I'd like to save money by not paying a service to plow my driveway this winter. Can I add a plow or snow blower to my lawn tractor?

Adding a plow or snow-blower attachment to your tractor isn't an ideal solution, according to our power-equipment guru, Peter Sawchuk. "Wet snow is heavy, and a conventional lawn tractor isn't really built to move these kind of loads on a consistent basis," Sawchuk says. "Plus, to use a plow, you will need chains and wheel weights for traction, so you'll have to buy those. And after it snows a few days in a row, you'll run out of placed to push the snow, unless you have a big property."

While a snow-blower attachment eliminates the problem of where to move the snow, there are some downsides. "The attachment is expensive—nearly as much as a good snow blower—and you'll still need the chains and wheel weights," Sawchuk explains. "Also, the attachment takes up a lot of storage space in the garage and requires a large area to maneuver, making it hard to get into and out of tight spaces." And come spring, you'll have to remove the blower and reinstall the tractor deck you removed last fall and then level it.

The best solution, Sawchuk believes, is to buy a large dedicated two-stage snow blower, like the Toro Power Max 828LXE shown. Read our report on single- and two-stage snow blowers, which includes a helpful interactive feature, to find the best model for your needs.