Top Mowing Tips for Ride-On Mowers

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With the launch of the EGO ZT4200E-L Z6 Zero-Turn Ride-On (ZTR) Mower, Vince Brauns, Group Product Manager of EGO, shares his top tips for getting the most out of a ride-on mower.

A ride-on mower can offer various mowing opportunities! With the launch of the Z6, the world’s first battery-platform compatible zero-turn ride-on, those possibilities continue to grow. But to make the most of a ride-on mower, users should remember the following important tips…

Check everything before any cut

As always, you should read the manual before using any new ride-on mower, to ensure you are familiar with every aspect of the machine. After that, it’s important to check that the blades are sharp for a clean cut and professional finish to your lawn, especially if you’ve got tall grass that needs cutting.

Remember to remove stones, sticks, wires, and other objects on the lawn which could damage the mower’s cutting blades or motors. If damage does accidentally happen, you should safely inspect the mower for any damage before starting back on the lawn.

Z6 Static Hero 0239 build 3500 R3

Caring for the lawn

Mowing a lawn, is also taking care of it. You will get the best results if you use a high cutting blade speed and low driving speed. If the grass isn’t too long and dense, you can increase the driving speed without any real negative effect on the cut.

For longer grass, you should reduce the driving speed to ensure you get more effective cutting and a proper discharge of clippings. But it’s also important to remember to start with a high cutting height and reduce that down until the grass is as short as you’d like it. Any grass over 6 inches long (15cm) should be mowed at least twice at different lower cutting heights.

To achieve a healthy lawn, you should cut off only one-third or less of the total length of the grass. In cooler months, it’s recommended to keep a lawn around 1.5 to 2 inches long (3.8cm to 5cm). But during warmer months, you want to increase this to between 2 to 3-1/4 inches (3.8cm to 10cm).

For the healthiest lawns, it’s best for you to mow more often once it has achieved moderate growth.

During the cut

While on a ride-on mower, new or thick grass requires a narrower cut or a higher cutting height. Tall and thick grass can hide obstacles, so be sure to check that there’re no holes, rocks, bumps and hidden objects that could damage the machine or indeed yourself, other people or pets and animals that might be within its vicinity.

Z6 Mower Cleaning build 3500 R3

We also recommend not cutting wet grass unless you have to as you can lose control of the mower and cause damage to it when the wheels sink into the soft lawn. (Wet grass also sticks to the underside of the deck and prevents proper bagging or mulching of grass clippings).

Mow cautiously and never drive near drop-offs, ditches and embankments for obvious reasons. It’s tempting but you should always drive slowly without suddenly changing speed or direction.

You should also consider whether to mulch, side-discharge or collect grass cuttings as most good ride-ons will give you a choice of all three. Bagging is usually the preferred method for domestic lawns. It means you can cut in almost any weather, and it helps to remove weed seeds from the lawn.  

Mulching, on the other hand, allows you to return nutrients back to the lawn so is ideal for those that are looking a little unhealthy. It also allows the lawn to retain moisture, prevents weed growth and helps to keep the soil temperature even.

Side discharge allows for a faster cut but can sometimes throw seeds or clippings into flowerbeds or on to nearby paths.

Take care on the slopes

Sloping terrain can be dangerous to operate on. Remain cautious when working on a slope. For safety, avoid mowing slopes that are steeper than 15 degrees.

When mowing on a slope, mow up and down and never across. It’s advised to avoid stopping on a slope but if you absolutely must, use the parking brake. And when restarting the mower, you should use the lowest possible speed.

Riders should try not to turn on a slope, but if it’s necessary, do it carefully and always turn downhill. In the event the tyres lose traction at any point, disengage the blades and proceed slowly down the slope.

Ultimately, you shouldn’t mow any slope they feel uncomfortable on – if it doesn’t look or feel safe, it’s probably not!

A world’s first

The ZT4200E-L is the world’s first zero-turn ride-on lawnmower that is compatible with EGO’s award-winning battery system. It can be powered by any combination of EGO 56V ARC Lithium Batteries which can be charged by the industry’s fastest 1600W charger that is capable of charging up to six batteries at once. The ZT4200E-L can reach speeds of 8MPH and can cover 3 acres on a single charge with six 10Ah batteries.

To find out more about the ZT4200E-L Z6 Ride-On Mower and all of EGO’s latest range of mowers, visit https://egopowerplus.co.uk/products/mowers

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