Archive for the ‘Exmark Information’ Category

PERC Propane Mower Incentive Program Returns for Limited Time

Monday, October 19th, 2015

The Propane Education & Research Council is bringing back its popular Propane Mower Incentive Program for a limited time. Effective immediately, landscape contractors can apply to receive $1,000 toward the purchase of a new propane-powered mower and $500 toward a qualified conversion. The incentive will be available until program funds expire, so applicants are encouraged to act fast.

Exmark Vantage Propane Mower

For a limited time, PERC is offering $1,000 toward the purchase of any of Exmark’s industry-leading propane mowers.

“It’s officially the buying season for landscape contractors and, while many already know the value of propane mowers, a little assistance with the upfront costs associated with converting their equipment can prove to be the tipping point,” said Jeremy Wishart, PERC’s deputy director of business development. “Propane can give landscape contractors a lower total cost of operation and also reduce emissions compared with traditional fuels, so it’s exciting to be able to help offset some of those initial conversion costs for contractors wanting to take advantage of propane’s benefits.”

Since the Mower Incentive Program first began in 2012, well over 3,000 applications from landscape contractors have been received by PERC. Contractors can apply for the Propane Mower Incentive Program at propane.com/mowerincentive.

The Mower Incentive Program is just one of many tools that PERC offers contractors to help them save money with propane. PERC’s suite of cost-calculator tools is designed for use in the propane industry’s fastest-growing markets, including commercial landscape. The calculator tool, available at propanecostcalculator.com, estimates potential fuel savings and ROI for contractors using clean, American-made propane when compared with conventional fuels like gasoline and diesel.

Learn more about Exmark’s industry-leading line of propane commercial mowers at Exmark.com.

Tags:, , , , , , , ,
Posted in Eco-Friendly, Exmark Information, General, Industry News, Products | No Comments »

Take Back Your Weekends Contest — The Highlights Reel

Tuesday, October 13th, 2015

 

TBYW Logo

Thanks to everyone who submitted a video in our Take Back Your Weekends video contest! Here’s the ‘highlight reel’ from the videos submitted:

View the winning videos and see a complete list of winners at Exmark.com/TBYW.

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Contests, Exmark Information, General | No Comments »

Maintaining the Belts on Your Exmark Mower

Thursday, October 8th, 2015

Belt replacement is a topic we consistently get questions about here at Exmark. Today, we’ll talk about how to maximize belt life, how to know when belt replacement is necessary and where to go to learn how to replace belts on your Exmark machine when the time comes.

Rule #1 – Keep Belts Tight

Exmark Owner's Manual

Your Exmark Owner’s Manual is a great resource for information about belt inspection, adjustment and replacement.

Proper tension is a critical factor in the durability of deck drive belts. Loose belts can slip or spin on the pulleys, reducing their lifespan considerably.

Most belts on current Exmark machines are self-tensioning, but older machines have belts with spring-loaded tensioners that keep consistent tension during operation, but require periodic user adjustment. Your owner’s manual or local Exmark dealer can help you know which belts are self-adjusting and which you’ll need to periodically check and re-tension.

It’s especially important to stay on-top of tension following belt replacement. In the initial hours of use after a belt is replaced, it “fits-in” to the pulleys. During this time, regular adjustments likely will be necessary to keep it properly tensioned. We recommend checking new belts three times within the first 24 hours of use, adjusting whenever the tension drops below the specification for your machine. Doing so will help to ensure the long life of the belts and pulleys.

Checking belt tension

You can check belt tension by using a fish scale and a ruler. Use the fish scale to apply pressure to the belt while you measure belt deflection with the ruler. On some belts, we recommend 1/2-inch of deflection at 10 pounds of pressure. That means it would take a force of 10 pounds to move the belt 1/2 inch. Your machine’s owners manual or your local Exmark dealer are great resources for the specific tension specifications for your machine.

When to replace belts

Original Exmark Parts cutting deck belt

Preserve the performance, reliability and long-term value of your Exmark machine with Original Exmark Parts belts.

The specific timeframe for belt replacement can vary considerably based on a number of factors including the type of mowing being performed/operating environment, belt tension and the location of storage. We recommend checking the condition of all drive belts every 40-50 hours of use, or any time a performance issue is noted, such as slipping, noise or compromised cut quality. Replace any belt that shows obvious signs of wear.

Your owner’s manual has the most detailed, accurate information about replacing the belts on your Exmark machine. If you don’t have your owner’s manual handy, you may be able to find a digital copy at Exmark.com:

Insist on Original Exmark Parts

Exmark Original Parts logoBelts are a critical element to the performance of the cutting and drive systems, so insist on Original Exmark Parts. They are the only ones designed specifically for your machine, so you can be confident they’ll deliver the durability, performance and long-term value you expect. Learn more about the value of Original Exmark Parts belts at Exmark.com.

Don’t let worn or under-tensioned belts compromise the performance and reliability of your Exmark machine. A little time spent on preventative maintenance now can eliminate a lot of headaches for you and your crews later on.

Other service resources at Exmark.com:

 

Tags:, , , , , ,
Posted in Education, Exmark Information, General, Maintenance Tips, Products | No Comments »

Wisconsin Man Wins Exmark Utility Vehicle in Farm Journal Sweepstakes

Sunday, September 27th, 2015

Master of the American Countryside header

Ag Web and Farm Journal recently teamed up with Exmark to give an Exmark 700S utility vehicle to a very deserving Wisconsin farm family in the 2015 Master the American Countryside sweepstakes.

Holzhueter family

Farm Journal’s “Master of the American Countryside” sweepstakes winner, John Holzhueter sits in his new Exmark utility vehicle with his family and Jason Kistner, owner of Eau Claire Lawn Equipment (at left), the local Exmark dealer.

John Holzhueter of Menomonie, Wisconsin was the lucky winner of the nearly $12,000 Exmark utility vehicle, and he’s been using it on his farm since the end of August.

We spoke to Holzhueter recently, and he had this to say about his new Exmark machine.

“It’s working good. With two farms located about seven miles apart, we put it to good use.”

Holzhueter told us he also uses his Exmark utility vehicle to get to-and-from fields, especially during hay season, and he’s looking forward to using it during the upcoming harvest.

“We aren’t going yet, but we will be soon,” he said.

Learn more about how an Exmark utility vehicle could make your life better at Exmark.com.

 

Posted in Co-Promotions, Exmark Information, General, Industry News | No Comments »

Take Back Your Weekends Contest – Grand Prize Winner

Sunday, September 20th, 2015

Take Back Your Weekends header

TBYW winner, Walt A.

At the helm of his new Exmark Lazer Z, Walt prepares to take back his weekends.

Since the launch of our Take Back Your Weekends video contest back in April, we have been amazed by the creativity and production talent seen in the submissions. One thing is clear; taking back your weekends is a concept quite a few of you have put significant thought into!

Congratulations to grand prize winner, Walt A. of Kentucky. Walt is taking home a new Exmark Lazer Z X-Series mower, and judging from his video submission, he knows just how he’ll use the extra time his Exmark will give him.

Check out the grand prize winning video:
(Note: reload the page if video does not appear below)

View the entire list of winners, as well as highlights from the 2015 Take Back Your Weekends contest submissions at Exmark.com/TBYW.

Tags:, , , , ,
Posted in Co-Promotions, Contests, Exmark Information, General | No Comments »

When to Stop Mowing Your Lawn for the Season

Thursday, September 17th, 2015

In most parts of the country, turf grass growth slows to a crawl as the temperatures cool in the fall. A common question from our customers is when to stop mowing their lawn for the season.

As you might imagine, there’s really not one date where you can say “it’s time to stop”. That said, with a little knowledge of what to look for, it can be a relatively easy question to answer for yourself.

What to Look For

As with many lawn-related questions, the answer to when you should stop mowing is rooted in your geography and the prevailing weather pattern your area is experiencing.

Aeration -- when to stop mowing

Aeration in the fall helps reduce soil compaction and encourages root growth of cool-season turf types.

According to research published by Cornell University, top-growth (growth above ground) of the lawn slows to a virtual standstill after about 10 days with average daily temperatures below 50 degrees F. At this point, the turf grasses will focus on root growth until the ground freezes.¹

You’ve likely notice the decrease in your lawn’s growth as cooler fall temperatures settle in. By keeping tabs on your local weather, you’ll be able to determine when your daily average temperature goes below 50 degrees F.

Though mowing frequency may decrease significantly, folks who live in warmer parts of the country may end up continuing to mow throughout the year, if simply to keep the lawn looking well-kept. That said, those of us in the upper two-thirds of the country will inevitably end up putting the mower away for a few months.

Cooler Temps = Less Frequency & Lower Cutting Height

when to stop mowing lawn

The annual growth cycle of cool-season grasses. Source: Cornell University

As temperatures drop and your mowing frequency decreases, you’ll want to finish the transition to the low-end of the cutting height window for your turf grass type. This prepares the lawn for winter by reducing its exposure above ground and encouraging the active root growth that takes place in cooler temperatures.

According to the Iowa State University Extension, you should cut your lawn to 2-2.5 inches for Kentucky bluegrass or tall fescue, and 1.5-2 inches for perennial ryegrass or creeping red fescue.²

Fall is a Good Time to Fertilize

Fall dethatching -- when to stop mowing

Early-fall is also a good time to perform dethatching on cool-season grasses.

As you transition your cutting height to the lower end of your cut height window, you might also want to consider fertilizing your lawn. This supports the active root growth that’s taking place and fortifies your lawn so it stays healthy through the winter and greens up quickly next spring.

If you still have questions about when to stop mowing, or how to prepare your lawn for winter, contact your local Extension agency or a local landscape professional. Both can be valuable references as you work towards a more beautiful lawn.

Citations and References:

  • ¹ “How Grass Grows“, Cornell University. Cornell University, n.d. Web. 31 Aug 2015
  • ² Agnew, Michael and Christians, Nick. “Mowing Your Lawn“, Iowa State University Extension. Iowa State University, revised August 2009. Web. 31 Aug 2015

Tags:, , , , , , ,
Posted in Eco-Friendly, Education, Exmark Information, General, Maintenance Tips | No Comments »

Why You Should Aerate Your Lawn this Fall

Thursday, September 3rd, 2015

(StatePoint) Fall is a great time to aerate the lawn. Whether you do it yourself or hire a lawn care professional to do it for you, aeration at least once per year provides a number of benefits to your lawn, say experts.

Exmark Aerator

An increasing number of landscape professionals are turning to productivity-enhancing machines like this Exmark 30-inch Stand-On Aerator. The stand-on design also reduces operator wear and tear significantly.

The main benefit is to relieve compaction and increase pore space, which promotes gas exchange and microbial activity in the soil and creates a better, more supportive environment for lawn health and vitality. Aeration also promotes better soil drainage, which helps keep disease at bay and allows more water to percolate into the soil from rain or irrigation, meaning less runoff and more water getting where it needs to go.

“Ideal aeration timing depends on turf type and geography,” says Lloyd Von Scheliha of Exmark Manufacturing, a manufacturer of turf care equipment. “But annual aeration provides valuable agronomic benefits to virtually any turfgrass.”

With that in mind, here are some tips from the experts at Exmark to get the most benefits from aeration:

• Timing: Ideally, aeration should take place during times of active growth to help with recovery. Avoid aeration during times of heat stress or times preceding dormancy. It’s typically best to aerate cool season grasses in the spring or fall, while with warm season grasses, it’s best to aerate in late spring or early fall.

• Proper equipment: Use gear that meets the needs of your lawn. For example, Exmark offers a 30-inch Stand-On aerator that makes quick work of even large properties with the ability to easily maneuver around landscape features.

• Follow-up: After aeration, it’s a good idea to water the lawn, as well as a good time to apply fertilizer or overseed if needed. Be careful not to apply a pre-emergent if you plan to overseed, however, as it will prevent the new seed from growing.

Don’t let this important, but often overlooked lawn care task escape your attention this season. At the ideal time for your lawn, either take it upon yourself or hire a professional to give your grass a better chance at thriving.

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Education, Exmark Information, General, Maintenance Tips | No Comments »

Hubbard Life and Exmark Launch “Best Things in Life” Sweepstakes

Tuesday, September 1st, 2015

Best Things In Life Logo(1)Hubbard Life and Exmark have teamed up for a 2nd year in a row to give away three top-of-the-line Exmark zero-turn mowers away in the Hubbard Life ‘Best Things in Life’ Sweepstakes.

Exmark and Hubbard Life share a single-minded dedication to excellence. While the focuses of the businesses are different, the commitment to leadership and delivering the very best to their customers is the same.

Hubbard Feeds focuses on the nutritional care of your animals, no matter what their size or purpose. Exmark focus is on designing and manufacturing cutting-edge mowing and turf care products. Both Hubbard and Exmark work every day to earn their customers’ trust and exceed their expectations.

The Hubbard Life ‘The Best Things in Life’ Sweepstakes began July 30, 2015. No purchase is necessary to enter. Simply visit a participating Hubbard Life dealer to complete the postage-paid sweepstakes entry card. All entries must be received by October 1, 2015.

Three winners will be selected – one from each of the three Hubbard Life business unit regions. Each winner will take home a 2015 Exmark Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn mower with a 60-inch cutting deck and a retail value of more than $13,000.

To find the nearest Hubbard Life dealer visit www.hubbardlife.com/dealers. To learn more about the Exmark advantage, visit www.exmark.com. 

Tags:, , , , , ,
Posted in Co-Promotions, Exmark Information, General | No Comments »

Mower Settings for Late Summer and Early Fall Lawn Care

Wednesday, August 19th, 2015

Mower settings are a hot topic of debate for some, but a few basic guidelines can help keep your lawn healthy and weed-free throughout the year. Today, we’ll talk about the seasonal cycle of mower height settings, with a particular focus on lawn mower settings for cooler late-summer and early-fall cutting conditions.

Mower settings for late-summer

Your ideal cutting height range will depend on the type of grasses you’re cutting.

Ultimately, your ideal mower height settings vary with the type of grass you’re cutting and the time of year. While it’s typical to cut cool season grasses a little longer, in the 2 to 4 inch range, warm season grasses can be cut to as short as one inch, sometimes less. Consultation with your local county extension office or lawn care professional can help you dial in your mower height settings based on region and grass type.

The seasonal cycle explained

While turf types may vary, the method for setting mower height is similar within the ‘ideal’ range of the grass you’re mowing. Here in the Midwest, Kentucky Bluegrass is prevalent, which typically thrives when cut to a height of 2-3 inches. With Kentucky Bluegrass, set the mower at roughly two inches in the spring, and as the weather warms up in July and August, gradually increase mower height to a maximum of 3 inches.

Mowing grass higher in the heat of the summer helps keep vital moisture in the ground for your lawn to use, reducing the need for water.

With the transition to fall, the days get shorter and begin to cool off. As they do, it makes sense to lower mower height gradually, so it’s on the low end of your ‘ideal’ height range just before the first freeze, or you see your coldest annual temperatures. Doing so helps to prevent fungus growth over winter months.

Lawn care rules to remember

Mower settings

As your daily temperatures decrease from their seasonal peak, you can begin to lower your cutting deck incrementally until you reach the low end of your ideal height range.

As you transition to mowing grass shorter, don’t forget the ‘Rule of Thirds’. That is, never cut more than one-third of the total length of the grass. If you’re starting with three-inch tall grass, don’t mow shorter than two inches in one cutting.

Also, avoid mowing during times of heat stress, or extreme wet. Instead, mow just before a forecast rain to allow the freshly cut grass to soak the moisture in.

As soon as the weather begins to cool from its seasonal peak, it’s time to begin adjusting your mower settings for late summer and early fall lawn care. You’ll help your lawn be healthier and more beautiful all year long.

References & Additional resources:

  1. http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/outdoors/gardening/what-is-the-ideal-height-to-cut-the-grass
  2. http://outdoorswithdave.com/landscaping/mowing-your-lawn
  3. http://www.safelawns.org/blog/2012/05/13-essential-mowing-tips-first-and-foremost-keep-the-blade-sharp-set-high/
  4. http://msue.anr.msu.edu/resources/mowing-lawn-turf

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Backyard, Eco-Friendly, Education, Exmark Information, General | No Comments »

Rear Discharge vs. Side Discharge: Why Choose a Rear Discharge Mower?

Sunday, August 16th, 2015
Exmark Lazer Z Rear-Discharge

A rear-discharge mower offers numerous advantages, not the least of which is the ability to trim on both sides of the deck.

An increasing number of Exmark mowers are now available with our UltraCut Rear Discharge cutting deck. And as our customers learn more about the advantages of a rear-discharge mower, they’re choosing the option more and more.

Today we’ll talk through the reasons somebody would choose rear-discharge riding mowers over the more common side-discharge mowers, and what cutting conditions rear-discharge commercial mowers excel in.

Reason 1: increased clipping control

Rear-discharge decks send clippings out behind the deck, under the mower, instead of through a side-discharge chute. The operator stays cleaner and clippings are distributed uniformly over a wider area. Rear-discharge decks also reduce the potential for debris or foreign objects to be discharged at dangerous velocity, making them a popular option with municipalities as well as parks and recreation departments.

Reason 2: increased cutting efficiency

With one counter-rotating blade, the UltraCut Rear Discharge cutting deck offers increased cut quality and even clipping distribution.

With one counter-rotating blade, the UltraCut Rear Discharge cutting deck offers increased cut quality and even clipping distribution.

The UltraCut Rear Discharge deck reduces clipping over-processing using a counter-rotating blade design and patented Flow Control baffles. Because clippings are cut once and discharged, a rear-discharge deck uses less horsepower than an equivalent side-discharge deck, which must pass clippings from blade-to-blade to be discharged. As a result, rear-discharge is a great choice for cutting taller grasses and in rougher cutting conditions, so they are an appealing choice for use on farms or acreages.

Reason 3: ability to trim on both sides of the deck

Whether you’re a landscape professional looking to maximize productivity, or an acreage owner looking for maximum versatility, the ability to trim on both sides of the cutting deck is a big advantage for a rear-discharge mower. No longer must you plan your entire mowing pattern based on the location of landscaping. Now, you simply take the most efficient route and get the job done faster.

Reason 4: reduced noise

Exmark rear-discharge

The decreased noise and increased clipping control of a rear-discharge mower are ideal for maintaining residential properties.

Discharging clippings behind the deck, under the mower, dramatically reduces the noise level of the deck for both the operator and for bystanders.

For those looking for additional noise reductions as well as an increased quality of cut for the most highly manicured appearance, Exmark offers its Finish Cut baffle kit for the UltraCut Rear Discharge deck. It’s perhaps the ultimate combination of cut quality, productivity and clipping control.

Bagging is perhaps the one challenge that the UltraCut Rear Discharge deck doesn’t tackle. That said, our Navigator – a dedicated bagging machine – uses a rear-discharge deck, so if you’re committed to bagging and like the benefits of rear-discharge, it just may be the rear-discharge commercial mower you’re looking for.

The UltraCut Rear Discharge deck is available on select Pioneer and Lazer Z rear discharge mower models. Visit Exmark.com to learn more about Exmark’s entire line of UltraCut decks.

Tags:, , , , , ,
Posted in Business Tips, Eco-Friendly, Education, Exmark Information, General, Products | No Comments »