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Loftness Adds Lightweight Mulching Head For Compact Excavators
Jessica Schwartz
TurnAer XT5 Aerator Now Features The Honda GXV160 Engine
Turfco TurnAer XT5 Aerators now come equipped with the Honda GXV160 engine. “We’re equipping the XT5 with the Honda GXV160 in response to customer requests,” says Scott Kinkead, executive vice president, Turfco Manufacturing. The company changeover to the new engine is already in place. Landscape professionals rely on the GXV160 to deliver reliable, easy starting and fuel- efficient performance, day in and day out. The 163-cc, 4.3-HP engine supplies more than enough power to keep the XT5 churning day-in, day-out, while the large-capacity, 1.5-gallon gas tank allows longer use between fills of regular unleaded pump gasoline. The OHV engine is built for high-output, fuel-efficient operation, while also delivering quiet, reliable performance. Highly maneuverable and user-friendly, the XT5’s hydrostatic controls make it a smooth walk-behind commercial aerator. It steers, reverses, and outperforms – all without lifting its tines. Operators can turn and reverse direction while keeping the tines in motion, thanks to the hydrostatic drive system coupled to Turfco’s patented, steerable aerator technology. Turning with tines to the ground reduces operator fatigue and improves productivity, with the XT5 is proven to be up to 30% more productive than traditional aerators. The XT5 also features EasyChange™ tines. Patent-pending tine wheels enhance steering and hill-holding stability. The XT5 also advances durability with a low-profile design and rugged, unibody steel frame. Instead of belts, it uses drive chains that are covered and located outside of the frame.
Solutions For Cemetery Turfgrass Management
By Aaron Pettit The management of turfgrass in cemeteries is unique and requires an understanding of factors not seen in other turfgrass installations. These factors can include: underground vaults or liners; disturbed uniformed soil profiles; fill soil differences; extreme compaction and various compaction regions; rapid changes in landscape grades (which can add beauty and hide unwanted views); intensive equipment operations; and limited operation movement space. Together, these challenges can hinder proper turfgrass establishment and sustainability. Soil Compaction In cemeteries, people have placed their loved ones in the same soil being managed for turf and the landscape generally never changes once burials and headstone are placed. As a result, soil compaction from multiple factors can be a major challenge with turf establishment and sustainability. Compaction can lead to poor root growth by destroying soil structure and cutting soil pore space. This decreases the survivability of turf by reducing: available water, soil oxygen, percolation rate (causing surface ponding for days or weeks after substantial rain fall), and nutrient uptake. Cemetery soil compaction can be found in both the surface soil and subsoil. Surface soil compaction can be very noticeable in cemeteries due to substantial equipment operations occurring over restricted and limited areas of movement. Normal cemetery layout and cemetery landscape design requires all equipment (mowers, ATV or UTV, haulers, excavators, etc.) be directed into highly trafficked corridors in and around grave markers, trees, plot markers, and monuments. Compaction from equipment causes rutting (uneven ground); resulting in poor aesthetics by lifting ground around ...
