Archive for June, 2016

Mulch, Bag or Blow… Which is Right for You?

Sunday, June 19th, 2016

Deciding on the perfect lawn mower is only the first step in taking control of your lawn. Although a high-end mower will go a long way in making sure your landscaping efforts are the envy of the neighborhood, regularly cutting the grass is only a small part of lawn maintenance.

If you’re not sure whether you’d like to mulch your grass clippings, bag them and toss them out, or blow any excess yard debris out of the way, here is an overview of each option.

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Mulching Grass Clippings

In today’s age of eco-friendly initiatives and greener lifestyles, mulching (or “grasscycling”) is becoming an increasingly popular choice for both homeowners and commercial landscapers. Although large and unwieldly clumps of grass are both unsightly and damaging, mulched grass provides a natural and low-cost fertilizer to help keep your lawn looking greener for longer.

Grass clippings are almost entirely composed of water, which makes them a natural and easy source of hydration for your lawn. They also put up to 25 percent of the lawn’s nutrients and nitrogen back into the soil—thereby reducing your need to fertilize or add growth stimulants to your lawn. And as long as they’re less than one inch in size (which should be the case if you mow on a regular schedule), they’ll fall naturally down to the root zone of the grass and break down, which means you don’t have to do anything but let the grass clippings fall where they may.

If it’s been awhile since you last mowed, if you mow damp grass, or if your mower blades are becoming dull, you may need to do a little extra work since the mulch could clump. Most of the time, spreading the grass clippings out with a rake will do the trick. The other option is to bag portions of the mulch to be distributed at a later date (or to put somewhere like a garden or even compost heap).

 

Bagging Grass Clippings

Cleaning up grass clippings from the lawn and putting them into bags to be disposed of became popular in the 1950s, but the practice has fallen out of favor for some. In large part because it creates more work, requiring you to either rake the clippings from the yard or frequently stop to empty the bagged clippings. Either way, there’s an additional step required.

Because grass clippings are such a healthy part of lawn maintenance, and they could be put to better use in the garden, bagging them with the intent to throw them away tends to be viewed as wasteful. However, there are incidences when bagging needs to be done. When you’re mowing a very long yard, for example (with grass blades that are several inches tall), the clippings will be too big to be used as fertilizer. In this case, you’ll most likely need to bag the clippings and dispose of them. This can be done by throwing them out or by turning them into compost, as they are still very nitrogen- and nutrient-rich.

 

Blowing Grass Clippings

A third—and not very common—option is to blow the grass clippings out of the way so they don’t prove unsightly in a freshly mowed yard. This can be great if you plan to do your own edging and sidewalk cleanup afterward, but can also be an annoyance if you blow the clippings into communal neighborhood areas like the street.

Most of the time, people choose to blow because there is more than just grass mulch in the yard. Leaves, weeds, small twigs, and other debris that collect over time aren’t as nutrient rich as the grass clippings, and leaving them sitting can be damaging to your lawn over the long-term.

Here’s a better strategy: Instead of blowing the grass after you mow the lawn, we suggest you do the blowing first. That way, you remove the harmful yard debris and can bag it up separately. Then, after you mow, the only mulch is made of grass clippings, which can be left in place to provide nutrients and keep your lawn looking great.

 

Why Switching to Propane Mowers with EFI Could Boost Your Bottom Line

Wednesday, June 8th, 2016
Exmark Lazer Z S-Series Propane

State-of-the-art Exmark EFI-propane mowers offer increased fuel economy and performance, with reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

If you’re looking for ways to increase profit margins for your lawn care business, one option might be to consider switching to propane mowers. On average, it is said that about 9% of production costs for landscape professionals goes toward fuel. Therefore, a move to propane mowers regulated with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI), could help cut your fuel costs and improve your bottom-line.

Increased efficiency — The propane engines on Exmark mowers can increase fuel efficiency by up to 40% for extended runtimes, compared to traditional gasoline-powered mowers. At the same time, historical prices for propane run about 30% less than gasoline. With gasoline prices still low, this may not seem crucial – but if there’s one rule of gasoline prices, it’s that eventually, they always go back up.

EFI with E-Gov technology plays a big part in the efficiency of propane mower engines. Electronic Fuel Injection and E-Gov keep fuel flowing to your engine at a steady rate, even when your mower revs. This prevents engine drop-off when you hit a rough patch or tackle a steep grade. Gasoline mowers with mechanical regulators can be slow to respond to increased demand on the engine. Just as when you drive, an engine that runs at steady rate performs better than one that continually revs up to work harder.

Cleaner and Greener — Propane is remarkably stable over time, and can be stored for long periods. It also burns cleaner than gasoline, reducing build-up and engine maintenance. This means less mower downtime to have your machine in the field longer, and more profit. Another added benefit is lower emissions, which has become more of a selling point with customers.

Quieter — Propane mower engines are quieter to operate than gasoline or diesel mowers, which could let you start earlier and work later than competitors, and reduce the potential for noise complaints from neighboring properties.

For more information on switching your fleet to propane, see Exmark’s whitepaper, or talk to an Exmark dealer near you.

Project EverGreen and Exmark Team Up To Support The “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” Initiative

Sunday, June 5th, 2016
Exmark Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn mower

This top-of-the-line, suspension platform-equipped Exmark Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn mower could be yours… And proceeds from your ticket(s) go to support Project Evergreen’s “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” Initiative.

Green industry contractors can take a chance on winning a top-of-the-line Exmark Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn mower worth more than $14,000, and help maintain healthier, safer recreational and athletic green spaces when you purchase a ticket for the Project EverGreen Mower Giveaway Raffle.

With generous support from Exmark, Project EverGreen is seeking to increase funding levels to further expand its “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” Initiative that is revitalizing recreational and athletic green spaces across the country.

Over the last year “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” projects have already been completed Atlanta, Cleveland, Milwaukee; North Chicago, Ill.; Belle Plaine, Minn.; Greensboro and Durham, North Carolina, and San Antonio, Ft. Worth and Round Rock, Texas.

Additional projects are planned this year for Red Bank, New Jersey; Detroit; and Portland, Oregon. View the latest project summaries and photos and see the difference green spaces make in a community.

Green industry professionals who purchase a Mower Giveaway raffle ticket will be eligible to win a top-of-the-line Exmark Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn riding mower with equipment including:

  • Suspended operator platform, with 3.6-inches of travel suspending the operator in vertical and fore/aft directions, and Exmark’s patented Iso-Mount system, which provides an additional 3/4-inch lateral and 1/2-inch of vertical bump isolation.
  • 60-inch UltraCut Series 6 cutting deck
  • Kawasaki FX801V twin-cylinder engine
  • A mower from the brand purchased 2-to-1 over the next best-selling brand by landscape maintenance professionals

“Project EverGreen is thrilled to partner with Exmark on this opportunity to raise awareness of programs – particularly “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” – that personify the benefits of green spaces,” said Cindy Code, Project EverGreen executive director. “It’s also a fun opportunity for contractors to win a top-of-the line mower to use in their professional endeavors.”

Raffle tickets are $10 per ticket or six (6) tickets for $50. Tickets can be purchased through the Project EverGreen’s website at www.ProjectEverGreen.org.

The winning ticket will be drawn on Friday, October 21, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. in the Project EverGreen booth (# 10154) at the GIE + EXPO show in Louisville, Kentucky. The winner need not be present.

For complete contest rules visit the Project EverGreen website.

Proper Mowing Key to a Healthy Lawn

Thursday, June 2nd, 2016
Exmark Pioneer S-Series

Experts say many turfgrass problems can be tracked back to improper mowing.

Many gardeners spend considerable time and money to produce a healthy, attractive lawn. Fertilizers are applied to promote root and shoot growth and produce a dark green lawn. When necessary, herbicides are used to control crabgrass and broadleaf weeds. While fertilization and weed control are important aspects of lawn maintenance, proper mowing is another vital key. In fact, many turfgrass problems can be traced back to improper mowing.

The Importance of Cut Height

Mowing height and frequency are the most important aspects of mowing. Bluegrass lawns should be maintained at 2 to 2 1/2 inches in the spring and fall months. Raise the mower blade to a height of 3 inches during summer. Mowing frequency is based on the growth rate of the turfgrass.

The 1/3 Rule

As a general rule, never remove more than 1/3 of the total leaf surface at any one mowing. For example, to maintain a lawn at 2 inches, the grass should be mowed when it reaches a height of 3 inches. In the spring it may be necessary to mow every 4 to 5 days, possibly only once every 1 to 2 weeks in summer, with more frequent mowing again in the fall. Irrigation and fertilization practices, and weather conditions dictate mowing frequency.

Mowing Tall Grass

Mowing grass that is much too tall is hard on the mower and, more importantly, is harmful to the grass. It weakens the turfgrass allowing weeds to move into the lawn. It may take several weeks for the grass to recover from a severe mowing. Another problem would be the large amounts of “hay” or clippings. Excessive amounts of clippings are unsightly, tend to smother the turfgrass and create an environment that favors disease development. Grass clippings should be bagged or raked and removed when mowing grass that has grown too tall.

Grass that has gotten extremely tall should be mowed as soon as possible. Raise the mower blade as high as possible, mow, and remove the grass clippings. Gradually reduce the height of the grass in later mowings until the lawn is being mowed at the proper height. When the lawn is mowed properly, the grass clippings do not have to be removed. The small clippings will simply filter down into the turf and decompose quickly, returning essential plant nutrients to the soil. Lawn clippings do not significantly contribute to thatch development.

Because mowers can cause serious injuries to the operator and others, follow safety precautions when mowing the lawn.

  • Dress appropriately: wear sturdy shoes and long pants.
  • Remove all debris including branches, stones, and toys from the lawn before mowing.
  • Keep children and pets at a safe distance to protect them flying debris.
  • Keep hands and feet away from the blade when the mower is running.
  • Never leave the mower running unattended (newer models automatically shut off).

Proper, careful mowing will help protect the health of the turf and the operator.

Written by Don Janssen, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator and reposted with permission.

You can find other yard and garden articles and resources on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension website.