Posts Tagged ‘Exmark’

Exmark Teams with Project Evergreen on the Great Mower Giveaway

Thursday, September 24th, 2015
PE Mower Giveaway Ad -300x250v2

Click the image to purchase your tickets today.

Exmark and Project Evergreen have teamed up to give you the opportunity to win a top-of-the-line Exmark Lazer Z X-Series commercial zero-turn mower worth more than $13,000 in the Great Mower Giveaway.

Lazer Z X-Series

Wouldn’t a new Exmark Lazer Z X-Series mower look great in your driveway?

Tickets cost $10 each, or 6 tickets for $50, and are available online through the Project Evergreen website. All proceeds from ticket sales go to support Project Evergreen’s “Healthy Turf. Healthy Kids.” initiative.

The drawing for the winner will be held Friday, October 23 at 2pm at the Project Evergreen booth (#463) at the 2015 GIE+EXPO trade show in Louisville, Kentucky. The winner need not be present to win.

For full details or to purchase tickets, visit http://projectevergreen.org/win-an-exmark-lazer-z-x-series-mower/.

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.

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

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.

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

Hunt Brothers Pizza and Exmark Help People ‘Mow Like a Pro’

Sunday, August 30th, 2015

Exmark Mow Like a Pro Home PageExmark and Hunt Brothers Pizza teamed up again in 2015 to present the Mow Like a Pro sweepstakes, and the winners recently received their new professional-grade Exmark mowers.

Today, we’ll introduce you to a number of 2015 Mow Like a Pro winners and their new Exmark machines.

Mow Like a Pro - Wayne Sparks

2015 Mow Like a Pro grand prize winner, Wayne Sparks, sits with his new Exmark Lazer Z X-Series mower.

Wayne Sparks of Cusseta, Georgia is the grand prize winner of the 2015 Mow Like a Pro sweepstakes. He took home a top-of-the-line Exmark Lazer Z X-Series zero-turn riding mower valued at more than $12,000.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” Sparks said. “Owning my own landscape business means I need quality mowers I can rely on, so winning one of the top mowers on the market is a blessing.

“It’s great to finally have a new mower after wanting one for a very long time. Not only do I have the equipment I need to start cutting more grass, I can do it in style!”

Joshua Calkins - Mow Like a Pro

First place winner, Joshua Calkins, and his new Exmark Pioneer S-Series mower.

The first place prize — an Exmark Pioneer S-Series zero-turn riding mower valued at more than $7,000 — went to Joshua Calkins of Montere, Louisiana.

Puxico, Missouri’s Regina Hale took home the second place prize: an Exmark Quest S-Series Front Steer riding mower. The machine is Exmark’s first steering wheel-equipped zero-turn rider and it’ll make quick work of Hale’s property.

Three third place winners each took home a new Exmark Commercial 30 walk-behind mower, including: Suzanne Looney of Nettleton, Mississippi; Mathel Carter of Clarks, Louisiana; and Michelle Adams of Albany, Louisiana.

Regina Hale - Mow Like a Pro

Second place winner, Regina Hale, looks ready to mow on her new Exmark Quest S-Series mower.

In addition to the six mowers, Hunt Bros Pizza and Exmark gave away 100 pairs of safety sunglasses (4th place prize) and 100 pairs of work gloves (5th place prize). Click here to see a complete list of secondary prize winners.

“On behalf of Hunt Brothers Pizza, we congratulate all the winners of the ‘Mow Like a Pro’ sweepstakes and thank all participants for their support,” said Keith Solsvig, vice president of marketing at Hunt Brothers Pizza. “The sweepstakes provided us an opportunity to connect with and reward many of our fans that are landscapers and enjoy the outdoors with a quality prize from one of the best brands in the landscaping industry.”

Stop back Wednesday, September 2 to learn more about how you could get a chance to win your own new Exmark mower!

 

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

Exmark Employee Profile: Lenny Mangnall

Thursday, August 6th, 2015

Lenny Mangnall of Exmark

Where are you from?

I’ve lived 50 miles from Beatrice, Nebraska my whole life. I currently live about ten miles away, with my wonderful wife and my three boys, ages nine to sixteen.

Tell us about what you do at Exmark.

I work in customer service, which has two groups: customer care and technical service. I’m in technical service, where we focus on the technical aspect of the product, and assisting our distributors. Typically we’re on the road about 50 percent of the time January through March. We go to different regions and do hands-on sessions on-location at dealers, making sure they are up to speed on our latest products.

For the rest of the year, we’re tied to the phone the majority of the time. For instance, last year Exmark customer service took 6,500 phone calls. If there’s a major issue we can’t resolve over the phone, we hop on a plane and go out to help resolve the problem firsthand.

The main parts of our job are preparing our service people with hands-on service and knowledge, and answering the customers’ needs. We combine those two and become both the voice of the service guy and the eyes of the customer.

What’s your favorite thing about working with Exmark?

This industry is amazing, full of such great people. I’ve built amazing relationships with end users, dealers, and distributor partners. It’s something that I look forward to each day.

At Exmark, we focus on doing the right thing and developing partnerships with our distributors, dealers, and our end users. By working together and helping our partners, whether distributors, dealers or end users, we’re making our own jobs a little easier in the long run. We’re all interrelated.

What do you like to do in your free time?

With three boys at home, I don’t have much free time! But my main passion for the last 7-8 years has been coaching baseball for my boys. It’s so much fun. The organization does it right. Even though we want to win, the more important priority is building character. And the people are great. There’s nothing better than getting a group of parents and kids together and watching them grow together as a secondary family.

If you could have lunch with any person, who would it be?

I’d like to talk to somebody who lived through the Great Depression or The Dust Bowl. We take so many things for granted and must remember to be careful with what we continue to take from Mother Nature. Any person that lived through such trying times and fought through that: it’s just remarkable to me. Those people just didn’t have the same benefits we do today. You see pictures of what they went through with the Dust Bowl and it’s remarkable they could persevere. We take a lot of things for granted today.

What’s something surprising about you not many people know about?

I graduated in a class of just 8 people. When I was in 6th grade, the entire school from kindergarten to 12th grade had about 110 people in it so I knew everybody by name. Most people are surprised to hear that.

Lenny Mangnall has been a member of the Exmark family for 17 years.

Gifts for the Exmark Aficionado

Monday, July 27th, 2015

Looking for great gifts for a friend or family member that bleeds Exmark red? Or perhaps rewards for your hard working crew? You’re in luck! Exmark offers a wide variety of high quality branded clothing and gear that’s both stylish and practical. You can find Exmark gear online at the Exmark Apparel & Gift Store.

Popular Exmark branded clothing and gear includes:

Exmark Realtree Blaze Orange cap. Click on photo to go to the product page.

Exmark Realtree Blaze Orange cap: perfect for the outdoor enthusiast. Click photos to view the product pages.

Exmark Safety Glasses

Exmark Safety Glasses: durable, stylish eye protection.

Exmark Lazer Z X-Series replica

Exmark Lazer Z X-Series 1:24 scale die-cast replica: sure to be a hit with both the young and the young at-heart.

Exmark Tumbler

Exmark Soft Touch Tumbler: carry your coffee in style.

See all the Exmark clothing and gear that’s available today at the Exmark Apparel & Gift Store.

Mower Safety Tips

Sunday, July 19th, 2015


Exmark General Mower Safety Tips

  • Read and understand your operator’s manual before operating the mower.
  • Do not add gasoline to a running or hot engine and never leave the machine running in an enclosed area.
  • As with other power tools and equipment, do not operate a lawn mower when consuming alcohol.
  • Wear appropriate clothing – significant footwear, long pants, eye and hearing protection.
Safe mower operation

Safe operation of a zero-turn mower includes always mowing with the ROPS in the up position (if so equipped) and the lap belt fastened snug and low around the operator’s waist.

  • Pick up stones, toys and debris from the lawn to prevent injuries and damage from flying objects.
  • Never allow children to be passengers on ride-on mowers.
  • Keep children and pets a safe distance from the area you are mowing. Use extreme care near blind corners and around objects that may block you from seeing a child.
  • Do not operate without the grass catcher, discharge chute, or other safety devices in place and working.
  • Be careful when mowing slopes.
  • Do not mow in wet conditions.
  • Never mow in reverse unless absolutely necessary – carefully look for others behind you when you do.
  • Turn off the mower and wait for blade(s) to stop completely before leaving the mower, removing the grass catcher, picking up debris, or crossing gravel roads or paths.
  • Let the mower cool before refueling, cleaning and storing.
  • Follow all directions – including turning off the engine and disconnecting the spark plug or electric cord – before working on the mower or trying to unclog the discharge chute.

Learn more about safe operation of your mower at http://www.exmark.com/Service-And-Support/Safety-Resources/. View additional safety videos on the Exmark YouTube channel.