Learn how the innovations Exmark designed into its new Spreader-Sprayer are helping lawn care professional Kent Harlan be more productive and profitable every day. This video is the first of seven new Spreader-Sprayer videos we’ve launched on the Exmark YouTube channel. (Note: Reload the page if the video does not appear below.)
View additional Spreader-Sprayer videos on the Exmark YouTube channel, or learn more about the Exmark Spreader-Sprayer at Exmark.com.
(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.
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.
By David Martin, Exmark customer service manager
Minimize the use of water when cleaning your mower. Instead, use compressed air whenever possible.
Now that mowing season is well under way, the last thing you want to happen is for your mower to experience downtime. The following maintenance tips will help you keep your mower running in tip-top shape.
Sharp, balanced blades are critical to the performance of the cutting system. Check and sharpen blades if necessary.
Learn more about how to effectively service and maintain your mowers and lawn care equipment at http://www.exmark.com/Service-And-Support/Maintenance/Service-Tips/.
With an efficient stand-on design and the ability to aerate at up to 7 mph with fingertip control, the Exmark 30-inch Stand-On Aerator product page raises the bar for aerating productivity and ease-of-use.
Productivity is the key to profitability, and the Exmark 30-inch Stand-On Aerator delivers for your business. The stand-on design, cushioned operator platform and intuitive controls reduce operator fatigue and maximize productivity for every operator, every day.
1,200 pounds of hydraulic pressure drives the 48 coring tines into the ground with incredible consistency.
The hydraulic tine actuation system delivers an incredible 1,200 pounds of down force for consistent core depth and the ability to pull up to 5-inch plugs. Hydraulics are fully-integrated, so there’s zero hoses to break or replace, and a clean, purposeful and ergonomic control layout is incredibly easy to use.
Free-floating center tines allow turning with tines engaged without damaging turf, with the ability to perform zero-turns with the tines raised. The Exmark design also offers incredible traction on a wide variety of turf, courtesy of a combined wheel- and tine-drive system that delivers infinite speed control up to 7mph.
Here’s Exmark Product Manager, Lloyd VonScheliha, with more on the 30-inch Stand-On Aerator:
Learn more about the opportunity lawn care services could represent for your business with our Lawn Care Services White Paper (Adobe PDF format), or visit Exmark Turf Management Products.
In recent years, stand-on spreader sprayer machines have revolutionized the application of fertilizer and chemicals to lawns. Recognizing the potential of stand-on spreader sprayers hadn’t yet been met with existing models, Exmark developed its new stand-on Spreader-Sprayer with a number of innovations designed to maximize productivity, profitability and safety for lawn care professionals.
The Lean to Steer controls heighten productivity by providing one-handed direction and speed control.
According to Exmark product manager, Lloyd von Scheliha, the Exmark Spreader-Sprayer was developed with direct input from top lawn care professionals throughout its development. As a result, it raises the bar in a number of critical areas.
“We started the process by asking a number of lawn care professionals what they wanted in a stand-on spreader sprayer,” von Scheliha said. “They told us a lot about what they liked and disliked about their current machines.
“We learned the control layout is very important on a stand-on spreader sprayer, as is the side-hill stability of the machine. We also heard about the challenges these guys were having keeping materials such as wettable powders and flowable solids in suspension in the tank.
About two years ago, von Scheliha and his team began testing prototypes of what would become the Exmark Spreader-Sprayer with a number of trusted lawn care professionals.
The feedback they received was priceless. Testers universally praised the Exmark machine’s innovative “Lean to Steer” controls, which allowed one-handed control of machine direction and speed. Testers now had a free hand to operate spray or spreader controls, or perform spot treatments with the easy-to-access spray wand.
According to lawn care professional, Kent Harlan, the agitation system of the Exmark Stand On Spreader Sprayer allows him to utilize a wider variety of material, like this fungicide — a wettable powder.
One tester, Kent Harlan of Kent’s Lawn Service in Beatrice, Nebraska, said the Lean to Steer controls allow him to effectively do more with each pass of the machine.
“I end up spraying as much with the wand in reverse as I do going forward. I have enough control with one hand that I can simultaneously spray using the wand in the other hand, even going backward.
“The simple controls make it easy to do.
Harlan said even he was shocked by how much better the Exmark control system was when compared to the controls of other machines he’d owned.
“You don’t realize until you try it (the control system): it’s truly better. In all honesty, at first sight I didn’t think it’d work, but now that I’ve used it, I’m convinced it’s one of the most impressive aspects of the machine.”
According to von Scheliha, Exmark designed the Spreader-Sprayer with no belts and a durable hydrostatic drive system to increase up-time and ease routine maintenance.
Harlan said perhaps the most significant advantage of the Exmark Spreader-Sprayer is the agitation system contained within the machine’s low-profile 20-gallon tank.
With two induction providing aggressive agitation, the Exmark system keeps materials in suspension better. This allows him to consistently apply a mixture of chemicals based on the needs of his customers and their lawns, many in the form of wettable powders that cause other machines headaches.
“I’ll dump all the materials into the tank, open the agitation circuit and wait about 40 seconds for it to mix,” Harlan said. “At that point I’m ready to spray. And if I put the machine away for the night with a half-tank of material inside, as soon as I start that agitation circuit it quickly puts the material back into suspension.
“Nobody else’s machine puts material into suspension and keeps it in suspension as well as the Exmark. In my opinion, that is the key difference between what Exmark is coming to market with and the others.”
In the end, Harlan said that no single machine has positively impacted his business more than the Exmark prototype he used during the 2014 season.
“Not only did my revenue significantly increase for the year, my profitability and customer retention improved as well.”
According to Exmark’s von Scheliha, that’s exactly what the machine was designed to do.
Learn more about the Exmark Spreader-Sprayer at Exmark.com.
You can increase profitability and customer satisfaction with lawn care services. Learn how with our free white paper. Download in Adobe PDF format.
When it comes to the purchase of a new mower, you have more choices than ever before. Instead of merely the choice between a push mower and a riding lawn mower, today we have walk-behind mowers, stand-on mowers and zero-turn mowers to choose from.
Once you’ve decided which mower type you want, it makes sense to consider which fuel is your best option. Gasoline isn’t the only choice anymore. There are also a wide variety of propane lawn mowers to choose from. But which one is better, gasoline or propane?
Advantages of Propane
There are several advantages to propane as a mower fuel. For example, propane stores longer than gasoline. You don’t have to worry about fuel quality degradation over the winter, so you can store the mower in the garage and from a fuel standpoint, it’ll be ready to go when it’s time to mow again in the spring.
Propane is typically less expensive than gasoline. You’ll also find that propane prices don’t fluctuate as much as the price of gasoline. Since propane prices are often lower in the summer, propane-powered lawn mowers are becoming more popular with landscape professionals, too.
In addition to paying less per gallon, using propane also eliminates the possibility of a hazardous and costly spill. Propane also reduces the likelihood of fuel being stolen for use in other vehicles. Last but not least, propane is environmentally friendly. Propane-fueled mowers produce fewer greenhouse gasses than gasoline mowers, making them a good choice in areas where air quality is an issue.
When it comes to using propane-powered lawn mowers, it’s important to remember to fill the propane tank (or keep an alternate) before you start mowing. But propane’s growing popularity as an alternative fuel means you shouldn’t have trouble finding a filling station nearby.
Advantages of Gasoline
Gasoline-powered lawn mowers continue to be popular for a number of reasons, but universal fuel availability is a big one. If your mower runs out of gas, it’s easy to get it refilled. You can purchase gasoline at any gas station, virtually any time of day. Plus, it’s relatively easy to carry a small gas canister to and from the filling station.
Gasoline engines are available in a wide variety of sizes and configurations, so chances are you’ll be able to find a mower type and size to suit your needs. As a result, today, gasoline engines power the majority of our mowers.
When Gasoline-Powered Mowers Make Sense
We recommend gasoline-powered lawn mowers to most homeowners. For a small or medium-sized property, you’ll find a wider variety of gasoline-fueled mower options suited to the task. While you may still like to take one of our zero-turn lawn mowers for a ride, you might be better served with a smaller self-propelled walk-behind for your property. And nine times out of ten, those mowers will be gasoline-powered.
For a smaller property, you’re not going to be mowing the yard for several hours. This means you probably aren’t going to use enough fuel each year to be able to realize a significant cost benefit using propane. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t purchase a propane-powered mower to maintain a small- to medium-sized property. But the difference in fuel cost really pays off for commercial and professional users.
When You Should Choose Propane
Propane-powered lawn mowers, whether they are zero-turn mowers or not, are most useful for commercial and professional users and large properties. Propane mowers give these users the opportunity to reduce fuel expenditures by up to 25 percent, which is a big deal. If you’re running your lawn mower for eight hours a day or more, you’re probably spending a lot of money on fuel.
When it comes to mowing the lawn professionally, it’s also a good idea to consider the environment. After all, switching to a propane-powered lawn mower is really noticeable when you cut grass for a living. Fortunately, you don’t have to trade energy efficiency for power. Thanks to state-of-the-art Kohler EFI-propane powerplants, our propane mowers offer exceptional performance while being easier on the planet.
If you are a landscape contractor, you may also want to look into grants or rebate programs from the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC), or other agencies to help you defray the initial cost of the propane mower. That said, even without financial assistance, your business would benefit from the cost benefits a propane mower will deliver over time.
References:
New Kohler EFI propane power plant can reduce fuel expenditures by up to 40 percent
The Vantage S-Series Propane joins Exmark’s existing EFI propane Lazer Z and Turf Tracer models.
Exmark has unveiled the latest addition to its industry leading line of EFI propane commercial mowers — the Vantage S-Series Propane 52-inch stand-on rider. The new model uses a state-of-the-art Kohler EFI propane powerplant that delivers significant increases in fuel economy, performance and reliability along with being the most environmentally friendly engine option available today.
The new stand-on machine joins Exmark’s existing EFI propane Lazer Z and Turf Tracer models, providing the broadest product line-up in the industry. Landscape professionals now have an increasing number of options that can precisely meet their needs and enjoy the reliability, economic and environmental benefits of EFI propane power.
Exmark Director of Marketing, Daryn Walters, said an increasing number of landscape contractors are turning to propane power as a way to reduce costs, increase profitability and reduce impact on the environment.
“Time and again we hear that fuel is one of our customers’ largest expenses, and increasing fuel costs have put a serious dent on the profitability of many contractors across the country. More and more of these folks are turning to EFI propane powered equipment as a way to reduce their fuel bill and get more work done with fewer resources.”
The Kohler PCV740 EFI propane engine delivers increased fuel efficiency, performance and ease-of-starting.
The Vantage S-Series Propane machine features the groundbreaking Kohler Command Pro PCV740 EFI propane powerplant. The engine’s automotive-style closed-loop EFI system delivers significantly increased fuel economy, reliability and improved performance, combined with easy, no-choke starting. It precisely adjusts fuel/air mixture settings in real-time for optimal performance at any altitude, any temperature, in any conditions.
The efficiency of the EFI system reduces fuel consumption by up to 40 percent compared to carbureted propane engines.
The Vantage S-Series Propane model is available with a 52-inch UltraCut Series 4 cutting deck. The deck features Exmark’s patented Flow Control baffles to provide an unmatched quality of cut, and the welded steel deck construction features 7-gauge high-strength steel reinforced spindle mounting rings for top-notch strength and durability. Blade spindle assemblies feature rugged cast aluminum housings and zero-maintenance sealed heavy-duty bearings to maximize service life, even in the most demanding conditions.
Learn more about the 2015 Exmark Vantage S-Series Propane stand-on commercial mower at Exmark.com.
New stand-on machines increase the profitability of lawn care services by increasing the productivity each employee is capable of, while reducing employee fatigue to make performing the services more sustainable.
According to the 2014 LM150 report from Landscape Management magazine, seven of the country’s top-25 landscape maintenance companies are also in the top-25 lawn care companies. As competition in the maintenance category increases, an increasing number of landscape maintenance professionals are adding lawn care services as a way to deliver increased customer satisfaction while also increasing profitability.
Thanks to recent advances in stand-on lawn care equipment such as aerators and spreader sprayer machines, landscape professionals can deliver high quality lawn care services more profitably than ever. New machines such as the Exmark spreader sprayer offer greater flexibility in the chemicals used for weed and pest control, allowing lawn care professionals to do more with each pass of the machine.
The addition of high-quality lawn care services can help to grow maintenance business and grow your status as an expert at delivering beautiful, well-manicured landscapes among your customers.
Exmark estimates the switch from a 21-inch walk-behind aerator to a 30-inch stand-on machine can be paid back in 2-3 weeks. Lawn care professional Kent Harlan said he has made enough money to pay for his $9,500 Exmark spreader sprayer in 2-3 days.
In a competitive marketplace, the addition of lawn care services is a competitive advantage for an existing maintenance business. Today more than ever, customers want to hire a lawn care expert that can deliver a beautiful, manicured, weed-free yard. They don’t want to deal with one contractor for maintenance and another contractor for aeration, fertilization or weed control. As such, the opportunity exists to make more money for contractors willing to add the lawn care services customers want and need.
Today, it’s easier than ever to add lawn care services to an existing maintenance business.
When deciding which services to add, listen to customer feedback to learn which services have the most demand.
Employee training is important for the quality delivery of lawn care services. Additionally, certification and licensing are required for landscape professionals looking to add fertilization or chemical application services. In most states, certification and licensing are coordinated by the Department of Agriculture, or Office of State Chemist.
Download the complete Lawn Care Services white paper
(in Adobe PDF format).
New machine introduces new technologies that deliver increased productivity and profitability
Exmark today announced the introduction of a new Stand-On Spreader Sprayer to its lawn care equipment line. The new machine offers a number of innovations that increase versatility, maneuverability, performance and productivity for lawn care professionals.
The Exmark Stand-On Spreader Sprayer features an exclusive Lean-To-Steer control system, which allows one-handed direction and speed control. This leaves the other hand free to perform spot treatments or adjust sprayer or spreader controls on-the-fly.
The Exmark Stand-On Spreader Sprayer introduces the company’s exclusive Lean-to-Steer controls, which give operators the ability to easily steer and control forward or reverse speed with one hand. This frees the other hand to operate the sprayer/spreader controls, or perform spot spraying with the easily-accessible spray wand. Padded knee bolsters on three sides of the operator provide additional comfort and stability.
An intuitive control layout makes it easy to operate controls and make adjustments from the operator position. Exmark developed an innovative controller for the pump and spinner motor, to give the operator control of the spinner speed and provide operational alerts for the pump or spinner motor. The controller allows adjustment of spinner speed to meet broadcast requirements from between four and 22 feet. The operator can also lock the spinner speed adjustment to avoid inadvertently changing machine speed on the go.
With separate, selectable narrow (5.5 feet) and wide (11 feet) spray nozzles, the Exmark Stand-On Spreader Sprayer is functional on virtually any property. The 20-gallon tank is easy to fill and drain, with graduation marks for accurate mixing. Two induction nozzles inside the tank provide spray mixture agitation that keeps even wettable powders in suspension to deliver unmatched spray versatility and consistency.
Spreader controls are located at the operator’s fingertips for maximum ease-of-control. The Spyker spreader system is well-known among lawn care professionals for its ease-of-use and consistent performance. Innovative controls allow lateral adjustment of the spread pattern, on-the-go, from the operator’s position.
The Exmark Stand-On Spreader Sprayer makes quick work of virtually any spreading or spraying job.
The Exmark Spreader Sprayer is powered by a single-cylinder Subaru EX27 commercial engine. The machine is capable of carrying 175-pounds of material in the hopper, with the ability to carry up to 50-pounds of bagged material on-top of the tank. A soft hopper cover is included to protect material from moisture and during transport.
The corrosive properties of many fertilizers and chemicals led Exmark to design a robust stainless steel main frame and powder coated control tower for the Stand-On Spreader Sprayer. A stainless steel operator platform includes isolation mounts for a more comfortable ride, and the platform locks up for storage or transport. The design delivers the long-term durability lawn care professionals expect, and the compact design of the machine increases maneuverability and ease-of-transport.
Learn more about the Exmark Stand-On Spreader Sprayer at http://exmark.com/pdfs/Exmark_SpreaderSprayer.pdf
