Farm maintenance: Having a large yard, even if it's on a small scale, is one of the benefits of living on a farm. On small lawns, push mowers work fine, but if you have a large yard, you'll need a dedicated riding mower to keep the grass under control. However, with so many different types of riding lawn mowers to choose from, determining which type and size are best for you will take some time. Here's a quick rundown of some of the most popular riding mowers on the market.

1. Tractors for mowing the lawn
When most people think of riding mowers, they probably think of these. They're typically designed with the engine in the front and come with a steering wheel, as well as foot pedals or a stick shift for driving, making them a more familiar option than zero-turn mowers. They aren't as manoeuvrable as zero-turn mowers, but they can be used with basic attachments, such as small trailers, making them more versatile and useful for tasks other than mowing. (There isn't always a hitch for attachments on zero-turns.)

2. Tractors with a rear-engine
These are basically small lawn tractors with engines in the back and a steering wheel for controlling the front wheels. They are typically low-cost and easy to store due to their small size, but they lack power and extra features. Because their mower decks aren't particularly wide, the size of your yard and your machinery storage area will determine whether a rear-engine tractor is right for you. A rear-engine tractor might be ideal if both are small; if both are large; you'll probably want to invest in a larger and more powerful mower.

3. Tractors for the Garden
Garden tractors are a step up from lawn tractors and aren't just for mowing lawns; in fact, removing the mower deck is common with garden tractors. They have nicer features than lawn tractors, such as wider mower decks and hydraulic steering, and are generally more powerful, making them a good choice if you need a machine that can mow your lawn as well as handle a variety of other farm chores that require larger implements and attachments.

4. zero-turn mowers
Zero-turn mowers are becoming increasingly popular as a result of the numerous benefits they provide in terms of saving time and simplifying the moving process. Given their rear-mounted engines and the lack of traditional steering wheels on many models, they stand out from regular lawn tractors. Instead, zero-turn mowers are controlled by a pair of handles on either side of the seat, each of which controls its own set of driven rear wheels, allowing for incredibly sharp turns and even spinning in place. This makes cutting clean lawn rows without missing any grass much easier. Furthermore, zero-turn mowers can cut at much faster speeds than lawn tractors, though they are less suited to sloping ground.