How much does a lawn care service cost?

Lawn care service can cost anywhere between $60 and $200 every two weeks.

How much does an electric leaf blower cost?

Electric leaf blowers go for about $175, but range from $70 to $350.

How much does a backpack blower cost?

Backpack blowers cost about $350 on average, but can cost as much as $750 for luxury brands.

How much does a weed eater cost?

Most weed eaters are under $200, but can range significantly depending on size and quality.

How much do electric pressure washers cost?

Electric pressure washers cost about $150, but can range from $60 to $300 depending on power and size.

How much do dethatchers cost?

Dethatchers cost around $125 but can be slightly more if you get battery powered ones.

Gas mowers Archives - The Lawn Review

March 5, 2024April 3, 2024

Gas vs. Electric Toro TimeCutter: Which is Better?

If you haven’t heard, Toro released a new 60V electric TimeCutter – a modern twist on their classic gas-powered Toro TimeCutter SS4225.

Bottom Line: While the gas-powered Toro TimeCutter is better for commercial use or very large yards, the new 60V electric TimeCutter is better overall – providing a quieter, easier ride and even moving a bit faster.

Luckily, I got my hands on both mowers for a nice side-by-side comparison of both gas and electric Toro TimeCutters. While they look nearly identical, they have some stark differences that you should be aware of before you pull the trigger. Let’s dive in:

If you want to read more about my favorite Toro mowers – read this.

Which TimeCutter is more powerful – gas or electric?

While you might expect the gas version of the Toro TimeCutter, the Toro TimeCutter SS4225 (our full review here), to be more powerful – I think you’d be surprised. I’ve tested the TimeCutter against other zero-turns like the Cub Cadet ZT1 and it’s proven to be one of the most powerful mowers each time.

But the electric TimeCutter, the 60V eTimeCutter, felt just as strong. I tested both of these in my backyard and my neighbors backyard and cut grass, wet grass, went over sticks, and even mulched leaves. The eTimeCutter did a bang up job.

While I think that on the upper end of power the gas version is probably more powerful, you wouldn’t notice a difference in power between the two mowers on a day-to-day basis. Basically, if you’re a normal homeowner and use the electric version of the TimeCutter, you’ll be fine.

One important note – my friend and I did a drag race comparison of the two mowers and the electric one is faster by about 1.5 MPH. It has some serious zip and acceleration that blew my hat off my head (not kidding).

The gas Toro TimeCutter is more comfortable

As much as I wanted the electric TimeCutter to be more comfortable – it just wasn’t. The gas TimeCutter SS4225 comes with armrests and a crazy suspension system called MyRIDE. The MyRIDE suspension system connects the footplate and the chair in one unit. The unit is connected to a core suspension spring that is pretty bouncy – but in a good way. Basically it has the seated component of the mower separated from the rest of the mower in a way that I’ve never seen before.

It only makes sense when you’ve stepped onto the mower. Once you’re on it, you can really appreciate the MyRIDE suspension system’s ability to make the bumps and turbulence basically nothing. If you’ve ever been in a car with a great suspension system, like a Ford Raptor or similar, you will get the same feeling.

What about the eTimeCutter?

The eTimeCutter surprisingly doesn’t have much of a suspension system at all and doesn’t have arm rests. Boo! It looks like the eTimeCutter was built on the body of last year’s gas-powered TimeCutter – the same frame and suspension system they’ve used for the past few years. Not bad, but not the upgrade that the gas version got.

The battery system on the new eTimeCutter is great

The eTimeCutter comes with 4 60V 10 Ah batteries, which is a ton. These are huge and come with cool handles that allow you to pull it out of the back of the mower with ease. It takes a lot of battery to run a zero-turn, so I’m not surprised to see the massive batteries on this one.

You can get around two acres of cut time with the batteries fully charged. Obviously if you compare this to gas, the gas mower reigns supreme as you can just quickly fill it up with more gas.

But when it comes to run-time, it doesn’t matter as much as you would think. If you have a 42 inch zero turn mower, then you probably aren’t mowing more than two acres at a time. For example, if you have a three acre property, I wouldn’t use anything less than a 52 inch zero turn like the Ariens IKON XD 52.

So – if you have between 1-2 acres, I recommend the electric version just because it is easier to maintain.

My overall recommendation: Gas or electric TimeCutter zero-turn?

The recommendation is dynamic: if you are a normal homeowner, the eTimeCutter is supreme because it requires no maintenance and is just as good for under two acres. If you have more than two acres or are a professional landscaper, then the gas version is better.

But if you are meeting the requirements to get a gas mower, why wouldn’t you go with a bigger one from someone like John Deere or Husqvarna?

What we look for in zero-turn mowers

A few things to look for in zero-turn mowers are blade size, transmission, accessory capabilities and cost.

Cutting width

Blade size and cutting width are important to keep consistent with the size of your lawn. Obviously longer blades are best for larger lawns, but begin to sacrifice a little bit of the agility afforded by a smaller blade.

Transmission type

Transmission is also an important consideration for a zero-turn mower. Most zero turn mowers do not have manual transmissions, but have either automatic or hydrostatic transmissions. Automatic works just like an automatic car does with a gas pedal and belts. Hydrostatic transmissions use fluid to transfer their power to the blades and the rest of the engine. I prefer and recommend hydrostatic transmissions because they typically require less maintenance and have a longer life (plus it sounds cooler).

Cost and value

Cost is generally of the utmost importance as well. Zero-turn mowers are expensive. In fact, you can buy an old Honda Civic for less than most zero turn mowers. Expect to spend no less than $3,000 for a zero turn mower. Keep in mind that these will last a long time and save you a ton of weekend time when compared to a riding tractor or push mower. Zero turn mowers are an upfront investment, but reap a huge return over time.

April 22, 2022April 2, 2024

3 Best PowerSmart Lawn Mowers That Surprised Me

The best PowerSmart lawn mower is the 80V battery-powered mower they recently began selling. It has a wide deck, a high powered brushless motor, and is extremely affordable.

PowerSmart makes legit stuff. If you own any of their tools, you know that it is genuinely well-manufactured and built to last even PowerSmart it isn’t a household name.

I did a full length YouTube video of the 40V version of the PowerSmart mower (which didn’t make this list) but you can watch it here.

Their lawn mowers are no exception. These things are plastered all over Amazon because they sell well. They have some push mowers in the game that absolutely rock.

The Best PowerSmart lawn mowers and why I’m surprised

While I normally would list these out and rank them, I am actually going to rank them by category. Here are the categories I am going to use.

Best electric PowerSmart mower
Best PowerSmart mower for small yards
Best PowerSmart mower for larger yards

So let’s get started!

Best Electric PowerSmart mower: PowerSmart 80V 21 inch cordless mower

PowerSmart is brand new to the electric mower game. But that can be a good thing. They have been sitting back watching other people try unsuccessfully and developed a pretty slick product.

The PowerSmart Electric Lawn Mower, 80V 6A battery, 21 inch cordless mower is pretty slick. Not only is it one of the more aesthetically pleasing electric mowers, but it also comes with some dang good features.

Here’s what I like about it:

80V battery for some serious run-time
21 inch deck is small enough for a small yard but big enough for a medium yard
Steel deck instead of cheap, fragile plastic
Breaks down like a dang lawn chair
Has a bag (if you’re into that)

It cannot be overstated the importance of having a metal, durable deck on your electric mowers. They are super important for durability and being able to use this thing year after year.

It also comes with a two-year warranty, which is great since it is one of their first electric products.

Another thing to love about this mower is the brushless motor. Brushless motors rely on magnets instead of friction to transfer electricity and power your motor. They are significantly quieter, more efficient, and longer lasting.

You can grab this one on Amazon for a great price compared to other electric mowers.

Best PowerSmart mower for small yards: PowerSmart Gas Lawn Mower 21 inch 3-in-1 with 144CC 4-stroke engine

This PowerSmart mower is perfect for smaller yards. 21 inches is a great size to handle small to medium sized yards. The simplicity of this mower gives me confidence that it will last me a long time.

Simple. Beautiful. Reminds me of my TB160.

It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles, making this PowerSmart mower one of the best starter mowers for new homeowners. This mower has power, durability, and straight-forward operation that is great for smaller yards.

Here is what I like about this PowerSmart mower:

Easy-start pull string (that actually works for me)
21 inch steel cutting deck for durability
5 positions for cutting height (I use the highest)
Comes mostly assembled so it’s great for morons like me

This mower is very similar to the Troy-Bilt TB160, which was my first mower. Basically, it has all you need to get started for a relatively small-yard, without the complex features that weigh it down, burn up more gas, and cost you money.

It comes in at an awesome low price, can be delivered to your door super quick, and will be mostly ready to go out of the box. You can have it shipped directly for the lowest price on Amazon.

Best PowerSmart mower for larger yards: PowerSmart Self Propelled Lawn Mower 22 inch 3-in-1 lawn mower gas powered with 200cc

Wow. Couldn’t they have named it something easier, like “Doug”? What a mouthful.

Anyways this mower DOES have the bells and whistles. While it is only one inch wider than the one I recommended for smaller yards, it has a self-propelled function that will take a huge load off of your hands.

So with a slightly larger deck and self-propelled feature (which drives the wheels forward for you), you can move through an acre without too much stress on the forearms and back.

This thing also has a 200cc 4-stroke engine, meaning it ain’t playing around.

Here’s what I like:

Self-propelled
22 inch steel deck (widest PowerSmart)
Mostly assembled on arrival
Still pretty simple and straightforward

Yep – while it does have the self-propelled function, it doesn’t go overboard with lights, fog machines, or beverage coolers. It just gets the job done.

Which I appreciate.

You can grab it for not too much more money than the smaller gas-powered mower, making it a dang steal. I suggest considering Amazon as a good place to purchase this mower, as it doesn’t require much assembly and can be shipped straight to your lawn.

Our recommendation: The 21 inch electric PowerSmart mower

Because I am a lover of simple, easy-to-use, reliable mowers, I have to recommend the 21 inch mower here.

It comes in at a great size, won’t break on you, and is an amazing price. It also comes basically fully assembled and can be shipped straight to your door from Amazon.

I haven’t seen this one available anywhere besides Amazon – but there may be some local places to grab it as well.

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.

About PowerSmart

PowerSmart is a brand of heavier lawn and commercial machinery. The reason you may not have heard of them before is that their scope is relatively small. PowerSmart really focuses all of their attention and effort on snow blowers, snow throwers, pressure washers, and woodchippers. Notice a similarity? These tools all focus on taking in an item and then powerfully launching them into another galaxy.

Now imagine that on a mower (your mind cannot fathom).

PowerSmart has field-leading expertise in this area and makes some solid products. While you may not have a shed full of PowerSmart equipment, you will surely come across some of their products over time.

What to look for in a push mower

When looking to purchase a lawn mower, you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and marketing tactics. Totally forget them and focus on the things that impact you. Below are my recommendations:

Brand quality
- Quality is going to be super important here. Everyone is in the lawn mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.
Metal where it matters.
- Many mowers, especially electric mowers, are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.
Gas vs. electric.
- The battle of the universe is happening in the lawn mower space. Tiger Woods vs Jack Nichols. The new, flashy electric mowers are getting a lot of attention – and for good reason. This comes down to personal preference. Do you want a ‘69 Mustang or a ‘22 Tesla?

Check out our full guide of what to look for in an electric or battery-powered mower.

December 29, 2021April 1, 2024

Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter Zero Turn Mower Comparison

The Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter SS4225 mower is a true battle of the giants. Think Godzilla vs. King Kong – except much more is at stake. These mowers are two of the hottest zero-turn mowers on the market for homeowners. Today, we are going ringside to battle it out.

Bottom line: Both the Toro TimeCutter and the Cub Cadet ZT1 are great mowers, but I really like the bells and whistles provided by the Cub Cadet ZT1.

Everyone when they see the ZT1 and the TimeCutter.

Check out our review of the new electric 60V Toro TimeCutter zero-turn mower here.

Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter: A breakdown

Okay – now that we have done some background information, let’s hop on to brass tacks. These are two beasts that are super popular. Make sure you understand their power, comfort and ridability, and cutting experience before making a purchase.

Power comparison: Cub Cadet vs Toro TimeCutter

One of the most important components of a zero-turn mower is power (duh). The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 has a 22HP Kohler Engine (if you get the 42 inch version, Kawasaki if you get the 50). Kohler and Kawasaki make great small engines. This one can get your mower up to 8 mph in forward motion, and 4 in reverse, making it a pretty speedy lawn mower.

The Toro TimeCutter SS4225 has a 22.5 HP V-twin engine, manufactured by Toro. In most cases, I like when companies outsource their engines to folks like Kohler, Kawasaki, or Briggs & Stratton.

Feature	Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1	Toro TimeCutter SS4225
Horsepower	22 HP	22.5 HP V-twin
Engine type	Kohler, Kawasaki	Toro
Speed	8 FWD, 4 REV	7 FWD, 4 REV
Transmission Type	Hydrostatic	Hydrostatic

While the TimeCutter has slightly more power output, the ZT1 has a little bit more speed. For this round, I’ve gotta give it to the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1.

Comfort and Rideability comparison: Toro vs Cub Cadet

Comfort isn’t everything, but it is incredibly important. You can have all the power in the world, but want to get back inside in five minutes because you are insanely uncomfortable. When picking a zero-turn, I look for things like a high seat back, arm rests, and a cup holder. It sounds bougie, but it makes a difference if you can have a nicer ride.

The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 has details like an anti-vibration floor mat that helps provide a smooth ride. This zero turn mower also has a fully adjustable 18 inch seat back, adjustable arm rests, and ergonomic hand groups that allow for more comfort.

The nice suspension system on the Toro TimeCutter.

The Toro TimeCutter SS4225 also has an 18 inch seat back with arm rests. The TimeCutter (one of my favorite from Toro) also comes with a beer holder and a little storage cubby under the seat for storing other things (like your tired arms).

This is a super tough call, but I think I’m going to have to call it a tie between the Toro TimeCutter and the Cub Cadet ZT1.

Cutting experience on Cub Cadet ZT1 compared to Toro TimeCutter

Both of these mowers are fantastic cuts. When taking these for a spin, the Toro TimeCutter SS4225 feels slightly cheaper or “stock” compared to the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1, but overall the cut seems exactly the same.

One thing I dislike about both of these machines is that they lack an hour meter. Hour meters are used to measure how long you’ve been riding and help you figure out when you need an oil change.

I also dislike that the Cub Cadet lacks a fuel meter – you are kind of flying blind. Another thing that bothers me about the TimeCutter SS4225 is that it has a “hand crank” deck height lever. Most of the more advanced zero-turns have a knob or something more sophisticated.

The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 is like Honey Bee from Transformers.

All-in-all, I can’t complain too much about either of these machines. They are both very reliable, have great warranties, and come from higher-end, trusted brands.

Price comparison: Toro TimeCutter vs Cub Cadet ZT1

Now that we know these machines are both quality and comfort, let’s see how they stack up on price.

The Toro TimeCutter SS4225 is for sale from some retailers for around $3,000 – about $3,200 at Home Depot right now.

The Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1 is for sale for about $3,500 as well, and it sells almost exclusively at Home Depot.

The final ruling: Cub Cadet ZT1 vs Toro TimeCutter SS4225

Feature	Cub Cadet ZT1	Toro TimeCutter SS4225
Power	++++	+++
Comfort	++++	+++
Cutting Experience	++++	++++
Price	++	++

This is super, super close. Basically these are identical lawn mowers. To me, it comes down to reliability over the long term and I’m going to have to go with the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1. The engine being from Kohler/Kawasaki just makes me feel more secure going with them.

To see our full review of the Cub Cadet Ultima ZT1, click here.

To see our full review of the Toro TimeCutter SS4225 featured in this post, click here.

We also compared the Toro to a classic John Deere Zero turn mower here.

Why we review lawn tools

Zero-turn mowers 101

People love zero turn mowers because they are generally faster than your traditional lawn tractor and provide much more agility. Zero turn mowers are especially popular for commercial lawn mowing companies as they provide much more speed and power, have larger gas capacity, and are more nimble than the traditional lawn tractor.

Zero turn mowers have continued to grow in popularity but are still intimidating to others. While lawn tractors have a steering wheel similar to any other automobile, zero-turn mowers have large handles that stick up and meet in the middle of the mower. To operate the mower, you push forward and use the individual horizontal handles to either push the mower to the right or to the left.

What to look for in a zero-turn mower

Zero-turn mowers are all about comfort and size. If you are a commercial landscaper, you will likely want a mower with a large deck. The deck houses the blades and the wider the deck, the wider the blade.

For us residential mowers, we will want to take into account yard-size into our selection process. For those with less than one acre of land, I don’t often recommend zero-turn mowers. They take up too much space for smaller lots and are difficult to store. For those with more than one acre, zero-turn mowers are great. The larger the acreage, the wider the deck you will want.

December 23, 2021April 21, 2024

Cub Cadet CC800: Wide walk-behind beast

The Cub Cadet CC800 is a wide area walk-behind mower from Cub Cadet. If you think this is your ordinary push mower, you better chill.

This thing is pretty dang big but super easy to use. You might not be familiar with walk-behind mowers, but they are another term for self-propelled push mowers. That means you just grip it and rip it – through your yard.

Let’s get started with the review below:

Is a walk-behind right for me?
Cub Cadet CC800 features
Price of a CC800 walk behind
Cub Cadet CC800 final grade

Why we review lawn tools

Cub Cadet’s history

Their first 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.

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.

When to buy a large walk-behind mower

Okay – I’ve been through this a few times, but never with walk-behind mowers this large. With most push mowers, the deck size is about 21 inches. If you think about this in terms of yard passes, a push mower will have the highest number of passes you have to make in your yard to cut the whole thing.

Riding mowers, or lawn tractors, are around 36-42 inches and zero-turn mowers are anything above that. Basically, if you have a big yard, you will want a riding mower or zero-turn mower.

There is this weird in between world where large deck walk-behind mowers like the Cub Cadet CC800 live. They are perfect for people who have between 10,000 sq. ft and ½ acre. Basically it can still be covered with a push mower, and is too small for a riding mower, but you still want to get it done more quickly. Kind of niche, but actually a ton of American households fall into this group.

The second group is someone who mows a lot of small yards as a business. My co-founder, Tyler, used to own a landscaping company and had a walk-behind mower just like this one. They help you do smaller yards at a much faster rate.

The Cub Cadet CC800: Feature review

The Cub Cadet CC800 is a high end walk-behind mower. Basically the nicest one available. There are some others that have a pretty big deck, like the Toro recycler, but not many others come close. Let’s check out some of its features.

Power

No shortage here. The Cub Cadet CC800 has 11.5 horses in the back. One thing to love about this mower is that it outsourced its engine. Yeah, sounds like a weird thing to like, but Briggs & Stratton is the best in the game when it comes to small engines. All the top brands have Briggs and Stratton own the manufacturing over their mowers. There simply isn’t a better option on the planet.

The Cub Cadet CC800 also has a 33 inch cutting deck. This is almost on par with most lawn tractors and riding mowers. This is huge! In combination with the 11.5hp engine, you have a walk behind mower on absolute steroids. The CC800 is the Mike Tyson of mowers.

The CycloCut (where the CC in CC800 comes from) mowing system ensures an even discharge of grass from the deck, meaning that it won’t get clogged up and force you to stick your last good arm inside.

Usability

Alright, walk-behind mowers to me have always been girly. Just push the dang thing like a man! I have been given a new lease on life with the CC800 and am finally confident in my masculinity. I have no shame walking behind this mower because it is a beast. A few things I love right off the bat:

The ability to go into reverse. While this is not all that common while actually mowing, it is great for storing. Being able to reverse into the garage or shed, or even into the back of the trailer makes this a super easy to use mower.
Electric start. No more cranking the pull string every 10 minutes. This thing has a push button start that allows you to get going right away. The push button start is also reliable and can save you a ton of time.
A single point for having to change the height of the mower. With most push mowers, each wheel has its own adjustment on the front of the mower. The Cub Cadet CC800 has a single lever that will adjust the height of the big ole deck.

One complaint I have seen from others is that the drive controls use a single lever, meaning there is no variable speed control. You are either going full speed or you are sitting still. Fine for most people, but you have to be really nimble when navigating around tight corners or garden beds.

Durability

Again, off the bat I can tell you that Cub Cadet has a great reputation in reliability. The other thing you need to know is that Briggs and Stratton is super trustworthy. They totally dominate this space because they simply provide the best engines for mowers.

Small things matter when it comes to durability. One of those is the hour meter that comes on board the CC800. The hour meter keeps track of how long you are going between oil changes, letting you know exactly when to change the oil.

The front wheels on this resemble a zero turn mower and allow for super easy steering.

The CycloCut system will also help the engine from stopping up or from allowing one side of the mower to cake up with grass. The deck wash also allows for a quick and comprehensive clean that will keep this puppy moving all day.

It does come with a three year limited warranty for residential owners, but nothing for commercial owners.

Cost and value

The Cub Cadet CC800 costs around $2,000 at Home Depot, but the price changes a lot so you can check it here. This is a pretty good deal for what you are getting and about half the price of a zero-turn mower.

The product is great for folks with a bigger yard who don’t want to fork over three grand for a zero turn. It is also perfect for those of us with smaller yards that don’t have time to waste.

The official review: Cub Cadet CC800

Feature	Cub Cadet CC800	Comparable walk behinds
Difficulty to use	Slightly more difficult due to no variable speed control	Average difficulty
Durability	Average durability	Average durability
Maintenance	Relatively easy to maintain	Relatively easy to maintain
Value	Medium value	Medium value
For lots <10,000 sq. ft	Not recommended	Not recommended
For lots <1 acre	Recommended	Recommended
For lots >1 acre	Not recommended	Not recommended

December 22, 2021April 21, 2024

The Husqvarna Z246 Is A Perfect Residential Zero-Turn

The Husqvarna Z246 zero-turn mower is an absolute beast. If you are looking for a zero-turn mower that is somewhere between a residential and commercial mower, this one can do both!

I like the reinforced cutting deck on the Z246.

Bottom Line: The Husqvarna Z246’s combination of an absolute beast of an engine, larger deck, and Husqvarna quality make for one of the best zero-turn mowers on the market. The Z246 is great for residential lawns that are large or smaller commercial projects.

Let’s take a look at the outline for this Husqvarna Z246 zero-turn mower review:

Feature review
Husqvarna Z246 price
The official Review: Z246
Husqvarna and Zero-turn mowers

The Husqvarna Z246 review: Features

The Husqvarna Z246 is a high-end residential zero-turn mower. This mower has a great combination of a super powerful, reliable engine, a wide cutting deck, and some nice bells and whistles.

Power breakdown

The Husqvarna Z246 has a 20-horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine. Although the Z254 has a bit more horsepower and width, this bad boy has a little bit smaller of a deck. Don’t be concerned, the 20 horsepower engine is plenty and will not have a much more noticeable difference than the 24hp Z254 mower.

All that being said, the Husqvarna Z246 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 that you won’t find from some of the big box retailers.

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.

Using the Husqvarna Z246 zero-turn mower

One element I love about the Husqvarna Z246 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 Z246 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. This is a part of all of their Z200 series mowers and something that is so intuitive, you couldn’t imagine buying a mower without it.

The Husqvarna Z246 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 46 inch mower deck on this is over double the size of your average push mower, so you can save time and money by upgrading to one of these puppies. Compare this to the 42 inch deck on the Z242f, which is slightly smaller.

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.

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 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.

Maintaining zero-turns is a lot of work

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

The Husqvarna Z246 costs about $3,000. 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 Z246

Feature	Husqvarna Z246	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

Looking for something bigger? Gravely makes some zero turn mowers adored by landscapers.

Why we review lawn tools

About Husqvarna

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.

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.

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

A few things to look for in zero-turn mowers are blade size, transmission, accessory capabilities and cost. Blade size is important to keep consistent with the size of your lawn. Obviously longer blades are best for larger lawns, but begin to sacrifice a little bit of the agility afforded by a smaller blade.

Cost is generally of the utmost importance as well. Zero-turn mowers are expensive. In fact, you can buy an old Honda Civic for less than most zero turn mowers. Expect to spend no less than $3,000 for a good zero turn mower. Keep in mind that these will last a long time and save you a ton of weekend time.

December 2, 2021April 21, 2024

Testing Out My Brother’s Husqvarna Z242F Zero-Turn

The Husqvarna Z242f is one of the more affordable residential zero-turn mowers on the market. One thing we know about Husqvarna is their consistent power output and reliability. Let’s review the critical components of what you need to know before considering the Husqvarna Z242f for a purchase.

Jump ahead:

Husqvarna and Zero-turn mowers
Husqvarna Z242f: Features
Price and value
The official review: Husqvarna Z242f

Why we review lawn tools

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. Always feel free to leave a comment or request a review using the form you see at the top of this page.

About Husqvarna

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.

That being said, you can see how all of Husqvarna’s industry experience could lead to them making the best zero-turn mowers for homeowners.

Zero-turn mowers

Husqvarna Z242f: Feature review

Alright, now that we have wrapped our heads around ZT mowers and Husqvarna, let’s check out this specific mower from the Z200 series of Husqvarna.

Power

The Husqvarna Z242f packs a punch, no doubt. This mower has an 18hp Kawasaki engine from their FR series (which is where I think the “f” in Z242f) comes from. The Kawaski engine runs up to almost 7 miles per hour and can cover 2.2 acres in an hour. I don’t know about you, but that acre/hour statistic is pretty compelling, especially if you are looking to save time on the weekends (who isn’t?).

Just about everything you would need for a residential property is covered by this engine. No complaints from a power perspective – this is going to be more than enough to cover a multi-acre parcel of land.

One consideration for this mower, and for the Z200 series as a whole, is what size cutting deck do you need? The Z242f has a 42 inch cutting deck (the 42 in Z242f) that will leave three and a half feet of cut grass behind you. As you think through your land, consider a few things:

How many obstacles do I have to navigate?

The more obstacles you have, the more nimble you will want to be. If you have a ton of trees, flower beds, or other structures, going any higher than a 42 inch deck will require some serious agility.

How much open land do I have?

If you have acres of open land and are making straight pass over straight pass, consider a larger deck than a 42 inch deck. If you go up to a 60 inch deck, you will cut an additional foot and a half with each pass. This foot and a half will add up tremendously after a handful of passes, saving you time. And time is money.

You can see the 42 inch cutting deck clearly labeled on this mower.

Usability

Okay, all the power in the world is totally worthless if it is difficult to use. We have reviewed quite a few Husqvarna zero-turn mowers here at The Lawn Review, but absolutely love the features that come with the Husqvarna Z242f.

First of all, Husqvarna has a sick automatic park brake system. After you find out what it is, you will wonder why all zero-turn mowers do not have this feature. The park brake system is activated when the steering levers fall to the side (as they naturally do when you let go of them). Yep – it is that simple. No crank you have to crank or anything else that you could forget, and then end up chasing your several thousand dollar mower down the street.

Another great feature of the Husqvarna Z242f is the nice little ergonomic control panel. This has things like an hour meter, choke, speed control, and ignition all in one spot. You would not believe how many manufacturers leave out something simple like an hour meter!

Husqvarna has also addressed a few of the finer things in life, like a comfortable seat. Yes, a comfortable seat. This does have a downside of no arm rests BUT comes with a cup holder – a total game changer. Armrests are optional and are best suited for those of us with arms.

Maintenance and durability

The Z242f comes with a hydrostatic transmission, which is an absolute must-have if you own a zero-turn mower. These will help keep your tranny (…) in good shape and tend to last longer than other transmission styles.

From a maintenance perspective, you will have to do your regular oil changes and air filter changes, both of which are pretty standard and straight forward. Again, this is when the hour meter comes in handy so that you can freaking track when this needs to get done. Even better, it already has programmed service intervals that will remind you when this stuff needs to get done.

To top it off, as with most of their products Husqvarna offers a three year warranty for residential users. See below for reviews from their website:

Price and value

Almost spit out my coffee when I checked the price on this bad boy. The Husqvarna Z242f comes in right at $3,000, otherwise known as three racks.

This is a great price for a residential zero-turn mower. Shoot, there are some lawn tractors we have reviewed that cost this much and those things are not nearly as powerful.

The official review: Husqvarna Z242f zero turn mower

Feature	Husqvarna Z242	Comparable residential ZT mower
Difficulty to use	Slightly above average	Average
Durability	Average durability	Average durability
Maintenance	Avg. maintenance	Avg. maintenance
Value	Very 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

November 27, 2021March 15, 2024

Lawn Equipment Costs and Statistics: 2022 updates

Many people seeking to understand various lawn tools need a frame of reference for cost and power comparisons across types of lawn equipment. In this post, we will reference all types of residential lawn equipment to gather a reference resource for all savvy shoppers. Let’s get started!

Looking to update these numbers for 2023 lawn care costs? Click here!

Jump ahead:

Push mowers
Riding mowers
Lawn service cost in 2022
Electric blowers
Gas blowers
Backpack blowers
Electric trimmers
Gas trimmers
Electric pressure washers
Gas pressure washers
Dethatchers

Statistics about push mowers

When it comes to push mowers, there are really three main types of power sources:

Battery-powered push mowers: These mowers are powered by a battery and can be easily re-charged and stored. Battery-powered mowers are typically less expensive, easier to store and maintain, and better suited for small yards.
Gas-powered push mowers: These mowers are gasoline-powered and rely on refills, just like a car. Gas-powered push mowers tend to last much longer than electric mowers, but require yearly maintenance.
Corded electric push mowers: Corded push mowers tend to be very similar to battery-powered mowers, except require a long extension cord for power. Be careful not to run it over with the blade!

The average cost of push mowers in 2022

Push mowers range in cost depending on how they are powered, the size of their engine, and the width of their cutting deck. Push mowers are one of the most popular types of mowers because most folks have relatively small yards.

As the rise of townhomes have grown, the small little yards associated with them can be easily taken care of with a small electric mower. Sun Joe offers a ton of these, but also has competition with Greenworks, Ryobi, and a handful of others.

Battery powered mower cost 2022

The average cost of a battery-powered push mower in 2022 is about $300, but can range from $75 – $550 depending on size and features.

Some of the battery powered push mowers we have reviewed are:

Dewalt Self-Propelled Lawn Mower
Greenworks Cordless Lawn mower
- Available for a pretty good price on Amazon
Ryobi 40V lawn mower
- Great to get the tool-only version on Amazon if you have the battery

The Greenworks cordless mower is very popular.

Interested in other electric mowers? Check out our list of Top 13 Best Electric Mowers for Small Yards in 2022.

Average cost of a gas push mower in 2022

The average cost of a gas-powered push mower in 2022 is about $250, but can range from $170 – $400.

Some of the gas-powered push mowers we have reviewed are:

Toro Recycler Mower
Honda HRN lawn mower
Troy-Bilt TB160 (my first mower)
- Got it on amazon like a true millennial

The Troy Bilt TB160 was my first mower and still runs like new.

Average cost of an electric mower in 2022

The average cost of a corded electric push mower in 2022 is about $150, but can range from $70 to $200.

The average cost of a riding mower in 2022 (Lawn Tractor + Zero-Turn)

Riding mowers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. The two you will recognize the most are lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers.

Lawn tractors vs. zero-turn mowers

Lawn tractors tend to have a steering wheel where the engine sits between your legs. Zero-turn mowers have levers that help steer the mower.

Lawn tractors are best for yards that are between ½ of an acre and 1.5 acres. Zero-turn mowers are great for those with 1.5 acres and above.

Lawn tractor costs in 2022

The average cost of a lawn tractor in 2022 is about $2,300, but can range between $2,000 and $4,200.

Most lawn tractors sit right around the $2,000 to $3,000 range, but some newer electric lawn tractors can cost over $4,000.

Lawn tractors vary in price depending on their engine horsepower and their cutting width. As you would expect, larger engines and larger cutting decks increase the price of the lawn tractor.

Some of the lawn tractors that we have reviewed are:

Zero-turn mower costs in 2022

The average cost of a zero-turn mower in 2022 is about $4,500, but can range from $2,900 to $5,300. Zero-turn mowers range in price depending on the features and the size of the mower.

Commercial zero-turn mowers can run as high as $10,000 in 2022.

Some popular zero-turn mowers that we have reviewed include

The Ariens IKON XD52 is an absolute unit.

The average cost of a lawn service in 2022

The average cost of a lawn mowing service in 2022 is about $60 for lots < 10,000 sq. ft.

The average cost of a lawn mowing service for yards between 10,000 sq. ft and ½ acre is about $100 in 2022.

The average cost of a lawn mowing service for an acre is $150-200 in 2022.

As a reminder, lawn service usually comes every week or every other week during peak season. These costs can add up extremely quickly, making do-it-yourself lawn mowing easily the most affordable option.

Leaf blowers: A 2022 guide to cost and choice

Leaf blowers come in many shapes and sizes, ranging from some that seem to have the power of a hair blower to others that can send a sailboat across the Atlantic. When it comes to leaf blowers, there are three main types: handheld electric, handheld gasoline, and backpack blowers.

Handheld electric blowers are slightly more expensive than gas blowers and are often the least powerful. There are a few exceptions, but these hold true.

Who should buy an electric blower?

Electric blowers are great for those looking for quick, small jobs around the yard. This would include blowing out the garage, blowing off the driveway or back deck, or collecting leaves for a smaller yard.

Electric blowers have a huge upside in that they are very easy to start and maintain, only requiring a charged battery to begin the work

Average cost of an electric leaf blower in 2022

The average cost of an electric leaf blower in 2022 is $175, but can range from $70 to $350 depending on the quality.

Some of our favorite electric leaf blowers include:

The Ryobi Brushless Whisper blower is a beast.

Who should buy a gas leaf blower?

Handheld gasoline blowers provide a step up in power, but often require air filter changes and other minorly inconvenient maintenance. Gas blowers are great for people who have up to an acre or so of land and feel comfortable walking around and using the blower.

Likewise, gas blowers are great for folks who receive a significant amount of leaves, regardless of lawn size. Gas blowers can help move leaves off of your yard much more quickly and will leave less wet leaves stuck behind.

Average cost of a gas leaf blower in 2022

Gas blowers cost about $150, but range from $100 – $250 depending on size and power.

One of our favorite handheld gas blowers that we have reviewed is the Husqvarna 125B. This blower has an attachment on the end that can provide a super concentrated stream of air, with the ability to blow anything away.

We also love the Stihl BG 86 C – check out our video review on YouTube!

The cool flat tip on the Husqvarna 125B.

Who should buy a backpack blower?

Backpack blowers are the most powerful, expensive, and loudest blowers on the market. These are made popular by commercial landscapers, but anyone with an acre or above could majorly benefit from these.

Backpack blowers provide very high amounts of power and come with the added comfort of straps, advanced features, and an easy to use handle.

Average cost of a backpack blower in 2022

Backpack blowers will run you about $350 in 2022, but can range from $250 to $750 depending on the size and power.

Some of our favorite backpack blower reviews include:

The Stihl BR600 is a beast and you look like a teenage mutant ninja turtle when you wear it.

Trimmers or Weed Eaters costs in 2022

Trimmers, lovingly known as weed eaters, are tools used to cut grass precisely. These are often used in harder to reach areas, to clear brush, or to fine tune the edges of a property.

Trimmers come in both gas and electric powered forms, with electric becoming more popular. Electric trimmers are very easy to use, but can be less powerful. A plus side to electric trimmers is that they often come with multiple interchangeable heads, allowing for edger, blower, and hedge trimmer attachments to all fit the same body.

Gas trimmers provide relentless, reliable power and are often used by those with bigger yards and of course, commercial landscapers.

Average cost of an electric trimmer in 2022

The average cost of an electric trimmer in 2022 is about $170, but can range from $25 to $650 Some of the more popular brands include Ryobi, Black + Decker, and Sun Joe.

Some of our electric trimmer reviews can be found here:

I have the Ryobi 40V trimmer….and I do not like it.

Average cost of a gas trimmer in 2022

The average cost of a gas trimmer in 2022 is about $180, but ranges from $150 to $430 depending on power and included attachments.

Some of our favorite gas trimmer reviews are below:

The ECHO SRM 225 has a powerful trimmer head.

Pressure washer costs in 2022

Pressure washers come in two major forms: gas and electric. Electric pressure washers tend to have less power and lower reliability. Gas pressure washers are more powerful and can get extremely pricey.

Who should buy an electric pressure washer?

Electric pressure washers are great for people who are doing lighter jobs. The perfect person to buy an electric pressure washer is someone looking to clean their windows, their car or boat, or garage door.

Electric pressure washers are less expensive and relatively easy to use. If you are looking to blast away all of the grime from your long driveway, electric pressure washers will not be the best choice for you.

Average cost of an electric pressure washer in 2022

The average cost of an electric pressure washer is about $190, but ranges from $60 to $300 depending on power and size.

Some of our favorite electric pressure washers include:

The Sun Joe SPX3000 is one of the hottest pressure washers on Amazon.

Who should buy a gas pressure washer?

Gas pressure washers are great for all of the same reasons as an electric pressure washer, but can also remove paint, blast dirt and grime off of old surfaces, and more.

Gas pressure washers have serious power, but are also pretty loud. They will be more reliable, but also require a little bit of maintenance.

Average cost of a gas pressure washer in 2022

The average cost of a gas pressure washer in 2022 is about $400, but can range from $250 to $1,000 depending on power.

Some of our favorite gas pressure washers include:

The Dewalt 3400 PSI pressure washer provides intense power.

Dethatcher costs in 2022

Dethatchers are lawn tools that pull up thatch, or dead grass, from the bottom of your yard. Thatch forms over time and can suffocate your soil, leaving poor conditions for your healthy grass to grow.

Many people dethatch their lawns before they aerate and seed in the fall. Dethatchers have grown in popularity. They are often electric, corded devices that replace the traditional dethatching rakes.

Dethatchers typically come corded, meaning you need a long extension cord to operate them in your yard. They are not a danger to your cord like a normal mower, but actually have small metal tines. The tines stick out (kind of like the metal springs in a chip bag clip), and kick up the thatch from the soil.

Average cost of a dethatcher in 2022

The average dethatcher will cost about $150, but ranges from $130 to $200 depending on the width of the machine.

Two of our favorite dethatcher reviews are below:

Sun Joe Dethatcher
Greenworks Dethatcher
And of course we match these against each other in this post

The Sun Joe Dethatcher is one of the hottest lawn care items in 2022.

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.

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

The rubber bellows on the Husqvarna Z254

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

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.