Archive for the ‘Maintenance Tips’ Category

How to Mow Like a Pro

Sunday, May 15th, 2016

(StatePoint) You might not earn your living taking care of lawns, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get the same quality of cut as landscape pros.

For a consistently superior cut, experts say average consumers should look for Exmark Lazer Z E-Series commercial zero-turn mowercommercial grade products.

“Homeowners can also benefit from the performance and reliability a true commercial mower offers,” says Lloyd von Scheliha, product manager at Exmark, a leading manufacturer of lawn care equipment. “You’ll get lawn care done faster and it will look better in the end. Your mower will also last longer and require less maintenance.”

Homeowners should be advised however that the term “commercial grade” is thrown around a lot these days in advertising. If you’re in the market for a new mower, you should understand what commercial grade really means before making a purchase.

“Take a look at the equipment your local landscape professionals are using and you`ll get a good feel for what commercial mowers look like,” says von Scheliha.

He says homeowners should consider the following:

  • Your mower should offer superior durability to stand the test of time. Look for fabricated cutting decks, which are stiffer, stronger and more durable than stamped decks — even reinforced models. The durability advantage should extend to the components as well.
  • Productivity and maneuverability in a mower offer average consumers time-savings, reducing the time that’s needed to cut a lawn, and then do trim work. Consider a zero-turn mower, which delivers a finished appearance more quickly than other mower types.
  • Even a commercial mower will deliver superior results longer if you perform routine maintenance. Always consult your owner’s manual to determine what specific maintenance is necessary for your machine. Cleaning, sharpening or replacing blades as they dull, replacing belts as they become worn, oil and filter changes, and other specific maintenance as outlined in your owner’s manual, will improve equipment performance and longevity.

More information about lawn care and commercial grade lawn equipment can be found at Exmark.com.

This season, take steps to be informed so you can mow like a pro.

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

How to Get a Great Lawn in Less Time

Sunday, May 1st, 2016

(StatePoint) A stunning lawn is the trademark of most proud homeowners. After all, the front yard is the first thing visitors and passersby see. But achieving and maintaining the perfect landscape can be time consuming without the right tools.

Exmark Lazer Z X-Series commercial zero-turn mowerWant more of your weekends back? Experts say achieving professional-level results in less time starts with the equipment you use to do the job. Take stock of the tools in your garage or shed. Are they up to the task? If you’re spending too much time on the yard, it may be time to make some key upgrades.

The right lawnmower, for example, “is not just an investment in the beauty of your property, it’s an investment in your quality of life,” says Judy Altmaier, general manager of Exmark, a leading manufacturer of mowers and other lawn care equipment. “A faster mower means more free time, plain and simple.”

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

  • Maneuverability: Between trees, flower beds and other landscape features, a mower should be easy to maneuver, so you can mow closer and spend less time with the trimmer.
  • Quality of cut: Not all mowers offer the same quality of cut. When choosing a new mower, take this factor into consideration, as well as the type of lawn and grass you have.
  • Durability: A durable mower will include features such as welded, fabricated cutting decks, commercial engines and heavy-duty welded, tubular steel unibody frames.

For quick guidance, consider taking a cue from those who make a living by being more efficient in the yard – landscape professionals.

“These days, it’s safe to say that zero-turn riding mowers have become the tool of choice among landscape professionals,” says Altmaier.

Those from Exmark, for example, are available at various price points and offer great mower productivity, power and durability. For more information, visit www.Exmark.com.

This season, give yourself more time and energy to enjoy the yard you so painstakingly maintain.

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

What to Know When Repairing Your Lawn Mower

Wednesday, April 6th, 2016

(StatePoint) Every lawn mower requires routine maintenance to keep it running with efficiency and maximum performance. If a breakdown occurs or parts wear out, it’s much more cost-efficient to simply replace the worn parts than it is to buy a whole new mower.

EX16_Pioneer_S-Series_InUse_6_web72To keep your mower functioning optimally, consider the following:

Regular Maintenance

Follow your manufacturer’s suggested maintenance schedule. Check your owner’s manual or your mower brand’s website for information on when and how to maintain your  machine, including checking and changing engine oil and filters, hydraulic filters, belts, air cleaners, spark plugs and more. This upkeep on your mower can prevent unscheduled downtime and costly repairs.

Replace Parts Wisely

“Modern mowers are designed to function as a system; they aren’t just a collection of parts,” says David Martin, customer service manager at Exmark, a leading mower manufacturer.

While virtually any company can sell parts that are almost right for your machine, Martin advises using original parts from the mower manufacturer. Brands such as Exmark, for example, extensively test every part and accessory for hundreds of hours to ensure they won’t compromise the safety, productivity or durability of the mower, or the quality of cut it provides.

“There is great value in using genuine Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) parts, as opposed to cheaper “will fit” alternatives, when replacing belts, blades, filters, lubricants and other mower parts,” says Martin.

To learn more about the differences between using generic replacements from an aftermarket company and OEM parts, visit www.exmark.com/OriginalParts.

Whether you mow your lawn often or just a few times a season, be sure to take good care of your mower, paying attention to the suggested maintenance routine. It’s always better to prevent a problem before it becomes an issue. And doing so will improve the quality of each cut and extend the life of the machine.

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

Spring Lawn Care Checklist

Sunday, March 13th, 2016

While the spring equinox is coming up March 20, many folks across the country have been experiencing spring-like weather for some time now. As your lawn wakes up from its winter slumber, there are things you can start doing almost immediately to clean it up and get a proactive start on maintenance.

A Note on Timing

Exmark lawn care

Paying attention to the needs of your lawn this spring will make it easier to maintain the beauty of your lawn throughout the season.

While it may seem beneficial to get out as soon as the weather begins to warm up, a little patience can go a long way to maximize the results of your work. Wait until your lawn has mostly greened up to begin mowing, aeration or other maintenance. Too much traffic on the lawn before it’s green increases the chances of killing off new shoots before they mature, or compacting the turf.

Turf Type Matters

Understanding whether you’ve got cool-season grasses (such as bluegrass, fescue and rye) or warm-season grasses (such as Bermuda, St. Augustine and Zoysia) is important to knowing which maintenance tasks you’ll need to perform, and when it’s best to perform them.

Cool-season grasses have two primary growth periods: one in the spring and another in the fall. They can struggle and go dormant in the heat of the summer, so spring maintenance should focus on strengthening the lawn to better deal with summer heat.

Warm-season turf grasses begin growing shortly after the final spring frost and hit their full growth stride as the midsummer heat cranks up.

Here are some maintenance items you can perform to help your lawn be more beautiful and weed-free this season, with notes on timing for warm- and cool-season grasses:

  1. Yard raking/clean-up — Most lawns can use some clean up first thing in the spring. Rake up all leaf and organic material to ensure your lawn is getting the sunlight it needs to green up quickly. As you rake up the leaves in your yard, make note of any areas of the lawn that may be compacted (and need to be aerated) or have excessive thatch (and need to be dethatched).
  2. Fertilization — You won’t necessarily need to fertilize your lawn in the spring, particularly if you applied fertilizer last fall. But depending on what type of fertilizer program you’re on, spring can be a good time to have your soil tested to check available nutrient levels. Cool-season grasses can benefit from a light fertilizer application in the spring, once they’re actively growing. For warm-season grasses, it’s best to fertilize in late spring — typically in April or May — as soon as the lawn greens up and is actively growing.
  3. Weed control — Regardless of whether you have warm- or cool-season grasses, a spring application of pre-emergence herbicide can be very beneficial for your lawn. For control of annual weeds such as crabgrass and foxtail, you want to apply the weed control as soon as the soil temperature consistently reaches 55 degrees. Often, your local extension office can help you understand the soil temperatures for your area. If you plan to perform any seeding to your lawn, you will want to choose your herbicide carefully, as most will prevent the germination of grass seed. According to the University of Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County, the only pre-emergence herbicide that can be used with new seeding is siduron, which is commonly sold as Tupersan.
  4. Seeding — Cool-season grasses can be planted as soon as soil temperatures are consistently in the 50s (and air temps are in the 60s). The goal is to plant as soon as conditions allow to give the grass as much time to establish before the stress of summer heat bears down on it. Fall is a better time to plant cool-season grasses, so your focus for spring planting should ideally be on filling in bare spots. Warm-season grasses should be planted when soil temperatures are consistently in the 60s and all threat of frost has passed.
  5. Mower maintenance — We covered spring mower maintenance comprehensively in this post from Feb. 17, 2016.

 

You may find that if your lawn went into the winter in a well-maintained condition, it may not need all of these steps to be ready for spring. Lawn maintenance you performed in the fall, such as aeration or dethatching, may or may not need an additional spring application. It all depends on the condition of your lawn coming out of winter. And if you maintained your mower in the fall, you won’t need to do another comprehensive service in the spring.

For more information:

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

Spring is Coming… Is Your Mower Ready?

Wednesday, February 17th, 2016

Late-winter is a great time to take stock of your mower’s maintenance needs and get them taken care of before the spring growing season. That way, you’ll be ready to roll when the growth of your lawn hits full stride. Not only does a properly maintained mower perform better, but it will also last longer and be more reliable over the course of its life.

Exmark blades

Nothing affects your mower’s quality of cut more than blade sharpness. It pays to keep ’em sharp.

Always consult your owner’s manual to determine what specific maintenance is necessary for your machine, but some common examples of spring mower maintenance items include:

  • Cleaning — The most basic maintenance you can perform is giving your mower a thorough cleaning. Starting with a clean mower will make it easier to perform other spring maintenance items, and built-up dirt and grass clippings can reduce the performance of your machine.
  • Blades — Your mower will cut faster and deliver a better quality of cut with sharp blades. Few parts affect cut quality and productivity as dramatically as sharp, balanced blades, and with practice, you can change a set of blades in less than ten minutes. It’s well worth the time and effort. One pro tip is to get an extra set of blades for your mower to swap in when your blades lose their edge. You’ll always have sharp, balanced blades ready to go, with no downtime required for sharpening.
  • Belts — Inspect all belts and replace any that appear visibly worn. Also check all belt tensioners to ensure proper function.
  • Engine oil — Start off the season with a fresh oil and filters for each of your mowers. Oil is the life blood of your engine, and changing it out is much less expensive than an oil breakdown-related engine issue.
  • Spark plugs — Replace your mower’s spark plug(s) at the start of the season to ensure easy starting and consistent running performance.
  • Exmark tire inflation

    Proper tire pressure affects the safety, handling and reliability of your mower.

    Fuel — Fuel that’s been sitting in the tank for an extended period should be drained and replaced with fresh fuel. Gasoline degrades in quality and can cause inconsistent starting and running performance. A fuel treatment or stabilizer can help the fuel stay fresh longer, and prevent the absorption of moisture by the fuel. Never use fuel that contains more than 10-percent ethanol in mowers, as higher percentage ethanol blends may lead to engine damage and/or performance issues.

  • Tire pressure — Check the pressure on all pneumatic mower tires and fill them to the recommended pressure marked on the tire sidewall. Operation with too-low tire pressure is a safety issue, first and foremost, and it also compromises mower efficiency, performance and handling.

Spend some time with your mower in the shop now to ensure your mower is good to go when the grass is growing strong later this season. You’ll be thankful you did.

Service resources at Exmark.com:

 

Tags:, , , , , ,
Posted in Backyard, Business Tips, Education, Exmark Information, General, Maintenance Tips, Safety, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Should You Aerate This Spring?

Monday, February 1st, 2016

Regardless of where you live and what type of turf grass you’re working with, aeration can help your lawn be healthier and more beautiful. The trick is knowing when it’s best to aerate, what equipment to use, and what else you can do to encourage the vigor of your grasses, while limiting weeds’ ability to gain a foothold in the lawn.

Exmark core aerator

Core aeration can be beneficial for most lawns if performed at the right time for the type of turf grass you’re working with.

According to Josh Friell, Ph. D, of The Toro Company’s Center for Advanced Turf Technology, aeration introduces temporary stress to the turf, and recovery time is closely linked to growing conditions and annual growth cycles. As a result, it’s important to keep those considerations in mind when determining an annual aerification plan.

When is the Best Time to Aerate?

Aeration is best performed just before or during periods of high growth, but not immediately preceding or during periods of stress to the lawn, whether from heat or drought. The type of grasses that make up your lawn will determine the best time of year to aerate.

If you’re working with cool season grasses, including bluegrass, creeping bent grass, fescue and ryegrass, it’s best to aerate during the growth periods in the spring and fall.

In the spring, wait until you’ve mowed the lawn a few times before aerating. This will ensure the lawn is growing fast enough to recover and take advantage of the increased pore space and air exchange at the root zone that aeration creates.

Exmark Spreader Sprayer

It’s a good idea to apply fertilizer and weed killer just after aeration to minimize the opportunity for weeds to take advantage of the short-term turf stress from aeration.

One caveat, says Friell, is that any disturbance of the root zone in the spring can increase weed competition by bringing buried seeds to the surface.

“You can reduce the potential for weed competition and increase the hardiness of the grasses by applying fertilizer and a pre-emergent weed killer following aeration. But don’t apply a weed killer if you plan to overseed following aeration, as it will prevent germination of the seed you put down.”

For warm season grasses such as Bermuda grass, buffalo grass, St. Augustine and zoysia grass, aeration can take place during warm times of the year between late-spring and early-autumn.

“Aeration should be performed early enough in the fall that the turf can recover before it needs to prepare for winter dormancy,” Friell said.

As for frequency, Friell said aeration should be performed at least once per year on most lawns, while twice annually is best for lawns with compacted soil, or soil with high clay content.

What To Do Before or After Aeration

Watering after aeration is always a good idea, as Friell said aeration should never be performed when turf is wet, or the dirt contains enough moisture to be muddy.

As mentioned earlier, the application of fertilizer and weed killer is beneficial shortly following aeration, but be sure to skip the weed killer if you’re going to overseed following aeration.

Friell said overseeding following aeration makes sense because seeds can take advantage of the disturbed surface to create better seed-to-soil contact.

“Better seed-to-soil contact means better conditions for successful germination.”

Learn More:

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

Zero-Turn vs. Lawn Tractor: Introduction

Sunday, January 3rd, 2016
Zero-turn riding mower

Whether mowing wide-open spaces or tackling a highly-landscaped lawn, zero-turn mowers get work done more efficiently.

Home and acreage owners with one or more acres of property are faced with more choices than ever when it comes to mower type, size, features and price.  Among landscape maintenance professionals, it’s safe to say the zero-turn riding mower has become the tool of choice to consistently and quickly achieve a beautiful after-cut appearance. However, when it comes of homeowners, are zero-turn mowers still the preferred choice? Read on to find out.

Productivity: A faster mower = more free time

Landscape pros choose zero-turn mowers because they deliver the finished appearance their clients expect, and they do it more quickly than other mower types. And while it may be true that homeowners don’t have to make money with their mower, it’s a good idea to consider what their time is worth.

Exmark Lazer Z zero-turn mower

An increasing number of home and acreage owners have found the productivity benefits of a true commercial duty zero-turn rider like this Exmark Lazer Z.

Let’s take the case of an acreage owner with about 5 acres to mow, with moderate landscaping, a mixture of mature and small trees, and a kids’ play area in the back yard. We’ll compare lawn tractors and zero-turn mowers at three popular price points: $4,000-5,000; $7,000-8,000 and $13,000-14,000 in posts spread out over the next two weeks.

The comparisons will provide an estimate of the relative productivity that could be expected at each price point from a lawn tractor and zero-turn rider. That said, raw productivity numbers don’t factor in other aspects of mower performance such as maneuverability, durability, operator comfort or quality of cut. As a result, the ultimate productivity of a mower will depend on a combination of factors.

To determine the acres-per-hour productivity of each mower, we used the top speed of the mowers, along with the published width of the cutting deck. Since most mowers are not able to produce a good quality of cut at maximum speed, we assumed 80-percent efficiency from the mowers to account for this, as well as for time spent not actually cutting grass, such as turning around or overlap.

Look for our next installment of this series on Monday, January 11.

Dig Deeper at Exmark.com:

  • Learn more about factors to consider when choosing a lawn tractor or zero-turn mower.
  • Learn more about how to determine mower productivity.

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

Exmark Spreader Sprayer: Safe Operation and Routine Maintenance

Sunday, December 6th, 2015

Kent’s Lawn Service Owner, Kent Harlan, talks through safe operation of the Exmark Spreader-Sprayer, as well as routine maintenance he recommends for the machine.

View additional Spreader Sprayer videos on the Exmark YouTube channel, or learn more about the Exmark Spreader Sprayer at Exmark.com.

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

How To Maintain Safe Operation When Mowing Hills

Thursday, November 19th, 2015

If you own a property with steep hills, you know the challenges mowing and lawn care present. And when you add in walls, planters and other landscaping, and kids’ equipment such as trampolines, all of the sudden, mowing becomes akin to navigating an obstacle course. Which mower you choose for hills is an important factor in mowing your lawn safely and sustainably over time. In addition, taking the time to learn about all of the important safety features on your machine and how to safely navigate your mower on slopes and around obstacles is critical in helping prevent accidents.

Choose the Right Mower for Hilly Terrain

Exmark Lazer Z zero-turn riding mowers are the #1 choice of landscape professionals because of their unmatched ability to quickly and safely maintain a wide variety of properties. That said, zero-turn riding mowers should not be used on slopes of greater than 15 degrees, or a 26.8 percent grade. (Learn more about calculating slope and grade at EngineeringToolbox.com.) Maintain hills or surfaces with slopes of more than 15 degrees with a walk-behind mower or hand trimmer.

Mower safety -- mowing at the water's edge

A walk-behind mower is a better choice than any riding mower for cutting grass near drop-offs or retaining walls, or at the edge of ponds.

While it may be tempting to mow close to the edge of water or retaining walls with your zero-turn mower, doing so can result in significant injury or death if the machine were to roll over. It’s better to keep a safe distance from these hazards, and come back with a walk-behind mower to trim near the edge.

Please take a moment to watch these “Driving in the Safety Zone” videos, which Exmark produced to help you identify safety hazards and how to safely operate your Lazer Z in hilly or uneven terrain, or around walls, water and other lawn hazards:

Exmark Lazer Z Introduction and General Safety


Exmark Lazer Z Safe Mowing of Slopes and Rollover Protection

Exmark Lazer Z Controls and Operation:

View more safety and operator training videos on the Exmark YouTube channel.

Other Considerations

  • Use Protection: the rollover protection system (ROPS) on commercial mowing equipment should always be deployed in the full upright position during operation — along with the lap belt securely fastened low and tight around the operator’s waist. Failure to do either of these steps increases the risk of injury or death to the operator in a rollover situation.
  • Proper rollover protection use

    Always deploy the rollover protection system (ROPS) in the full-up position during operation (as shown). Never operate the mower with the ROPS down or partially-deployed.

    Moisture: avoid mowing hilly terrain when grass is wet from rain or dew. Not only is mowing wet grass sub-optimal for the turf itself, the reduced traction on wet grass increases the chances of your mower sliding on uneven terrain. Instead, wait until later in the day when the sun has burned the moisture off.

  • Unstable ground: survey the property and identify any ponds, drop-offs (pay particular attention to fence lines) and retaining walls to ensure the stability of the ground being mowed.

By taking a little time to understand the slope and terrain of your property, you can choose the right mower to maintain every inch of your lawn safely.

Learn more about safe mowing at Exmark.com.

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

What To Do For Your Lawn As Winter Sets In

Thursday, November 5th, 2015

Frost is a reality for many parts of the country. So, what can you do now and in the months to-come to keep your lawn healthy and ensure it bounces back quickly in the spring? That’s a question we hear asked frequently, so today we’re going to talk about lawn care do’s and don’ts as we move into early-winter.

We recently covered the topic of when to stop mowing for the season, so we’ll move one step beyond that and assume you’ve stopped mowing for the season (0r are close to stopping), and have applied fertilizer to the lawn. Any aeration and/or overseeding should also be done, or getting done well before the ground freezes.

Avoid Rodent-Related Drama

One consideration related to mowing however, is the importance of cutting your lawn short to minimize the possibility of animals using it for nesting ground. If you leave your grass long, mice and other small burrowing animals can dig in and build nests for shelter from winter’s cold.

Pin Oak Tree

Late-dropping trees such as the Pin Oak represent a unique yard clean-up challenge, as many of the leaves fall after the ground has frozen.

By the time spring rolls around, you can not only have significant patches of dead turf that’ll need to be reseeded, you’ll have a quickly growing population of small animals to deal with. Neither are appealing options, so just cut it short and virtually eliminate the possibility of it happening.

Remember the “Rule of 1/3”. It’s better to cut your lawn to its minimum length in stages, moving the mower deck down no more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blade with each cutting.

Late-Dropping Trees

A number of tree species drop their foliage late in the season, often after the ground has frozen and snow has fallen. And while it’s a good idea to eventually pick the leaf debris up, too much traffic on frozen turf grasses from feet or wheeled vehicles can kill the grasses.

Instead, pick a time when warmer weather causes a temporary thaw to get out and clean up the yard. Doing so will help to minimize moss and mold that can grow during above-freezing temperature in wet spots under fallen leaves.

If a thaw doesn’t happen, put leaf clean up on your list for early-spring.

The Effect of Salt on Your Lawn

Driveway de-icing salt

The salt often used for de-icing driveways and sidewalks is especially tough on turf grasses. Photo: www.littlegreencloth.com

Road salt can damage or kill turf grasses. If the use of road salt is necessary for safety, be sure to minimize the amount of salt that gets broadcast onto the lawn, and regulate the amount applied to avoid oversalting. Sections of turf next to driveways and sidewalks are prime targets for salt-related damage, so use only the salt you need to ensure safety.

If you perpetually struggle with salt-related lawn damage each year, consider using a calcium chloride-based de-icing solution, which is less harmful to your lawn. You can also consult with a landscape professional to discuss landscaping solutions that can minimize the impact of de-icing operations on your lawn.

Other Winter Considerations

Keep sidewalks, driveways and paths clear of snow so pedestrians aren’t compelled to cut across the lawn and compact the turf grasses. As noted earlier, too much foot traffic increases turf stress and can even kill turf grasses, leading to brown spots or stripes that will require reseeding in the spring.

Winter is a great time to maintain your mower. Sharpen the blade(s), change oil, clean the air filter and do any other maintenance that needs to be done to your mower and other gasoline-powered lawn equipment. You can find maintenance schedules, parts numbers and other resources for your Exmark machine(s) at MyExmark.com. Next week, we’ll dive into winter mower maintenance in greater detail.

Of all the seasons, winter lawn maintenance is often the easiest. By following these few simple guidelines, you can give your lawn a great chance of bouncing back quickly and fully next spring. And, you’ll ensure your equipment is ready to roll when the spring thaw occurs.

References — For More Information

Posted in Education, General, Maintenance Tips | No Comments »