Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
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Extending working seasons When other equipment slows or shuts down due to the weather, the design of mini and compact track loaders can keep contractors up and running longer in a season. Low ground pressure — as low as 3.6 psi in some manufacturers' mini track loaders and 4.6 psi in compact track loaders — allows operators to work more produc- tively in soft, sandy, wet or muddy conditions. This can be especially beneficial when making dozens of trips from a remote material stag- ing area to the worksite, and when unloading pallets of landscape rock or sod. "For many equipment owners, it translates into several additional days, weeks or months of work, al- lowing projects to start earlier in spring and work later into fall," said Fitzgerald. The length and width of a com- pact loader's tracks have a direct ef- fect on ground pressure and traction, and ultimately a machine's mobility. Narrow tracks provide better trac- tion and maximize ground pressure on hard surfaces or slippery ground. A wide-track option lowers ground pressure and increases flotation when working in challenging ter- rain. Plus, the machines' rubber tracks minimize damage to existing turf, which also eliminates the need for costly jobsite repairs when the project is complete. Producing lifting performance Outfitting a fleet with compact track loaders should involve the assessment of two different lift arm designs in some manufactur- ers' compact track loaders. The de- sign you choose should best match the landscaping applications you work in most frequently. A vertical-lift-path design offers greater lift capacity and reach at full lift height, which is ideal for truck loading. A radius lift path is ideal for maximum reach at truck bed height. Radius-lift-path load- ers excel at backfilling, unloading flatbed trucks and dumping over foundation walls. Generating returns with attachments Even tenured landscapers with blue-ribbon lists of commercial and residential clients are encoun- tering very competitive bidding on new construction projects — from seeding lawns to building patios to maintaining properties — so every edge helps. High-performance attachments that are designed specifically for landscaping tasks are not only help- ing contractors remain competi- tive, but their versatility is increasing productivity and allow- ing them to generate new revenue sources with their mini and com- pact track loaders. These attach- ments range from landscape rakes and soil conditioners to sod rollers and grass seeders (see sidebar). It's easier to expand a business when attachment changes in the field or shop are simple and effi- cient. To manage fast changes, some attachment mounting systems are compatible with dozens of attach- ments that are vertically integrated with the loaders' hydraulics and electrical systems. Outfitting a fleet with the capa- bilities of a compact track loader and tailoring that investment with numerous attachments can strate- gically position a landscaping firm to capture more work throughout the year. From there, the possibili- ties for projects and the potential to expand a business seem limited only by the imagination. Debbie McClung is a technical writer with Two Rivers Marketing, Des Moines, Iowa. Article provided by Bobcat Com- pany, West Fargo, N.D. 40 Landscape and Irrigation April 2014 www.landscapeirrigation.com Equipment Fleet Management LI 12 Attachments to Leverage Landscaping Auger: Ideal for digging a large number of holes for fence line, tree plantings or deck footings. Models featuring a knuckle joint allow the auger to hang plumb even on uneven terrain. Box blade: Designed for rough grading in landscape appli- cations, new models are now available with laser control systems for accuracy of ± 0.25 inch. Combination bucket: Use it as a bucket for loading, car- rying and dumping; as a grapple to handle odd-shaped ob- jects like logs and stumps; or as a dozer for leveling and spreading material. Dumping hopper: Easily move large quantities of mate- rials like sand and gravel to areas that might be inaccessible. Landscape rake: It smoothes, levels and rakes while col- lecting surface debris such as small rocks and the type of trash that accumulates around new construction. Pallet fork: Lift, carry and place pallets of sod, bagged fer- tilizer, brick and block, and even plants and shrubs. Root grapple: The root grapple simplifies renovation and replacement projects by separating roots, brush, rocks and other debris from sand, soil or gravel. Spreader: Distribute dry, free-flowing material like seed and fertilizer with a loader-mounted spreader that can throw material up to 20 feet on either side. Soil conditioner: Tear out old sod, separate rocks and de- bris and pulverize clumps of dirt. Grade, level and fill ruts and holes. Most units operate in both forward and reverse direc- tions and can be angled up to 25 degrees. Tiller: Till and mix the soil with compost, fertilizer, manure and mulch. An offset-mounting feature enables tilling next to sidewalks, curbs or buildings. Tree fork: Attached to a small loader, it handles ball-and- burlap trees, large potted plants, decorative rocks, boulders and other odd-shaped objects. It's ideal for transporting ma- terials on landscaping jobsites or at a nursery. Trencher: Cut trenches for irrigation systems or electrical lines for landscape lighting. Some machines have a manual or hydraulic side-shift feature to dig a trench close to build- ings, fences and other objects.