Is Your Lawnmower or Mowing Habits Damaging Your Lawn?

Is Your Lawnmower or Mowing Habits Damaging Your Lawn?

4 Ways it could be Doing Just That

                
Every homeowner understands the desire and the work it requires to have a lush and vibrant lawn.  We go out of our way to ensure that we are doing whatever it takes to keep the grass healthy and green, but are we damaging it in the process? 

                  

Most people see the lawnmower as the first line of defense when it comes to maintaining an impeccable lawn, but our over zealousness, or lack of, occasionally causes damage to that yard of perfection that we seek. 

Lawn damage can come from many places; disease, drought conditions, or storms, but could it be coming from you? Is your lawnmower or mowing causing damage to your lovely green grass?  Here are 4 things you could be doing wrong.

1.     The blades in your lawnmower are dull.

I know this may seem obvious to some of you, but replacing your lawnmower blades is a necessity. Notice I said REPLACING your blades and NOT resharpening. Resharpening could ultimately lead to vibrations that will damage your drive shaft. As you sharpen, you are technically grinding away the amount of metal and balance that the blade is made with. As where purchasing a brand new OEM blade is balance and machined perfectly for the absolute best cut. This is often a task that is easily pushed to the back burner when seemingly more important things arise throughout the year, but that habit could be hurting your lawn. Dull blades can cause damaging tears to your grass and prevent even and healthy growth. Lawnmower blades should be sharpened 2-3 times a year for maximum efficiency.  Whilst checking your blades, you may also notice that they need to be replaced.  Lawnmower blades are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased and replaced by your local tool supply stores.  We offer several options here and can offer assistance in replacement.

2.     You’re cutting your grass lower than 3-4 inches in length.

Occasionally, I let my lawn grass get out of control and grow to ridiculously high lengths. When I finally get a chance to get around to it, in my overzealousness I admit, I go a little crazy and cut it much too low.  Bad idea.  Cutting your law lower than 3-4 inches creates scalping (cutting the grass so low that you expose the stems of your grass blades).  Scalping the lawn also creates an environment that cultivates the growth of weeds.  When grass blades are not there to block the light, weeds are allowed to grow in abundance and can quickly take over your yard, which is not a great look for a summer lawn. To avoid this, when mowing, try to set your mower to only remove one third of the blade height.

3.     You don’t mow often enough

Although it’s important to not cut your grass too low, it’s equally important to not let the growth get out of control. Not only does longer grass tend to grow uneven and give the yard a more unattractive appearance, after a long time without mowing, the blades may grow in a way that makes the grass look more like weeds than grass.  These extra-long blades also cause stress on the grass leading to future growth and lawn health problems. To prevent excessive grass growth and these added problems, aim to mow your yard weekly in the Spring and Fall which are prime growth periods.

4.     You have not considered a professional tune-up for your lawnmower

Many homeowners do not consider this option and just continue to use a mower that possibly needs some maintenance.  There are many advantages to tuning up your mower’s engine.  Some of which include an easier start, reduced emissions and saving you time and money by preventing possible needed repairs in the future caused by neglect and engine damage. A mower tune-up usually includes a new air filter, spark plugs, and fresh oil amongst other possible updates. These tune ups should be done every year to make sure that your lawnmower is not causing any damage to your lawn as you use it.  Your local tool sales business can handle this for you and also offer valuable advice about mower maintenance at home or point out repairs that may need to be completed in the future.

                  

Lawn preparation for the summer months should be an important part of your spring cleaning regimen.  This preparation includes maintenance and care for your mower.  Add these tips to your yearly routine and it will help to ensure that your law maintains its vibrant and healthy appearance year round.

The Benefits to Buying Local

The Benefits to Buying Local

(Written and shared by Tasha Mitchell) - A great anylization of why it's important to patronize local businesses you probably haven't realized.

This past November, I had the chance to participate in an event that supports my entire community.  Small Business Saturday, which happens every November on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, is a federally recognized day in which several cities and states around the nation encourage consumers to shop at their local businesses instead of big chain stores. This year was the first time that I participated in the event and I learned quite a bit about the local businesses in my community and the benefits they provided to our neighborhoods and our cities as a whole. Below is a list of five things that I learned while out shopping that day and things that have kept me supporting my local businesses.

1. Local Businesses share community goals.
​First of all let’s just take a look at the word community.  According to Webster’s Dictionary, “Community” is a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals.  A local business is not just a business.  A local business is part of a community and that means they share similar attitudes and goals that we each share.  They want the same things that other community members want; vibrant, healthy and economically stable neighborhoods and people that support each other.  This is one of the major benefits that local businesses provide.  They share our goals.  One goal in particular, is giving people the opportunity to work in the communities where they live.  They do this by providing jobs.  Over 50% of the working population (120 million individuals) works in a small business.  On top of that, small businesses have generated over 65% of the net new jobs since 1995 (Forbes.com).  Local businesses are and have been putting people to work for decades. As we support them, we support ourselves, knowing that the profit they make is going back into the hands of people in our own neighborhoods.  It’s a beautiful economic cycle of supporting each other.  In essence it is this type of sharing that creates and builds a community.

2. Local Businesses support other local businesses.
Continuing on with that theme of cyclical support, I learned that local businesses don’t just take care of themselves, they take care of each other.  While out shopping on Small Business Saturday, I met a woman who ran her own events planning company.  She too, was celebrating local business and purchasing some materials for an upcoming awards dinner that she was planning.  We chatted a bit about the day and I found out later that not only was she purchasing materials from a local business, but she had also hired a local D.J and caterer.  Knowing that most big chain stores purchase much of their supplies and products from manufacturers who are not only out of the state, but out of the country, it felt good thinking that by supporting one local business, I was helping several others in my neighborhood.

3. Local Businesses support the community.
In addition to supporting other small businesses, local business owners also support and serve the members and families in the community where they do business.  I can’t begin to tell you how many of those local shops and restaurants I walked into that day, who displayed large posters with a picture of the local high school band and appreciation signatures from the band directors and students.  Local businesses often donate both their time and their money to non-profits in their own communities.  That means that part of the money that you spend making purchases from a local business will go back into organizations in your community who are doing good things for the community.  Whether that be supporting local schools, small soup kitchens or the local little league baseball team.  In fact, because most local business owners live in the neighborhoods where they do business, you may even see them coaching their kids’ little league teams.  That’s something you just do see at a local level when it comes to big chain stores.  How many times have you seen a big chain’s business name on the back of a little league football shirt? The answer is, not often.  So by supporting local business, you are supporting the non-profits that they help also.

4. More revenue from local businesses cycles back through the local economy
Supporting other local businesses and non-profits are just part of the way the local economy is supported by small business owners.  Just the fact that most local business owners live in their community, ensures that more money per dollar ends up back in the local economy.  Those same business owners go out to dinner with their families and buy groceries at the local supermarket.  Those same local business owners also need gas for their cars, or haircuts. According to a recent study 45 percent of revenue from small businesses stays in the community, compared with 14 percent of revenue from chain stores. So when you support a local business you can applaud yourself for keeping your local economy healthy.

5. They know your name/Customer Service
And I don’t just mean they ask for your name when you walk in, put your name on a cup and forget about you the minute you walk out.  Local business owners get to know their customers, not only on a first name basis, but other things about them.  Because they are invested in the community, they spend time with their customers outside of the business.  They run into them at the grocery store, or out at the park with their kids.  This puts them in a very helpful position when finding you the exact product or service that you want or need.  They know your individual need, and you are not just a dollar sign in their cash register.  This allows them to provide an invaluable level of customer service.  Every product is nearly personalized just for you.  They know what you have bought in the past, and what you might need in the future.  This makes them and extremely valuable source of advice when you need to learn about a new product.  Many times, because of the personal relationships they have with their consumers, they will even allow you to try a product or service, before you buy it.
On the end of that Small Business Saturday, this past November I learned the true value of local businesses in our communities.  I met a number of owners who actually work in their own stores and truly care about each customer that walks through the doors. They looked like me, and they knew my city and my neighborhoods.  They had goals to not only raise revenue, but to raise the local economy, to help raise the children growing up around them and help raise all of those who helped them. The definition of community that I read about could not ring any truer than it did that day visiting those local businesses.  Every place that I walked into, I felt that feeling of fellowship, that feeling of support and the goal that together we made our community better.  I hope more consumers decide to continue that support not only on one Saturday of the year, but all throughout.

Spring Training – For You and Your Lawn

Spring Training – For You and Your Lawn

With Todd Baumer from E&E Sales/Rental in Medford, NJ

Just as ballplayers use spring training to get ready for the season, so should homeowners – young and the young at heart -- use springtime to tune up their tools (and their thinking) for the long hot days of summer yard work.

Here are a few Fast Tips to make sure your lawn, your equipment and – of course – you are in tip-top shape for this mowing season.

1. Tune-Up Time. Your equipment needs to be ready when you are, and spring is a perfect time to make sure everything checks out.

·        Visit us, a qualified servicing dealer, to tune-up your mower, trimmeror leaf blower and spot potential problems.

·        If you do it yourself, follow the owners’ manual carefully and only use factory-recommended parts, oil, spark plugs, pull cords and filters.

2. Safety First. Your tools may be ready, but is your mind? Riding mowers are great resources, but can be dangerous if kids and pets are in the area. So have the right mindset when it’s time to mow.

·        Know where the kids are at all times, and stop mowing if a child approaches the mowing area.

·        Never give rides, as a child may fall off the mower and into the spinning blades. It may also encourage kids to approach the mower without you – and that’s the wrong message to send.

·        Use extreme caution when mowing in reverse. Just like in your car, carefully look to the sides and behind before backing up.

3. Easy on the Gas. Only buy enough to last 14 days, and keep it in an airtight container – UNLESS you invest in High Octane 4 Cycle Fuel by Husqvarna.

·        Otherwise, exposure to air – and moisture – can damage or limit the effectiveness of the engine.

·        Use 89-octane gas with an ethanol content no higher than 10 (E10). Gas with higher levels of ethanol can damage engines. Never store your equipment for more than a few months without emptying the fuel tank if filled with gasoline from a gas station as it is load in corrosive Ethanol.

4. Aerate Your Lawn. If you live in the South, spring is the perfect time to aerate your lawn.

·        Annual aeration will help grass roots grow deeper and stronger, especially if your lawn experiences heavy and repeated foot traffic.

·        You can use a rent a core plug aerator from us, which removes small plugs of soil and lays them across the lawn.  

5. Take the Field. Getting out in your yard is one of the easiest ways to feel good and get fit.

·        Did you know walking behind your push mower can burn up to 360 calories per hour?

·        Also, you can trim your waist while trimming your hedges, since the rotational movement engages your core muscles to strengthen and tone your midsection.

·        And make sure you use the right equipment, especially ergonomically-designed tools to help prevent joint stress and injury.

Visit us online at EandESales.com for all your Husqvarna, Honda, Briggs and Generac purchases, or visit us at EandERental.com to rent everything you need for those one-time usage jobs we all have yearly which won’t justify investing in owning a machine that will primarily sit in storage.  – Todd Baumer

5 tips to crown your lawn king of spring

5 Tips To Crown Your Lawn King Of Spring!

With Todd Baumer of E&E Sales/Rentalin Medford, NJ

Those winter chills are finally history and it’s time focus on outdoor fun again. Your lawn is the perfect spot for family gatherings, sports competitions, barbecues and relaxing afternoons, so why not make it the best it can be? Before your calendar fills up, apply these five tips and your lawn will be in great shape for the entire season.

* Clean up. Whether it was packed under the snow or blown in by the wind, the winter season leaves more than its fair share of debris behind. Grab a rake and get started raking up all of this garbage. Once the lawn is clean, apply a thin layer – about a quarter-inch thick – of compost to give your lawn a boost and start it in the right direction.

* Reseed the bare patches. Your travels around your lawn to rake up debris will probably reveal some bare patches. If you do arrive upon a patch of barren ground, loosen the top 2-4 inches. Level the soil with your garden rake and cover the area with a mixture of grass seed and fertilizer. You could also replace the fertilizer with compost. Pat the surface with the flat end of the rake when finished to ensure the seed remains in place. Water as necessary.

* Aerate your lawn. Aerating allows oxygen, water and other nutrients to reach your grass’s roots, and it’s one of the best things you can do to support your lawn. Travel across your yard with a manual or gas-powered aerator, punching holes in the ground. Make sure to pass over each area only once. After you’ve finished aerating, spread compost, fertilizer or peat moss over your yard. The fertilizer will be absorbed quickly through the holes created by the aeration. (Pst We Rent them here!)

* It’s time to mow. Optimal grass length is 2.5-3.5 inches, so cut your grass as frequently as needed to achieve this length without cutting more than third of each grass blade. Mowing high and often will produce a heartier lawn that is more adept at keeping weeds away, as well as making it less susceptible to heat and drought. The new Z200 series of residentialzero-turn riding mowers from Husqvarna handles your mowing duties in a snap. The Z200 zero-turn platform features SmartSwitch technology that gives you one-touch steering, real-time feedback and keyless security so you can mow the lawn quickly and enjoyably every time.

* Add color and contrast. Landscaping adds immediate scenic interest to your space and allows you to showcase your creativity as well. If you choose to add annuals or perennials to your space, plant them in odd numbers and in tiny pockets around the yard – this produces a more natural appearance. You can also add a centerpiece to your yard, such as a sculpture, fountain, fire pit or horseshoe pit. Any of these focal points provides a gathering place and an excuse to enjoy relaxing afternoons on your beautiful lawn all season long.

To learn more about Husqvarna and the Z200series of zero-turn mowers, visit us online at EandESales.com for all your Husqvarna, Honda, Briggs and Generac purchase, or visit us at EandERental.com to rent everything you need for those one-time usage jobs we all have yearly which won’t justify investing in owning a machine that will primarily sit in storage.  – Todd Baumer

Storm Cleanup is a Breeze with Safe, Careful Chainsaw Use

With Todd Baumer of E&E Rental/Sales

When a storm strikes hard, fallen trees often leave a trail of damage.

Clean-up is easier when everyone pitches in to help, and that sometimes means that people unaccustomed to using chainsaws are suddenly wielding these useful – but potentially dangerous – tools.

Don’t wait until you are called into action to become educated on the proper use of a chainsaw. And if you already own one, but use it rarely, now’s the time for some refresher tips on operating it safely and efficiently.

Know your limits

If you are a beginner, don’t tackle a task that’s too tough. Leave the felling of large trees to more experienced users. If many trees are already down after a storm, you will get plenty of work limbing, or removing branches from the stem of a felled tree.

Read the manual

If you have access to the operator’s manual, take a few minutes to read it – and closely follow the instructions and advice provided.

Starting the engine

When starting the engine for the first time, place the saw on a flat surface on the ground. Place your right foot in the rear handle for better support, and keep a firm grip on the front handle with your left hand. Activate the chain break, activate the choke and then pull the starter handle with your right hand. Repeat until the engine fires. Push the choke (half-throttle) and pull until the saw starts, accelerate so that the engine idles and then release the chain brake.

How to stand

It’s vital to stay in balance. When limbing, stand with your feet planted firmly on the ground, comfortably apart and at a 45-degree angle to the trunk. Try not to move your feet while in the process of limbing, and make sure you have ample reach at all times.

Bend your knees

You can avoid back soreness by bending your knees slightly while cutting, especially in low positions. Try to avoid bending your back when operating the chainsaw for long periods of time.

Keep your distance

If working in close proximity to others, make sure you stay at least 10 feet apart, and always alert those around you of your presence.

Take your time

Stand on the left side of the tree trunk and begin limbing on the right side. Work calmly and methodically, branch by branch. Saw with a pulling or pushing chain depending on the direction you apply the guide bar and how much the branch weighs. Limb the trunk on the right side, top and left side from the position you are standing. Then move forward carefully to the next round of branches, and repeat the process.

Moving safely

When you are finished in one area, and moving short distances, make sure the chain is stationary. Hold the saw firmly, with one hand on each handle. If moving longer distances, activate the chain brake first.

Avoid kickback

Kickback can occur if the saw is not handled carefully. You can avoid the greatest risk of kickback simply by avoiding any cutting using the tip, or nose, of the chainsaw. Keep you thumbs and fingers wrapped around the handles at all times.

Take a course, of course!

In most communities, courses in chainsaw use and safety are offered by equipment dealers and other organizations. Ask us for more information.

Todd Baumer operates E&E Rental, a Medford-based Power Equipment Sales Company. He is an exclusive dealer of products from Husqvarna, the world’s largest producer of outdoor power products. 

Just Say No to Snow … with Feature-Rich Throwers

By Todd Baumer of E&E Online Sales

Old man winter is right around the corner, and you’d better be ready for him.

Tired of shoveling snow off your driveway, sidewalks, patio and porch? Are you spending more time and effort ridding your property of snow than frolicking in it, or shushing down ski slopes?

And, perhaps most importantly, are your muscles crying out for relief after another hours-long battle with the remnants of the latest blizzard?

It may be time for a snow thrower. That’s right, snow “thrower”, which is a much more efficient and targeted method for maneuvering the white stuff away from paths and roadways than the more random “blowers” of days gone by.

Today’s high-capacity snow throwers are well-suited to the needs of homeowners or even farmers who need to quickly and easily move aside heavy snowfalls. Here are some features to look for when shopping for the best snow thrower to address your toughest wintertime jobs.

·         Two-stage is best. A two-stage auger/impeller system is the fastest and most efficient method on the market. Here’s how it works – a revolving auger grinds down the snow and feeds it into the thrower’s housing, where an impeller discharges it through a well-positioned chute. Quick, easy and powerful.

·         Variable speeds. With a variable-speed snow thrower you’ll have enough muscle to tackle even the toughest jobs. A faster speed ensures that the auger can grind through even heavily-packed or icy snow, while you can switch to a slower speed for lighter and fluffier precipitation.

·         Car-like controls. These days, operating a snow thrower should be as simple as driving a riding mower. Choose an ergonomic design with adjustable, heated handles and easy-to-reach controls for optimal comfort.

·         Electric Starter.  Make sure it has an electric starting system so you never have to worry about a dead battery.  Simply connect the snow thrower to a power outlet and start the engine by pressing a button.

·         Power steering. The best snow throwers have convenient, trigger-control power steering that allows for superior maneuverability and safety in even the harshest weather conditions.

·         Accessorize. If you use a snow thrower for bigger jobs, like on a farm or church parking lot, you may want to purchase a cab with a heavy-duty fabric shell to provide protection from blowing wind and blow-back from the discharge chute. Today’s fabric shells have freeze-resistant, super-clear vinyl windows and won’t shrink or stretch. Another popular option on rougher terrain is a set of tire chains.

At my store, wesell snow throwers manufactured by Husqvarna, the world’s largest producer of outdoor power products. The quality is superior and they have models and features to fit all circumstances and price ranges.

Stop by anytime and try one out. You’ll never dread a blizzard again!

Todd Baumer operates Equipment & Event Rental, a Medford-based Tool Rental & Power Equipment Dealer and Service Center. He is an exclusive dealer of products from Husqvarna, the world’s largest producer of outdoor power products.

Why We Chose The Orca For Our Mascot

Oreo the Orca

Have You Been Wondering Why Our Logo Is An Orca?

Simply put, we wanted an animal mascot that represented our core business values—and the powerful, yet graceful orca encapsulated them all. (The Colors were coincidental as a matter of fact)

Since we unveiled our new logo, complete with our orca mascot, we’ve had quite a few customers ask the question, “why an orca?”

It’s a fair question—after all, not too many people would associate a sea animal with power tools, and we get it: you want to know the story. You might not find our Orca wielding a chainsaw any time soon, nor mowing your lawn, but what you will find is a graceful creature who encapsulates all the core values that we hold dear as your service provider;

-        Friendly service with a personal touch

-        Intelligent insight due to stringent testing and certification

-        Fast response to help our customers

-        Family oriented myself and my father always stick together especially during major disasters

-        Powerful Solutions to help direct you select the best tool for you

-        Dominant Customer Service and Knowledge

Orcas might not be best known for their family-oriented values, but they are in fact the biggest member of the oceanic dolphin family—and share all the traits that regular dolphins have, from their intelligent behavior, graceful yet powerful swimming and their social behavior, moving around in family groups known as pods.

While power tools may not be able to swim just yet, we see power tools as part of the community: helping to make essential household chores easier through providing fast solutions to otherwise back-breaking work—and allowing more time to relax with friends and family.

Power tools are also the intelligent way to get your chores done, offering you strategic power in specific situations to allow for a smarter way of keeping the home and yard in tip-top condition.

In short, the orca was the perfect mascot for us: powerful solutions, perfectly engineered to solve your home and garden needs intelligently. Our service is friendly and our staff is on hand to help you get the perfect tool every time you need to get your job done the right way.

Welcome to our Pod (family) —we’re here to help!