Growing Your Agricultural Business With the Right Tools

Are Stand-On Lawn Mowers Best For Landscaping Commercial Properties?

8 September 2021 by Clayton James

Performing landscaping duties for commercial properties and businesses can be a very profitable business, but only if the tools you use are up to the task. If the properties you serve feature large lawns or sports fields, you will need at least one commercial lawn mower to keep the grass on these areas properly maintained.

Stand-on lawn mowers are a popular alternative to lawn tractors and zero-turn lawn mowers and can be ideal for landscaping services that work predominately on commercial properties. However, while stand-on lawn mowers have many advantages over the alternatives, they also have a few disadvantages that you should take into account.

Advantages Of Using Stand-On Lawn Mowers For Commercial Landscaping

Excellent Visibility

Stand-on lawn mowers have a very self-explanatory name, and the operator stands just behind the mowing deck while operating one. This gives the operator excellent visibility and allows them to maneuver the lawn mower carefully around flowerbeds, water features, and other fragile objects commonly found in commercial landscapes. 

Even Weight Distribution

Conventional lawn tractors tend to be front-heavy since their engines and cutting apparatus are mounted in the front of the tractor. The opposite is true of zero-turn mowers, which usually have rear-mounted engines and are consequently rear-heavy. Most stand-on mowers have centrally mounted engines, fuel tanks, and cutting apparatus, with the operator standing on top of these heavy components between the front and rear wheels.

This configuration means that stand-on lawn mowers have a very even weight distribution, which provides two benefits. Firstly, they have superior maneuverability to most lawn tractors, since each wheel bears roughly the same amount of weight.

Secondly, because the weight is distributed evenly between the wheels, they will not dig into soft turf or earth when the operator takes a sharp turn. This prevents the mower from creating gouges and divots in the lawn's surface, a very useful quality when tending to a finely manicured ornamental lawn in a high-end commercial property.

Work On Steep Slopes

If you need to cut grass on roadside verges, drainage ditches, or other steeply sloped areas, a stand-on lawn mower is your best friend. With a very low center of gravity centered underneath the operator, there is very little risk of a stand-on lawn mower toppling on a steep slope. The operator can also shift their weight easily to account for slopes and keep their balance.

Disadvantages Of Using Stand-On Lawn Mowers For Commercial Landscaping

No Bagging Capability

Unfortunately, the unique configuration of stand-on lawn mowers also means they can't bag grass clippings, although most models can mulch clippings very effectively. When cutting grass in public-facing areas, you may need to collect leftover clippings manually using a lawn vacuum or other equipment.

Cannot Tow Attachments

Stand-on lawn mowers are also incapable of towing rear-mounted attachments, such as rollers or sprayers, and are therefore less versatile than other types of lawn mower. If you want a lawn mower that can perform a variety of functions when landscaping commercial properties, or you have limited space for equipment in your transport vehicles, a conventional lawn tractor or zero turn mower may be more useful.

Share

Search