Need a lawn mower: garden tractor or ZTR for 5 acres?

[EagleKeeper]

Start with mowing no more than 1-2 acres. That is more than enough for anything the family wants. Let the rest go natural unless it is needed for something. Natural will encourage wildlife and provide targets for your pets

 

[vi edit]

Some of the suggestions are interesting. I just don't have finite space (or outbuildings) to store extra stuff and I hate having extra motors to winterize & service each year.

 

[Serelaw]

Do you plan on overclocking the mower?
Tell us what you bought...

 

[waggy]

i can tell you from experience you are going to be sitting in that tractor a long time. i have 3 acres and it is time consuming.

With 5acres i would look into a tow behind mower. you can get a huge one pretty cheap.

 

[bignateyk]

Get a zero turn. Garden tractors are poor excuses for both mowers and tractors. I regret buying one. It really sucks for anything you would use a tractor for, and the turn radius blows, so it takes alot longer to mow with than a zero turn would.

I have about 5 acres, of which I mow maybe 2-3. I'm saving up to replace my garden tractor with a zero turn. I use my ATV/dump cart to haul mulch and stuff like that. Also use the ATV to plow with in the winter. The garden tractor is useless for snow removal as well.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Gah, 5 acres to mow would suck ass.

I would love 5 acres, but, I'd only buy wooded property with less than 1/2 an acre clearing ...

Or, if I had horses or goats or whatever, I would maybe set up a field of like 3 or 4 acres for hay ....

But, 5 acres to mow ... that is crazy