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.