those with 1.5 acres and up, a zero turn mower is essential.

Lawn tractors and zero turn mowers are mostly similar, but zero-turn mowers have additional speed, larger cutting decks, and more nimble turning capabilities. They are great for large yards as mentioned, but also can slow down and handle curves near garden beds or structures very well.

October 26, 2021April 20, 2024

Why the Husqvarna Z254 is Both Beauty and Grace

The Husqvarna Z254 zero-turn mower is an absolute beast. If you are looking for a zero-turn mower that feels and looks like a commercial mower, look no further.

The combination of an absolute beast of an engine, massive deck, and Husqvarna quality make for one of the best zero-turn mowers on the market.

Let’s take a look at the outline for this review:

Features of the Husqvarna Z254
Husqvarna Z254 price
The official review

The Husqvarna Z254 review: Features

Now that you understand the reputation of Husqvarna and the benefits of zero-turn mowers, let’s check out some of the features and highlights of the Husqvarna Z254.

Power

The Husqvarna Z254 has a 24-horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine. Yep, you read that right, 24 horses! For reference, many of the other similar sized mowers are around 22-23 horsepower. Even some of the larger zero turn mowers with a 60 inch deck have 24 horsepower mowers.

All that being said, this thing has some power under the hood. The one thing I love about all Husqvarna products is that they are flat out powerful. The oversized cooling fan, premium air filtration, chrome plated valves and smooth bearings all give this engine a high-end performance.

Another thing I love about Husqvarna is that they know what to outsource. Many of these companies try to vertically integrate and make sure that they own every single part of the mower. Husqvarna has the humility to ensure that their owners are getting a super refined product. Many mowers rely on Briggs and Stratton for their engines because they simply dominate the engineering of that space. When you get into the high horsepower range, you will be glad they decided to loop in Briggs and Stratton.

Husqvarna Z254 zero-turn mower is an absolute beast!

User experience

One element I love about the Husqvarna Z254 is that the folks over at Husqvarna have mowed lawns before. When putting together machines, they always consider the mowers’ experiences. This one uniquely feels like it was designed for commercial property landscaping, but also able to be used in your backyard.

For starters, the Z254 comes with an automatic park brake system. When the steering levers are deactivated (resting in a separated form), the parking brake is automatically activated. For context, most zero turn mowers have a separate brake that you have to engage.

The Husqvarna Z254 also has an ergonomic control panel. Ergonomic is a label placed on anything, so I rolled my eyes when I first saw this. But it is nice having a panel that includes the ignition, hour meter, and speed control all together in one spot. On the other side of the control panel, there is the deck lift system, which is extremely standard on really any riding mower. Nothing special here.

This mower does come with the ability for some attachments. One attachment I absolutely love is the striping kit. Just makes your yard pop. The 54 inch mower deck on this is almost 3 times the size of your average push mower, so you can imagine how big of a stripe you can make on your yard with this.

Drivability

Earlier, when I mentioned that this was designed for commercial folks, I meant it. An example of this is the rubber bellows (little rubber part at the bottom of gear shifters in manual cars), that are at the bottom of the handles.

You see, these rubber bellows are actually very important and you will see them on industrial equipment for a reason. When moving joints on any metal tool get a lot of use (especially outdoors), they get exposed to grass, twigs, debris, rain, wind, extreme temperature fluctuations, etc.. As we all know, water is the biggest destroyer on the planet. The rubber bellows protect the moving joints on the steering levers and maintain the integrity of the steering components for much longer than its peers.

The rubber bellows on the Husqvarna Z254

Lastly, the anti-slip foot area is just another common sense detail found on this mower that actually is missing from a lot. Others will have the smooth, finished steel with holes in it. That is great and all for when you want to hose down the mower, but when you actually need to make an awkward step in or out, you will wish you had an anti-slip surface available.

The 54 inch mowing deck has something called “air induction technology” that actually sucks the grass up so the blades can get the most complete cut. For an analogy of this, imagine your hairdresser pulling your hair out with a comb to cut it evenly. The design of this deck does the same thing with air.

Maintenance and durability

The hydrostatic transmission means that this zero-turn mower is going to be relatively maintenance free. The 3-year bumper to bumper warranty is a good faith pledge from the people at Husqvarna that they stand behind their equipment. My suggestion is always to ride the wheels off of this for the first few years while you are still under warranty.

The durability of this thing is high quality as well. Once you step on and feel the “thud” of your boots on the footplate, you will know that this was constructed with thick steel. The frame and casters as well are pretty dang thick. In some of the other mowers I have tried and reviewed, I read about folks actually cracking the chassis of their mower going over a weird hill or bump. I mean my word people, just put some reinforced steel and wheels on there and avoid losing $3,000+ on a mower.

Cost and value: Husqvarna Z254 zero-turn mower

The Husqvarna Z254 costs about $3,800 and can actually be bought on Amazon and delivered to your house! All things considered, this is a tremendous value. In fact for the quality, power, and durability, this is probably the best value of any zero-turn mower I reviewed. I absolutely recommend this product.

The official review: The Husqvarna Z254 zero-turn mower

Check out the table we made below that compare the Husvarna Z254 zero-turn mower to a comparable, average residential zero-turn mower.

Feature	Husqvarna Z254	Comparable residential ZT mower
Difficulty to use	Below average difficulty	Average
Durability	Above average durability	Average durability
Maintenance	Average maintenance	Average maintenance
Value	Super high value	Medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Would not fit	Would not fit
For lots <1 acre	Probably overkill but is fun and looks cool	Probably overkill but is fun and looks cool
For lots >1 acre	Highly recommended	Highly recommended

October 24, 2021April 20, 2024

The Husqvarna YTH18542 Lawn Tractor Is An Incredible Mower

The Husqvarna YTH18542 is a heavy-duty 42 inch lawn tractor that can tackle just about any job. Husqvarna has a vast selection of lawn materials, ranging from commercial to residential use. Let’s check out why this is one of the most popular riding mowers on the market.

Today we will review:

Husqvarna’s reputation
Riding vs zero-turn mowers
Husqvarna YTH18542 features
YTH 18542 price
The official review: Husqvarna YTH18542

The Husqvarna YTH18542 Lawn Tractor: Features

The Husqvarna YTH18542 is a name that rolls right off the tip of the tongue. All jokes aside, let’s check out each element of the YTH18542 that makes it so popular for homeowners.

The lawn tractor has a powerful 18.5 HP engine

The power of the Husqvarna YTH18542 is slightly above its competitors. This engine comes with a 18.5 HP engine (compared to John Deere’s E100 with 17.5). The YTH18542 also comes with a Briggs and Stratton Intek engine. Briggs and Stratton makes lawn mower engines for some of the most powerful mowers, including some large push mowers I reviewed.

The 18.5hp Briggs and Stratton Intek engine on the Husqvarna YTH18542.

I have never had issues with this mower and from others that I have heard from, this thing has no issue going up hills. I also love the hydrostatic transmission on this bad boy. Hydrostatic transmissions are awesome for those that don’t love doing maintenance on their lawn mower (umm…everyone). They are smoother and have less moving, clunking parts.

This lawn tractor is moderately comfortable

While not zero-turn, this mower does have a pretty tight turning radius of 16 inches. Similar to most other type of lawn tractors, it does have a forward and reverse function that is foot-controlled.

Also what seems to be standard on lawn tractors is their seat back. I honestly do not like how uncomfortable the lawn tractor seat backs are, but then again I am well over six feet tall. On the older models of the Husqvarna YTH18542, there was a metal spring underneath the seat that clasped it to the frame. The newer models use a plastic one. For heavier folks, this could potentially break over time with use (not your fault).

I do like that the seat is at least adjustable with a lever and lets you drop it closer to the steering wheel if you don’t have freakishly long legs like I do. Another aspect of this mower that I love is the cup holder. I am super easy to please, so having something like this absolutely delighted me.

It requires standard maintenance

Upfront, something I dislike about the Husqvarna YTH18542 is that it does not come with an hour meter. I use an hour meter to know when I should do an oil change and this one has to be purchased separately. It is something easy and cheap that they could easily add, so this is frustrating.

You can buy an hour meter separately, like this one from Amazon.

Otherwise, this is pretty standard lawn mower maintenance. Oil change and air filters occasionally. One thing I noticed that seems odd to me is that the gas tank is under the hood, right next to the engine. As long as you keep the hood on and do not smoke and mow, you should likely not cause the next forest fire.

Further, a small detail I like is the washout port for the deck. A lot of push mowers have this function. Basically you just hook up a hose to this little port and the deck has grooves that will run the water through and clean out all of the grass. This is easy and helps not drag in a bunch of grass into your garage or shed.

The tractor will last you a LONG time

Husqvarna has a reputation for quality and durable equipment. That’s why their products are used for golf courses and national parks. This is demonstrated by a cast iron front axle that simply will not bend under pressure. After about 15 years, this thing may fall apart but that cast iron axle will be there until the day you die.

The Husqvarna YTH18542 does come with a three year bumper to bumper warranty. Any concerns you have about this mower will be fully addressed in the first three years. This is a great warranty, whereas many competitors have a 2 year warranty.

Price

The Husqvarna YTH18542 comes in at just around $2,000. This is relatively standard for riding mowers of this size and horsepower. I will say, if you are comparing this to a rival lawn tractor brand, you can get those at a better price.

The sleek design of the Husqvarna YTH18542.

This is a decent value considering Husqvarna’s reputation for quality and durability. I also think the Briggs & Stratton engine gives it a distinct advantage over John Deere’s comparable lawn tractors in the series.

The official review

Feature	Husqvarna YTH18542	Comparable lawn tractor
Difficulty to use	Less difficult due to tighter turning radius	Average
Durability	Above average durability	Average durability
Maintenance	Average maintenance	Average maintenance
Value	Medium value	Medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Not recommended	Would not fit
For lots <1 acre	Highly recommended	Highly recommended
For lots >1 acre	Highly recommended up to 2 acres	Highly recommended up to 2 acres

Why we review lawn tools

Husqvarna products

Husqvarna makes chainsaws, blowers, mowers, trimmers, snow blowers, edgers, pressure washers – basically any outdoor tool you would want to use around your home. They stand out with their bright orange color scheme. Commercial landscaping companies love these products, so I guarantee you have seen hundreds of these when you have been driving around.

Riding mowers vs. zero-turn mowers

Many people ask us what the difference is between riding mowers (lawn tractors) and zero turn mowers. Simply put, they are both great. Lawn tractors tend to be less expensive than zero turn mowers. Both are great for lawns between 1-2 acres, but zero turn mowers will take you past two acres.

The ideal lawn size for a lawn tractor is about a half of an acre up to two acres. Once you hit the two acre mark, you are going to be out there for a long time. Zero-turn mowers would be overkill for a ½ acre lot and can reach almost double the speed of lawn tractors.

Fortunately, the market for mowers for people with half of an acre to two acres is much larger than the market for people with over two acres. This is why lawn tractors are still so popular.

Oh – and both can pull little lawn trailers as well which is sweet.