What Is the Best Riding Lawn Mower for Hilly Yard? (Solved!)

If you live on a property that has many hills or slopes, one of the top riding mowers to consider is the Husqvarna MZ61. This zero-turn riding mower has a lot of great reviews from people who use it on hilly yards because of its speed and durability. The large cutting deck also makes it easier to cut a bigger portion of grass at once.

Finding the right riding mower for a hilly yard can be tricky. On this page, we’re going to discuss which riding lawn mowers you should be paying attention to if you live on a property with several hills and slopes to cut. Keep reading to find out more about choosing the right mower.

Which riding lawn mower should be used on a hilly yard?

If you have hills and slopes in your yard, you will need to invest in the right mower to effectively cut the lawn. One of the best lawn mowers to choose for rough terrain and hilly yards is the Husqvarna MZ61 zero-turn riding lawn mower.

This riding mower is able to pick up the speed to get up those hills because it has a commercial-grade hydro gear ZT 3100 transmission. Not only can it easily manage hills, but this riding mower can also get large yards cut quicker.

What type of lawn mower is best for using on hills?

Not every lawn mower is safe to use on hills, so it’s important you invest in the right type of lawn mower. If your yard has hills and slopes, you need to make sure you use a self-propelled or a riding lawn mower.

A push mower will not be suitable to use on hilly yards because the wheels will depend on you pushing them, which is very difficult to do uphill. A self-propelled mower has a motor to put force on the wheels, making it easier to get up the hills.

What is the best value riding lawn mower to use on hilly yards?

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly riding lawn mower, Troy Bilt is a great brand to consider. The Troy Bilt TB 30 riding lawn mower is one of the best ones to use on rough or hilly terrain.

This mower has a manual PTO which allows for faster and easier blade engagement. The 30 inch cutting deck allows for more surface area to get cut at once and clean-up is easier because of the side discharging deck.

Should I use a traditional riding mower on a hilly yard?

Hilly yards can be more difficult to manage, so it’s recommended to use a zero-turn riding lawn mower instead of a traditional riding mower. This is because the user can minimize the turning radius to get a better looking cut on curved areas.

Traditional mowers typically aren’t designed to handle rough terrain or hilly areas, so you’ll be able to get a cut just not a professional looking one. Zero-turn riding mowers are made to tackle more difficult terrains, like bumpy and hilly yards.

Is it dangerous to use a riding lawn mower on hills?

Using a riding lawn mower on steep hills and slopes can be dangerous if you are not using the machine safely. The safest way to use a riding lawn mower on hills is to go up and down the hillside, and continue in this pattern.

If you were using a push mower, the safest way to cut grass on a hill would be going side to side. You should never go side to side using a riding mower because it could slide or roll down the hill.

How steep of a hill can you take riding mowers on?

Riding mowers are designed to cut hills safely of up to 15 degrees. If you were to use a riding lawn mower on hills that were steeper than 15 degrees, there is a risk of the mower tipping over.

It is very dangerous when a mower tips over because it almost always results in an injury and sometimes even death. If your lawn has hills steeper than 15 degrees, you may want to use a self-propelled push mower because they can cut hills of up to 20 degrees.

What should I do if the hill on my property is too steep to mow?

If you have a slope on your property that is steeper than 15 degrees, we don’t recommend risking your safety to cut it. Since you likely want to slope to still look good, Home Depot recommends filling in the area with perennial plants and ornamental grass.

Some of the top recommendations to plant on a steep hill include creeping thyme, asiatic jasmine, and catmint. Other attractive plants you can put there are agapanthus, creeping Jenny. creeping phlox, and cotoneaster.

What is a dependable riding lawn mower for hilly yards?

A very dependable riding mower for hilly yards is the Craftsman T310 Turn Tight 24-HP V-Twin riding mower. According to Bob Villa, this is their top choice riding mower for bumpy terrain and yards with hills.

This riding mower has an average rating of 4 out of 5 stars on Lowe’s official website. Buyers are satisfied with the way this mower performs because it is a smooth ride with excellent maneuverability.

What zero-turn mower should you use on bumpy terrain?

If you live on a property with bumpy terrain, one of the best zero-turn riding mowers to consider is the Toro 42 in 22.5 HP Hydrostatic Zero-Turn Riding Mower. This mower has a nearly perfect rating from customers on the Home Depot website, with over 575 happy customers leaving reviews.

This is one of the best residential zero-turn mowers to work with because the 22.5 horsepower allows more speed to get up hills and manage bumpy terrain. With more speed, owners are also able to get their lawns cut quicker. This mower also has luxuries, like a cubby under the seat and a drink holder.