Lawn Mowers http://www.successfulmowing.com Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:23:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 Lawn Mowers http://www.successfulmowing.com/feed-logo.png http://www.successfulmowing.com 88 31 Lawn Mowers - http://www.successfulmowing.com Electric Lawn Mowers & Green House Gases http://www.successfulmowing.com/824/electric-lawn-mowers-green-house-gases/ http://www.successfulmowing.com/824/electric-lawn-mowers-green-house-gases/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 22:16:12 +0000 admin Electric Lawn Mowers & Green House Gases

Gas powered lawn mowers have many disadvantages as compared to electric lawn mowers. Gas-powered mowers are dirty, noisy, and require a lot of greasy and oily maintenance. The noise, smoke and hassles of maintaining a gas-powered mower, have led many savvy home owners to consider purchasing an electric lawn mower. As an added benefit to the planet, electric mowers are environmentally friendly, saving not only on noise pollution, but also on green house gases. Other considerations to consider: changing spark plugs, air filters, handling gas canisters, and the loud gas powered lawn mower noise, which can actually damage the hearing.

Electric Lawn Mower Benefits

Electric mowers are quiet, require very little maintenance and are very affordable; in fact, electricity costs can be as little as $10-20 per year. The biggest disadvantage of electric mowers, however, is the cord. A large lawn requires a very long cord that may get in the way while you are cutting the grass. A cordless electric mower, on the other hand, allows you to cut the lawn without worrying about a long and vulnerable cord, of running over the electric cable or your garden hose accidentally. For very large lawns, it’s probably a good idea to go cordless, as the cored length for large lawns could easily become unmanageable.

Electric Lawn Mowers and Bags

Electric mowers, just like gas-powered mowers can use either bags or be used without bags. Going bagless… electric mowers cut the grass clippings very finely, so you don’t need a bag and you also don’t need to dispose of the clippings, as the clippings easily disappear into the soil, adding nourishment, a natural fertilizer, at the same time. However, if you let the lawn grow very tall, this method will not be open to you. To benefit from this easy method of grass clippings handling, you must be conscientious to mow the lawn regularly, so that the grass never grows too tall.

Electric Cordless Mowers – Price

Cordless electric lawn mowers may cost you more money, as there is the added component of the rechargeable batteries. Be sure to keep your mower safely stored in a garden shed with your other garden accessories & hose reels, or secure yard. Maintenance is generally much simpler than the gas powered mower, and the neighbors will also appreciate not having garden noise pollution.

 

 

 

Dan P. is a writer for Hydro Industries, a leading hose reel manufacturer, and patent holder of the ingenious automatic hose reel rewinder, without the use of electricity.

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]]> http://www.successfulmowing.com/824/electric-lawn-mowers-green-house-gases/feed/ 0 Lawn Mower Repairs: They Are Inevitable http://www.successfulmowing.com/822/lawn-mower-repairs-they-are-inevitable/ http://www.successfulmowing.com/822/lawn-mower-repairs-they-are-inevitable/#comments Sat, 23 Jan 2010 20:20:40 +0000 admin Regardless of the type of lawn mower a person owns it will have to go through one or more lawn mower repairs at some point of its life, even top manufactures and models that worked perfectly in the beginning will require a tune up of at least one part.


One can prevent serious lawn mower repairs if maintenance is done on the machine regularly. In most cases lawn mowers repairs are due to a lack of attention to the machine.


But by doing maintenance checks every winter before storage and every spring before use as well as cleaning the underneath of the mower by scraping it and using and air compressor to clean the engine, air filter and carburetor you can avoid a number of repairs.


Prevention is often better the cure. Because lawn mower repairs can be costly, maintaining your machine is far more cost effective then neglecting it and then running out to purchase new parts.


That said, nearly all mowers will need a repair at some point. This may be a small repair such as replacing the blade or larger like repairing the small engine that powers the lawn mower. This may include replacing a clogged fuel filter, which is a common reason for why the lawn mower wont start, stalls or dies during use.


Lawn mower repairs are often tricky for the average user because in most cases the actual problem does not show up in the part that needs to be repaired but rather somewhere else in the machines.


For instance if your spark plug needs to be replaced it could be because there are snags in the carburetor. In this case, replacing the spark plug may help but you will also have to get the carburetor looked at. So lawn owners are often playing doctor to their lawn mowers as they try to diagnose the disease behind the symptoms.


Looking at every symptom or problem and trying to decipher what could be the cause is the best way to get to the root of the problem. Consider the problem. Is the problem that the lawn mower vibrates during use? Is it that it wont start?


Often, a lawn mower that will not start may be out of fuel or the ration of the fuel mix may be incorrect. By ruling out each cause related to starting the mower you can find the solution.


However, the lawn mower owner may not be able to get to the bottom of the issue or they may find, during the process, that the mower needs a serious repair. In each case it is best to call in a professional.


Professional lawn mower repairmen, not only fix major repairs but they also help lawn mower owners figure what is wrong with their lawn mower. The owner can then get some quotes on the repair cost and determine if fixing it is the best option or if the lawn mower has seen better days and a new mower is in order.


Lawn mowers are essential for keeping a healthy lawn. And repairing your lawn mower can help prolong its life.

Jeff Casmer is a lawn mower expert and the owner of Lawn Mower Repair, a website dedicated to lawn mowers and lawn keepers.

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]]> http://www.successfulmowing.com/822/lawn-mower-repairs-they-are-inevitable/feed/ 0 Be Environmentally Friendly – Use a Mulching Lawn Mower http://www.successfulmowing.com/820/be-environmentally-friendly-use-a-mulching-lawn-mower/ http://www.successfulmowing.com/820/be-environmentally-friendly-use-a-mulching-lawn-mower/#comments Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:13:28 +0000 admin Lawns look good if these properties are well-maintained and carefully manicured regularly. But when these properties are taken for granted, and then lawns are expected to give the front yard of your home a horrible look. Weeds take control of the lawn and unwanted grass take residence in the area as well. If you are the type of person who puts a premium to properties like these, then surely this kind of situation is un-imaginable. Now there are many ways in order to reclaim the lost glory of that lawn. One way is through the use of a reliable lawn mower. Lawn mowers are available in the market and these devices are just the right help that you need in order to bring back the lost beauty of that once-well maintained lawn of your family. The lawn implements like this that you can find in the market are available in many types, sizes and for different applications. One such type of mower that can be helpful is the mulching lawn mower.

This type of lawn mower is just one of the many types of lawn mower that can be used in the garden. But where is this type of lawn mower used and what are the uses of this kind of lawn mower? If you love lawns, then check what this equipment can offer. This is the perfect mower that you need when mulching is needed in a particular lawn. Mulching is that process when the blade of the mower is crafted and designed to cut and the re-cut these grass leaves and clippings into much smaller pieces. Then these leaves are then left in the area to decompose.

This type of technique is very much recommended since this can reduce the need for more fertilizer, since the decomposing grass are used as the fertilizer. The grass that remains in the lawn usually contain nitrogen and this nitrogen is the one that helps fertilize the lawn. This is the reason why a mulching lawn mower is so popular and much popular for the environmentalists out there. And this is what makes the mulching lawn mower very different if compared with the ordinary ones.

The ordinary mowers that are used in homes often just collect the grass in the box that is attached to the mower. The grass that has been collected is then disposed on the heap or dumped in a can to be taken to the nearest landfill. But with the help of the mulching lawn mower, grass remains in the lawn.

As mentioned the mulching lawn mower also offers free organic lawn fertilizer for the lawn. The decomposing grass clippings serve as a fertilizing agent since these clippings produce Nitrogen that can be used by the leaves for their growth. Nitrogen is essential; when a garden or a lawn is deficient in Nitrogen, then the lawn will be prone to a number of lawn diseases. If a mulching lawn mower is used instead of the usual mower, then there is no need to rake the extra clippings of grasses that remain in the lawn.

PART 2 – For part two of this article, head on to Mulching Lawn Mower, which is a popular website that provides advice on where to go to save money when buying scotts lawn care products.

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]]> http://www.successfulmowing.com/820/be-environmentally-friendly-use-a-mulching-lawn-mower/feed/ 0 How to Get the Best Lawn Mower For Your Needs? http://www.successfulmowing.com/818/how-to-get-the-best-lawn-mower-for-your-needs/ http://www.successfulmowing.com/818/how-to-get-the-best-lawn-mower-for-your-needs/#comments Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:17:37 +0000 admin Everyone of us wants nothing but the best, the best clothes, the best makeup, the best boyfriend, the best wife, and of course the best lawn mowers. To rule out those that are substandard kinds and to obtain nothing but the best, there are various factors that you need to first mull over with. Keep in mind that not all mowers are equal and the first thing that you should consider is the durability and the effectuality of the mechanism that you have in hand. These things will be the main factors that will help you save your bacon from future repairs and replacements.

The first thing to decide with is whether or not you’ll go with the commercial mower or the home mower. First of all, consider the size that you need. In case you belong to a landscaping company or if ever you own an extremely huge lawn, you may want to buy the commercial mower since they are specially made to mow quickly and regularly and compare with the other, they are high performing machines. On the other hand, if you only have a home lawn to maintain then the home mower is just the thing for you, this will help you out in maintaining your landscape the easier way and they come in small sizes which are indeed very handy to store at home. Bear in mind however that this type is not created in the durability standard employed on commercial mower although you really don’t need to worry about its toughness given that you will only have to use it one time in every week.

There are however some people who would go for commercial mowers despite the fact that they would merely use them at home. In case you have an elaborate landscaping or if you own a substantial lawn, the commercial type will no doubt make your day given that they tend to be more maneuverable than the home mower. Be grateful for its “zero-turn technology’. Basically, zero turn mowers is the term used for zero turn radius which simply connote that the machine can move around in a dime. The ability of being able to shift direction without actually moving from one place to another, a zero turn mower is indeed one of the best lawn mowers there is in the industry. In addition, it does not just precisely follow the curves of your area but it can also reach out the places that most traditional mowers cant. This is the aspect that most professional landscape artist would like to get specially those that works on golf course thus you can expect to see them on these commercial establishments. This is the best specially among perfectionist.

In addition, you can decide about the engine of your mower. Almost too often, an engine is available on a stock model but if you only do your homework, you will see that there are a lot of choices when it comes to the engine style.

PART 2 – For part two of this article, head on to Best Lawn Mowers, which is a popular website that provides advice on where to go to save money when buying scotts lawn care products.

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]]> http://www.successfulmowing.com/818/how-to-get-the-best-lawn-mower-for-your-needs/feed/ 0 Lawnmowers and Other Power Tools http://www.successfulmowing.com/447/lawnmowers-and-other-power-tools/ http://www.successfulmowing.com/447/lawnmowers-and-other-power-tools/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:36:04 +0000 admin

Get your lawnmower and any other power tools not needed over the winter serviced now in preparation for next year.

]]> http://www.successfulmowing.com/447/lawnmowers-and-other-power-tools/feed/ 0 Most Popular Commercial Lawn Mower Brands http://www.successfulmowing.com/334/most-popular-commercial-lawn-mower-brands/ http://www.successfulmowing.com/334/most-popular-commercial-lawn-mower-brands/#comments Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:34:32 +0000 admin

If you have been shopping for a commercial lawn mower, new or used, you have probably found there are at least 20-30 brands to investigate. It is important to shop carefully and thoroughly because prices of commercial mowers can be more than your car is worth.

If you have not read the How to Make Big Money Mowing Small Lawns book, I recommend doing so before you go lawn mower shopping. Don’t get ripped off.

I did a considerable number of online searches for the following phrases: “most popular”+”commercial lawn mower brands”, “commercial lawn mower brands”, “commercial lawn mowers”, “commercial mowers”+most popular, and “commercial mowers”.

When online searching did not give me all the information I wanted I went to my trusty phone book and looked up lawn care and lawn mowers. This search narrowed the number of mower brands in the running to 13. I am going to hazard a guess that if you can purchase a brand locally it is a more widely used brand than if you cannot buy it locally.

The phone book did not satisfy my curiosity completely either, so I put a note pad in the car and started writing down the brands of commercial mowers I saw while driving around the city. When I saw a brand more than once, I put a tick mark next to the brand name so I could easily keep count.

Between the online searches, the Yellow Pages, and keeping count whenever I saw a commercial lawn mower out on a job, the most popular brands of mowers seem to be:

  1. Scag – manufactured by Scag Power Equipment, includes the very popular Turf Tiger, Tiger Cub, Saber Tooth Tiger and Wildcat models
  2. John Deere – manufactured by Deere and Company, includes the Z-Trak models
  3. EverRide – manufactured by Ariens Corporation (Auburn Operations), includes the Warrior, Hornet, YJ, Wasp HP, Scorpion FX, and Scorpion models
  4. Toro – manufactured by The Toro Company, includes the Z-Master models
  5. Exmark – manufactured by Exmark Manufacturing Company, Inc., includes the LazerZ models
  6. Ferris – manufactured by Ferris Industries, includes the IS models and they highlight their suspension as superior to other brands
  7. Cub Cadet – manufactured by Cub Cadet, includes the Z-Force, Enforcer and RZT models
  8. Hustler – manufactured by Excel Hustler, includes the Super Mini Z, Fastrak, and Super Z models
  9. Ariens – manufactured by Ariens Corporation and includes the ZOOM models, smaller than most commercial mowers and priced between $360 and $800 new

I took Grasshopper, Gravely, Echo and Reel out of the list. They are commercial mowers but they are targeted to types of mowing most small lawn care business owners do not do. Grasshopper and Gravely are made for really big mowing jobs like those for a city or county or keeping up Golf courses. Echo is more for brushcutting and would compete with the DR brand. Reel is for turf manicuring and these machines are used after the mowing to height is finished.

  • Grasshopper – manufactured by Moridge Manufacturing, models just have numbers, there are a large number of models and cut widths, and prices range from $6,000 to $19,000 new
  • Gravely – manufactured by Auburn Consolidated Industries Inc., owned by Ariens Corporation, include the ZT and XTZ models and are priced between $3200 and $18,000 new
  • Echo – manufactured by Allpower Industries Pty Ltd. of Australia, targeted at the brushcutting market
  • Reel – manufactured by Locke Turf Corporation, includes the CL models and are finishing mowers targeted at Golf courses, and baseball, football and soccer fields for manicuring turf

Other commercial brands I know of but are not available locally and I did not see around are:

  • Simplicity
  • Husqvarna
  • Walker
  • Encore
  • Yazoo
  • Jacobsen
  • Wheel Horse
  • World
  • Snapper commercial
  • Murray commercial
  • Lawn Boy commercial
  • Troy-Bilt commercial
  • Craftsman commercial (you can order one from Sears but they do not have any in the store here)

I also excluded the various mower attachments for John Deere and Kubota tractors. Those are available but are targeted more to farming equipment than lawn care businesses.

Are you in the market for a commercial mower? How is your search going? What brands are you considering? Are you planning to buy new or used? Please leave your responses in the comments. Thanks!

Oh, and don’t forget to get your copy of How to Make Big Money Mowing Small Lawns.

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]]> http://www.successfulmowing.com/334/most-popular-commercial-lawn-mower-brands/feed/ 0 Consumer Price Index drops from a year earlier. Is now a good time to buy new appliances? http://www.successfulmowing.com/333/consumer-price-index-drops-from-a-year-earlier-is-now-a-good-time-to-buy-new-appliances/ http://www.successfulmowing.com/333/consumer-price-index-drops-from-a-year-earlier-is-now-a-good-time-to-buy-new-appliances/#comments Fri, 15 May 2009 21:03:13 +0000 admin http://www.successfulmowing.com/consumer-price-index-drops-from-a-year-earlier-is-now-a-good-time-to-buy-new-appliances/

The Consumer Price Index fell 0.7 percent in April from a year earlier, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, and in March, the CPI dropped 0.4 percent year-over-year. These declines, says the BLS, are the first since 1955.

We're seeing a similar pricing trend for appliances. "Appliance manufacturers were planning in early 2008 to increase prices by 5 percent, mostly to pass on higher costs for commodities like energy and metals," says Michael DiLauro, a product-information specialist for Consumer Reports. "But since the financial crisis hit, we're seeing very few price increases."

So is now a good time to buy an appliance you've been coveting? As detailed in "Repair or Replace It?" (available to subscribers), if your appliance is eight or more years old, it often makes sense to buy a newer model. Federal, state, and utility company tax credits and rebates for energy-efficient appliances can provide further savings.

And when you're ready to shop, find the best stores to buy appliances.—Gian Trotta | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Find out how to maintain and extend the life of your appliances

]]> http://www.successfulmowing.com/333/consumer-price-index-drops-from-a-year-earlier-is-now-a-good-time-to-buy-new-appliances/feed/ 0 By the Numbers: Uncle Sam wants you . . . . to buy one of the thousands of homes he owns http://www.successfulmowing.com/332/by-the-numbers-uncle-sam-wants-you-to-buy-one-of-the-thousands-of-homes-he-owns/ http://www.successfulmowing.com/332/by-the-numbers-uncle-sam-wants-you-to-buy-one-of-the-thousands-of-homes-he-owns/#comments Fri, 15 May 2009 21:03:13 +0000 admin http://www.successfulmowing.com/by-the-numbers-uncle-sam-wants-you-to-buy-one-of-the-thousands-of-homes-he-owns/ 50,000

HUD Housing Uncle SamNumber of homes that several branches of the federal government own and are trying to sell, according to this May 14 article in USA Today.

Individual homeowners and banks aren't the only property owners sitting on unsold single-family and multiunit homes. Several branches of the U.S. government are looking to sell the tens of thousands of homes they've acquired through defaults, seizures, and other circumstances.

The federal agencies include the Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Agriculture, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of the Treasury, Department of Veterans Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, General Services Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Marshals Service, and Small Business Administration.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development alone has spent more than $12 billion to pay back lenders after homeowners defaulted on government-backed Federal Housing Administration loans but so far has recovered less than half that amount, said the USA Today story. HUD has about 38,000 homes for sale.

Essential information: Learn how to buy a HUD home or a foreclosed property. If you're having financial trouble and are concerned making your mortgage payments, read "White House Launches Mortgage-Assistance Web Site" for details on the federal government's Making Home Affordable program. Learn how to avoid becoming a victim of a home-related financial scam and find out what a "foreclosure vulture" is.

]]> http://www.successfulmowing.com/332/by-the-numbers-uncle-sam-wants-you-to-buy-one-of-the-thousands-of-homes-he-owns/feed/ 0 Buzzword: Cookprint http://www.successfulmowing.com/331/buzzword-cookprint/ http://www.successfulmowing.com/331/buzzword-cookprint/#comments Fri, 15 May 2009 21:03:13 +0000 admin http://www.successfulmowing.com/buzzword-cookprint/ Blog_badge_buzzword

What it means. Cookprint takes the carbon footprint—the amount of greenhouse gas each of us generates through our daily activities—and plants it firmly in the kitchen.

Food writer Kate Heyhoe cooked up cookprint, defined as the energy needed to prepare the food you eat. That energy use encompasses the appliances and techniques used to prepare and store food, though the management of leftovers and food waste also factors in—you lower your cookprint by composting rather than tossing scraps into the trash. Low-cookprint meals should also be heavy on plant-based and locally grown, sustainable foods.

Cookprint Reducing Energy Use in the KitchenWhy the buzz? A few new cookbooks—including Heyhoe's Cooking Green: Reducing Your Carbon Footprint in the Kitchen—the New Green Basics Way; Big Green Cookbook: Hundreds of Planet-Pleasing Recipes and Tips for a Luscious, Low-Carbon Lifestyle, by Jackie Newgent; and Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating, by Mark Bittman—have stirred up interest in eco-conscious cooking.

Besides food enthusiasts, appliance manufacturers are in on the cookprint movement, though it's worth noting that cooking appliances as a category account for just 3 percent of a home's energy consumption, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Whirlpool says that for its induction appliances, "90% of the energy [is] expended into useful heat to reduce utility costs. (With gas ranges up to 60% of the heat is normally wasted through indirect gas combustion.)"

It's easy to cook more efficiently. On the cooktop, blanch green beans first and then cook pasta in the same pot of boiling water. In the oven, roast vegetables for tomorrow's supper alongside tonight's baked chicken. And when preheating a gas grill, throw on some potatoes or corn on the cob or heavy-duty-foil packets of vegetables instead of letting all those Btu go to waste.

Or when you're cooking small portions, use your toaster oven, which will consume less energy than a conventional oven. And reheat leftovers in a microwave oven. As covered in our February 2009 report on microwaves, microwave ovens can save up to 80 percent of the energy used by a typical oven. Indeed, the Environmental Protection Agency is considering making microwaves eligible for Energy Star qualification.

Remember, it rarely makes environmental sense to replace a working appliance just to take advantage of a new, more-efficient model. Still, if you do need a new refrigerator or dishwasher, the latest versions will reduce your cookprint. The average 2008 refrigerator or dishwasher uses 30 percent less energy than the average 2000 model, according to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers. Just don't fall victim to the Snackwell's effect when shopping.

Completing the cookprint cycle, conserve energy and water with your dishwasher by not prerinsing dishes before loading them, running full loads, and skipping the heated-dry cycle.—Daniel DiClerico | e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: Visit our appliances hub to find the most energy-efficient refrigerators and dishwashers. Look for our special report on kitchens, in the August 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands in July.

]]> http://www.successfulmowing.com/331/buzzword-cookprint/feed/ 0 Coca-Cola says its new PlantBottle container is greener http://www.successfulmowing.com/330/coca-cola-says-its-new-plantbottle-container-is-greener/ http://www.successfulmowing.com/330/coca-cola-says-its-new-plantbottle-container-is-greener/#comments Fri, 15 May 2009 21:03:13 +0000 admin http://www.successfulmowing.com/coca-cola-says-its-new-plantbottle-container-is-greener/ Coke Introduces New PlantBottleThe downsides to drinking sugar-laden soda are obvious, as detailed in "Is Your Soda Habit Piling On the Pounds?" from the Consumer Reports Health blog.

But with the May 13 unveiling of its PlantBottle, the Coca-Cola Company is trying to do something positive for the environment if not for your waistline and overall health. The company claims the new plastic bottle is 100 percent recyclable and made from a mix of petroleum-based materials and up to 30 percent plant-based materials, including sugar cane and molasses. Compared with the production of petroleum-based PET bottles, says Coca-Cola, making the PlantBottle relies less on a nonrenewable resource and reduces greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 25 percent.

(Learn more about recycling plastic.)

Later this year, the company's North American division will start using the PlantBottle for Dasani water and other brands in certain markets and will roll it out for Vitaminwater in 2010.

"The PlantBottle is a significant development in sustainable packaging innovation. It builds on our legacy of environmental ingenuity and sets the course for us to realize our vision to eventually introduce bottles made with materials that are 100 percent recyclable and renewable," said Muhtar Kent, Coca-Cola's chairman and CEO, in a release. e-mail | Twitter

Essential information: More states are moving to add a deposit for bottled water.

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