Summer mowing season is transitioning into fall—the busiest time of year. Cameron Belt from Ty’s Outdoor Power has watched commercial crews navigate this challenging season for years. His advice? Make sure you have the right equipment and enough crew to keep momentum going through fall’s peak demands.
Here’s how to gear up your operation for maximum productivity during the most demanding season of the year.
The Commercial Fall Challenge
Fall brings unique demands that separate successful operations from struggling ones. You’re juggling multiple services while racing against shorter daylight hours and unpredictable weather.
Commercial landscapers and municipalities know the drill—while you’re still maintaining regular mowing schedules, it’s time to add aerating services and tackle massive leaf cleanup jobs across the Omaha metro. The key is having systems in place before the leaves start falling in earnest.
Equipment That Changes the Game
As a professional landscaper or municipality, you need reliable equipment that can handle the demands of the job. Cameron recommends the following tools and equipment to make leaf cleanup a breeze:
- Zero-Turn Mowers with High-Capacity Baggers: “I would probably point out the Hustler Super Z or the Hyperdrive with a three-bag 12-bushel bagger. That’s going to be your most highly efficient, fastest-running machine.” These systems chop leaves finer before bagging, maximizing capacity and reducing dump trips.
- Professional-Grade Blowers: “Leaf blowers are going to be number one,” Cameron states without hesitation. He specifically recommends the BR800 backpack blower for commercial companies. “Having the most amount of power behind it, being able to get a little bit wetter leaves, tighter spots, and large piles that you need to move…it’s going to make quick work of it.”
- Debris Loaders and Dump Trailers: One of Cameron’s biggest efficiency recommendations involves rethinking your leaf collection process entirely. He recommends “a dump trailer pulled behind [your] truck with a debris loader on the back. That way, [you] can push all those leaves to one part of the property and then someone can just come up and suck them all up.”
How to Turn Your Operations Into an Efficiency Powerhouse
Equipment isn’t the only game-changer when it comes to increasing efficiency. Your operations also play a crucial role in getting the most out of your equipment and team. Cameron recommends the following strategies to minimize hassle.
1. Combine Services for Maximum Efficiency
Cameron recommends looking for equipment that handles multiple tasks in a single pass. “There are a couple of products here that we have that we can put seed boxes on the aerators to do those two steps in one pass, so you’re not having to go over the yard twice.”
Stinger aerators with seed boxes allow crews to aerate and overseed simultaneously, cutting job time in half. There are plenty of other combinations to consider, like mowers with mulch- or bagging-capabilities, saving you time and effort during lawn maintenance.
2. Perform Proper Blade Management
Don’t overlook this simple equipment modification. “A lot of my commercial guys will start switching their blades over on their mowers to gator blades to help chop up the leaves and stuff a little bit finer if they’re not doing the cleanup.” Gator blades help break down leaves that won’t be collected, improving decomposition and lawn health.
3. Prioritize Preventative Maintenance
Equipment breakdowns during peak season cost serious money. Cameron emphasizes staying ahead of maintenance schedules: “Make sure you’re staying on top of the oil changes. Make sure you’re keeping that unit greased.”
The goal is to prevent unexpected downtime when you’re busiest. “Make sure you’re just doing the things that you’re supposed to do so that machine is going to run for you and you’re not going to have breakdowns [or] downtime.”
ROI That Makes Sense: Equipment Investment Pays Off Quickly
The math is straightforward: better equipment lets you “fit more jobs in a day and be able to get stuff done a lot faster…Yes, it’s going to be a little bit spendy on the front, but if you can be more productive with it, your ROI is going to be a lot higher,” Cameron explains.
Cameron regularly hears from commercial customers who wish they’d upgraded their equipment sooner. “I’ve had a lot of guys come back and tell me they wish they would have bought it sooner just because it truly does make it that much faster.” This feedback comes from operators who’ve experienced the productivity difference firsthand.
Get Your Operation Ready at Ty’s Outdoor Power
Fall cleanup season waits for no one. Cameron’s advice for commercial operators considering equipment upgrades: “If you can and you have the means to spend the money, I would spend the money, get something that’s going to help you be more productive and more efficient.”
At Ty’s, we understand commercial demands. “We’ve got a giant shop that’s outfitted with a lot of different mechanics that can keep those machines on track with their maintenance.” Regular professional service keeps your fleet operational when every hour counts.
Ready to gear up for your most productive fall season yet? Stop by Ty’s Outdoor Power in Gretna or call us at (402) 332-5577!
