The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

(StatePoint) For homeowners looking to create a more inviting outdoor living space, it all starts with a beautiful lawn. But without the right routines and tools, achieving and maintaining a top-quality yard can be time consuming.

One of the best ways to save time and get the lawn you want is to invest in better lawn care tools. Now is a great time to take stock of the tools in your garage.

“If you’re spending more time than you’d like maintaining your lawn, you might consider some key equipment upgrades,” says Jamie Briggs, product manager at Exmark, a leading manufacturer of mowers and other lawn care equipment.

“Choosing the right mower is more than just an investment to beautify your property,” Briggs said. “A newer, faster mower will give you more free time to enjoy the outdoor living space you’ve worked so hard to create.”

With that principle in mind, here are some insights about what to look for when replacing an older mower with a newer, more efficient model.

• Maneuverability: The ability to easily maneuver between flowerbeds, trees and other landscape features allows you to mow closer to these features. As a result, you’ll spend less time with a string trimmer.

• Cut quality: Some mowers deliver a better quality of cut than others. It’s one factor to consider when upgrading your mower, especially with respect to the type of grass of your lawn.

• Durability: Look for features with increased durability, such as welded, fabricated cutting decks, commercial engines, hydro drive systems and heavy-duty welded, tubular steel unibody frames.

Briggs recommends homeowners take a look at the equipment used by the professionals.

“Landscape professionals earn their living efficiently maintaining beautiful properties. It’s safe to say the zero-turn riding mower has become their tool of choice,” he says.

Zero-turn riding mowers from Exmark, for example, are offered at a variety of price points and provide solid productivity, performance and durability. For more information, visit Exmark.com.

This season, give yourself more time and energy to enjoy the he outdoor living space you’ve created, with an upgrade to newer, faster tools.