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They all have four tires, an engine, and a mowing deck, but are they any different from the rest? It seems like zero turn mowers are growing in popularity every year. Not only do they make quick work of large mowing areas, they are a blast to operate. Professionals have been using them for years to cut tight spaces and large lawns with ease. Zero turn radius (ZTR) means that you can turn on a dime with ease. That is, you stay in the same place while your mower is turning. Because of this, they don't leave a circle of uncut grass that would normally require a second pass.

Some companies claim that a zero turn mower can cut your mowing time in half. I would have to agree with this statement. That also means less fuel usage and less wear and tear on your unit. Once you try these units out, you will probably never go back to a steering wheel again. Nevertheless, can you still justify the extra expense before you get introduced to one of these beasts? It is pretty easy to exceed a $2,000 price tag with one. In the long run, you won't be sorry.

If you are still unsure whether it is worth it or not, you can always get a demonstration for one and see the difference for yourself. They have a much longer learning curve than regular lawn tractors. Many people can only justify it if they are mowing larger lawns and most experts don't recommend them for mowing slopes, where they are prone to tipping. Otherwise, they might select a walk behind mower instead.

The Toro TimeCutter ZX440 (which can move at up to 7 mph) is the top-rated zero-turn-radius mower, pivoting on turns so it leaves no circle of uncut grass - which means almost no trimming.