Get the right tools and products to give your clients’ lawns a boost.
Tips to start the season off right
As temperatures rise, landscapers are preparing for another busy season of grounds maintenance. An important part of having equipment ready for these jobs includes performing preventive maintenance checks on the engines powering these devices. A quick, routine engine-maintenance check can prevent costly repairs and downtime, say experts at Honda Power Equipment. They suggest checking/adding engine and reduction case oil and looking at foam pre-cleaner and paper element cleaners. Also, inspect for loose bolts, fasteners and fuel and oil leaks – this may require tilting the equipment to see all sides of the engine.
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Colorful mulch
Everlast Mulch’s Everlast Kids ADA rubber playground mulch uses 1-inch rubber pieces. This product will not migrate like smaller mulches. The mulch is available in colors such as cedar red, turf green, mocha brown, southern cypress, ocean blue, black onyx and natural black.
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Spread products
Earthway Products’ 2170PRO-SS commercial push spreader features a stainless-steel chassis, 100-pound rust-proof poly hopper and Ev-N-Spred Pro dual port shut-off system. Designed to evenly spread granular products, use it to apply pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers and ice-control products.
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Lock throttle
Husqvarna’s 570 and 580 backpack blowers have air speeds of 236 and 206 mph and an air volume of 770 and 908 cfm. The throttle lock allows operators to set the speed without maintaining finger pressure on the trigger. All models come equipped with X-Torq engine technology that uses dual intakes.
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Forward, reverse gears
Kioti Tractor’s DS3510 compact utility tractor has four-wheel drive and 34 horsepower. It offers eight forward and eight reverse gears, power steering, wet disc brakes, a rear differential lock, foldable ROPS, seat belts and a choice of ag, turf or industrial tires. The tractor has a 27.6 PTO horsepower and heavy-duty three-point hitch that can lift 2,238 pounds at a point 24 inches aft of the hitch.
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Radial or vertical lift
Case Construction Equipment’s nine Alpha Series skid steer models range from 46 to 90 horsepower with rated operating capacities ranging from 1,300 to 3,000 pounds. The product line includes six radial-lift and three vertical-lift models.
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Feed turf
Agrium Advanced Technologies’ Spread it & Forget it, driven by Duration CR controlled-release fertilizer, feeds turf for up to six months. In many parts of the country, one application of Spread it & Forget it will give you a full growing season of green, healthy turf.
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Monitors engine
The John Deere ZTrak Pro Z925 with EFI uses a closed-loop fuel injection system that constantly monitors engine performance. Its 27-horsepower engine includes a Tuff Torq integrated transmission, which features 13-cc piston-style pumps and 13-cc wheel motors.
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Design on the go
Create a landscape design from scratch on the jobsite with Drafix Software’s Pro Landscape Companion for the iPad. The app works with Pro Landscape Version 18 and allows users to create designs from photos or show projects started in Pro Landscape. It can also be used to show customers complete proposals and 3-D movies. Download the app from the iTunes App Store.
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Control grubs
Use Nufarm’s Mallet insecticide as part of a preventive grub control program and gain add-on sales. With imidacloprid as the active ingredient, the insecticide controls pests such as white grubs, weevils and cutworks in turf, as well as aphids, mealybugs, leafminers and thrips in ornamentals.
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Mow in tight spaces
With a compact size, 48-inch cutting deck and Tier 4i diesel engine, Grasshopper’s Model 321D-48 mower uses less than 1 gallon of fuel an hour. It features an iso-mounted, high-back, foam-padded seat that has sliding adjustable-tension suspension.
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Stay cool
Featuring the Strato-Charged two-stroke engine, the RedMax EBZ8500 blower has a 75.6-cc displacement and 4.4 horsepower. It produces a maximum air speed of 206 mph with tube airflow approaching 908 cfm. The Max Cooled back pad uses air from the fan housing to cool the operator.
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Digital deck
Dixon’s DX200 Series ZTR mower has a computer-aided cutting deck design with dispersal speeds up to 12 mph. Use of heavy-gauge steel, cast iron and oversized components combine to provide solid commercial construction in demanding conditions.
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Seed evenly
Place seed with proper spacing at the right depth with Bobcat’s three-point seeder implement, which is compatible with Bobcat loaders, compact tractors and Toolcat utility work machines. Cast iron rollers break up dirt lumps, press down small stones and guide the seeds.
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