A common problem with hydraulic cylinders is rust and pitting of the cylinder rods. If equipment that incorporates hydraulic cylinders is stored outside with the cylinder rods extended, the rods are exposed to weathering. Eventually, the rods will begin to show specks of rust that develop into pits. Once rusting and pitting occur, the rod will destroy the cylinder seal the next time it is activated.

Many lawnmowers, string trimmers, leaf blowers, and other lawn and garden equipment with small engines were inundated during the flooding from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In many cases, that equipment can be salvaged.

Farm and grounds maintenance equipment is often exposed to rain, high humidity, fertilizer, pesticides and corrosive plant materials (such as grass clippings). The manufacturers of that equipment have taken steps to try to protect the equipment and reduce the potential for corrosion.

A properly designed and operated irrigation system will ensure that the critical factor of soil moisture will be there to sustain healthy plant growth.

One of the factors that most affects both the capability of a lawn/garden tractor, and the price, is the engine.

The information should make it easier for anyone using a fertilizer spreader to select an appropriate type of spreader and to obtain optimum performance from the selected spreader. This bulletin summarizes 24 years of design, study, research and teaching about fertilizer spreaders. (PDF format only)

A mower deck can’t cut grass unless it is connected to the tractor engine. This is usually done in one of two ways, with some possible permutations.

Although there are some imported compact tractors available under $10,000, most compact tractors from major manufacturers are in the $10,000 – $20,000 range. Older farm tractors can be a less expensive alternative to compact tractors.

Riding mowers, lawn tractors, lawn and garden tractors, and garden tractors are large and powerful. They can be dangerous if not used safely.

All rotary cutters are inherently dangerous. The thrown object hazard is not fully recognized by everyone, yet it can cause injury, blindness or even death.

Hydraulic cylinder rods have traditionally been coated with highly polished hard chrome. This surface provides reasonable corrosion resistance and good sealing in hydraulic cylinders, but the material can corrode. An alternate approach now used on some new equipment, including loader cylinders on compact tractors, is a sprayed-on tungsten carbide coating.

It is not necessary to buy all the equipment you need for your lawn and garden. In many cases, renting can be a practical option.

Some companies now offer landscape bedshapers designed specifically to lay out and maintain landscape beds. These machines are generally heavier, more powerful and more versatile than turf edgers.

Oil is the lifeblood of any engine. Neglecting your oil can be a costly mistake.

When you buy a bag of fertilizer or granular pesticide to spread on your lawn, it will usually have a label on the back of the bag with settings for several common fertilizer spreaders. Do you know where those settings come from, how they were developed or how reliable they are?

Some rotary spreaders can deliver a reasonably uniform distribution pattern with some products, but not with others, and some homeowner rotary spreaders don’t deliver a good pattern with any product.

Rotary spreaders offer the advantages of wide, fast coverage and forgiving patterns, but they are not well suited to working along turf edges. Some spreaders offer a pattern cut-off mechanism to address this problem.

Lawn fertilizers and pesticides are more easily applied as granules rather than liquids, but broadleaf herbicides need to be sprayed in many cases. A push-type walk-behind sprayer that resembles a spreader meets this need.

One of the most important things you can do to maintain your small engines and tractors is to service the oil and fuel filters as needed.

Utility vehicles are popular and handy. They are making inroads on the use of ATVs for hunting and can also be used for many chores around a small acreage (or a large farm). Utility vehicles are somewhat similar to the small vehicles used on golf courses for decades, but use ATV components to provide more power and versatility.They aren’t cheap, but they are useful and fun to use.

Zero Turning Radius mowers have separate hydraulic pumps driving the left and right tires, and each side is controlled separately. One tire can be turning forward while the other is turning in reverse, thus the mower can pivot around its own center. This feature allows amazing versatility in trimming while mowing.

Zero Turning Radius mowers, like all lawnmowers, operate in a dirty environment. Proper and regular maintenance is needed to keep your mower operating at top efficiency and minimize costly repairs and downtime.

Commercial-size riding mowers, including the popular zero turning radius mowers, are covered by a safety standard promulgated by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Even though many of these mowers are used by homeowners, those that are designed primarily for commercial use are considered commercial machines and they fall under a commercial mower standard.

There are some simple steps you can take before storage to make your equipment easier to start when you need it again.

A relatively new class of products in the commercial grounds maintenance industry is the self-propelled spreader and/or sprayer. This kind of equipment can potentially reduce the effort required to apply fertilizer or pesticides to lawns, but it comes at a substantial cost and will require some trade-offs in operating mode.

Loading equipment onto a truck or trailer usually requires the use of loading ramps. There are some safety issues involved in using ramps.

To get the best performance and longevity from your tiller you need to properly maintain it. You also need to be aware of some of the dangers involved in using a tiller, and take steps to protect yourself and others.

Whether you buy, rent or borrow a tiller, you will find that it has a wide range of uses. It can be a general purpose garden tool.

The right rotary tiller can make the job of gardening much easier, but if you choose the wrong tiller for the job, it can make your job more difficult.

Zero-turning-radius mowers have taken over the commercial riding mower market. In the past, there were few low-cost models available to homeowners, but this has changed. Low-cost homeowner models are now available from several companies.

Factors such as price, performance and durability are important considerations in choosing garden tools and power equipment, but if a tool or machine is uncomfortable or awkward to use, you will regret buying it. The interaction between you and the tool or machine is called ergonomics.

Two questions of interest to prospective purchasers are: How much do riding mowers and small tractors in the various classes cost and how long can I expect one to last?

Many growers pick up plastic mulch but several machines are available for this job. Work at the LSU AgCenter has demonstrated that, in some cases, plastic mulch can be picked up by a hay baler.

Walk-behind rotary lawnmowers can handle clippings in one of three ways: they can mulch them, bag them or discharge them to the side. Some mowers can do any of the three with minimal adjustment. Any of the three modes can be useful in some situations.

While equipment companies are doing their part to reduce corrosion of tractors and farm equipment, how well you maintain your machinery will determine its useful life. Here are some rust prevention tips.

Finish (or grooming) mowers typically have (two or) three blades and are designed for quality mowing of turfgrass. They are not designed to cut tall, weedy grass. They have multiple gage wheels and rollers that allow a relatively low cutting height with minimal scalping.

Mid-mount mowers for lawn, garden, and compact tractors typically have (two or) three blades and are designed for quality mowing of turfgrass. They are not designed to cut tall, weedy grass. They have multiple gage wheels and rollers that allow a relatively low cutting height with minimal scalping.

Many people use a rotary cutter (often referred to by the copyrighted name “Bush Hog”) to cut grass and weeds, but, in too many cases, the implement is not correctly adjusted. This can cause premature wear, poor quality of cut, and an excessive power requirement.

In many neighborhoods, the roar of lawnmowers has been joined by the howl of leaf blowers. "The primary complaint with leaf blowers is noise," says Dr. Dick Parish, an engineer at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station.

Although most people opt for small engine-driven generators, there are some real advantages to a generator that connects to a tractor power-take-off (PTO).

To obtain the best results from your granular fertilizers and pesticides, you have to apply them at the correct rate. One easy step you can take to help assure that your spreader delivers the correct rate of material is to calibrate your spreader.

Most turf fertilizers contain controlled-release nitrogen fertilizer. There are two types of controlled-release fertilizer and one type can be damaged by your spreader.

Some spreader experts and some spreader and granular material operating instructions advise you to go over your lawn twice when spreading fertilizer or granular products, with the two trips over the lawn made at right angles to each other. Don’t do it!

Most garden tools have fixed handles. Some tools, however, are available as separate handle and toolhead components that can be interchanged.

The more you learn about lawn spreaders, the more you realize how complicated they really are. The LSU AgCenter has published a bulletin that summarizes 24 years of research on spreaders.

In some situations, a hand-cranked spreader is more practical than a wheeled model. When spreading granules in nurseries, beds of flowers and ornamentals, and other restricted areas, a wheeled spreader can be difficult or impossible to use. Hand- or strap-carried, hand-cranked spreaders are a viable option in such cases.

There are three primary transmission systems used in riding mowers and the various classes of mowing tractors.

When you buy a walk-behind lawnmower, you benefit from safety standards and regulations from two sources: The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Pine straw makes an excellent mulch and is much in demand for landscaping. If you own some land with pine trees, you can easily rake your own pine straw.

Electric tools eliminate the fire hazards associated with gasoline, but introduce the hazard of electric shock or electrocution. There are some steps you can take to improve the safety of electric tools.

If you grow a vegetable garden, you probably get tired of bending over placing seeds in a furrow. Perhaps you are also tired of making the planting furrow and then covering it over and tamping. If so, you might be interested in one of the garden seeders on the market.

Depending on the type of ditch or trench you need and the size of the job, you have many choices of available tools. All of the do-it-yourself methods involve hard work, but some are not as hard as others.

Garden tools will last longer if we take good care of them, but it can be a real bother to do so. A simple trick will make it much easier for you to keep your shovels, hoes, trowels, etc. clean and protected.

A dirt scoop is a handy attachment for small tractors. It will allow you to dig, move, and dump small quantities of soil, gravel, sand, or other materials much easier than you can do with a shovel and wheelbarrow and much less expensively than with a front-end loader on your tractor.

One of the most important things you can do to maintain your small engines is to service the air filters as needed.

Carefull examination of the spark plug(s) can yield insights into other maintenance needs on your engine.

Putting the correct grease in your grease gun and using it religiously can prolong the life of your equipment.

Maintaining quality turfgrass sometimes requires that lawn waste be picked up. This trash can include leaves, pine needles and grass clippings as well as twigs, seed pods from trees and pine cones.

Pruning shears come in two basic styles and in a wide range of sizes and price ranges.

One of the most hazardous substances most of us have to deal with is gasoline. We tend to take it for granted since it is so common and familiar, but we should pay it more respect.

Several models of small walk-behind stump grinders are aimed at homeowners, rental use and smaller professional operations. Most are reasonably safe if used carefully, but a few are not safe no matter how they are used.

These photos and drawings show how to use an ASAE standard 3" x 8" hydraulic cylinder to provide a power-adjustable upper link for a tractor 3-point hitch.

One of the handiest implements you can put on your tractor is a lift boom for the 3-point hitch. In some areas these are called boom poles or gin poles.

Compact utility tractors are small diesel tractors with less than 40 horsepower. All current models come equipped with two important safety features: a rollover protective structure (ROPS) and a seatbelt. These two safety components can go a long way toward protecting you in case of an overturn - if you use them.

Removing the bucket from the front-end loader on your tractor is very easy (on newer loaders) and makes your tractor much more maneuverable. You should develop the habit of removing the loader bucket whenever you use your tractor for mowing, tilling, etc.

Post hole diggers mounted on tractors and powered by the tractors’ PTO shafts are useful tools for setting posts, planting trees, and other uses, but they can cause serious injury if not used correctly. The Farm Equipment Manufacturers Association (FEMA) is an organization whose members manufacture post hole diggers. They have developed some guidelines to help you use their products more safely.

All compact tractors currently sold have Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS), and most larger zero-turn mowers now have this safety feature also. A ROPS that is properly designed and used can prevent serious injury in most overturn accidents. One of the most important considerations in ROPS protection is to wear your seatbelt.

A simple hand spreader is often the best tool for applying granular fertilizer or pesticides.

This publication is intended to help you select the correct zero turning radius mower for your purpose, then use it and maintain it correctly and safely. (PDF Format Only)

A tractor 3-point hitch is handy and versatile. The upper link of a 3-point hitch is a turnbuckle that allows adjustment of the angle of the implement on the hitch. It is possible to replace this link with a hydraulic cylinder.

You have many choices when it comes to shovels. The type you need depends on the job you have to do.

You will save money in the short run at discount stores and mass merchandisers. You will pay more but get better quality equipment and service with dedicated lawn and garden dealers or farm equipment dealers.

Loading equipment onto trailers and trucks presents a safety challenge. Loading the right way can reduce the risk of overturn and operator injury.

Most professional applicators use rotary spreaders. Rotary spreaders are not only faster than drop spreaders, but are more forgiving of small errors in swath width.

A good lawn spreader is a precision tool and should be treated accordingly. Your lawn spreader doesn’t need a great deal of time-consuming maintenance, but a few simple steps can preserve the life and precision of your spreader.

Some high-quality plastic spreaders have precision equivalent to the better homeowner metal spreaders. There is a tremendous difference in performance among brands and models.

People tend to walk at different speeds. When you are pushing a spreader, this difference in walking speed can cause problems.

Rotary broadcast spreaders offer many advantages for turf professionals. There are also some disadvantages including pattern skewing and the need to develop pattern settings for each product to center the pattern. Pendulum-action spreaders overcome those problems.

Mid-mount rotary mower decks are common on lawn tractors, garden tractors, subcompact tractors and smaller compact utility tractors. There are two ways that these decks can be mounted, and the mounting method affects adjustment and operation.

Varying your mowing pattern can cause you to spend a little more time mowing, but the result will be a greatly improved appearance in your turfgrass.

Leaf blowers are efficient, useful tools that annoy some people. Be aware of the problem, and use your leaf blower responsibly to avoid losing the privilege.

Electrical units are fine for small lawns, gasoline hand-held units are the best choice for larger home sites and backpack blowers are a good choice for professional users.

Many implements are available for rear mounting on compact utility tractors, including mowers of various types, tillers, angle blades, box blades, cultivators, bedders and rakes. These machines add versatility to your tractor, but mounting them to the tractor’s 3-point hitch can be a hassle. A quick hitch can make your job much easier.

Riding mowers, lawn tractors, lawn and garden tractors, and garden tractors are covered by several safety standards that are designed to protect you, the operator.

Finishing (or grooming) mowers typically have (two or) three blades and are designed for quality mowing of turfgrass. They have multiple gage wheels and rollers that allow a relatively low cutting height with minimal scalping.

Do you get what you pay for when buying a mowing tractor? There is certainly a wide range of prices; in fact, you can easily pay twice as much for a lawn tractor at a major farm equipment dealer as you would pay for a lawn tractor with the same horsepower and mowing width at a discount store. What do you get for the additional money?

Homeowners and gardeners often use wheelbarrows and garden carts to move materials. This article describes advantages and limitations of each.

One of the major distinctions between low-quality and high-quality tools is the way the toolhead is manufactured.

Centrifugal clutches are common on many grounds maintenance machines including string trimmers, chain saws, and some lawn mowers.

You might think that riding mowers and lawn/garden tractors are small and low to the ground so overturns are not a problem. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Riding mowers and small tractors can overturn to the side or rear fairly easily.

Zero-turning-radius mowers are popular among professionals and homeowners with larger lawns. Zero-turning-radius manufacturers offer many new and/or optional features on their mowers that further increase their versatility and ease of use.

Zero-turning-radius mowers are available in two configurations: mid-mount decks and front-mount decks. Each configuration has advantages and disadvantages, and each has proponents.

Some zero-turning-radius mowers are designed with a serious fire safety hazard. These models should be avoided.

Zero-turning-radius mowers are somewhat different from conventional tractors. Their short wheelbases and narrow wheel spacings can contribute to overturns.

Zero Turning Radius riding mowers can do a wonderful job of maintaining turf, but the rapid response and maneuverability that make them so handy can cause problems if you aren’t careful.

If you have frequent flat tires on tractors, implements, or other off-road equipment you might want to consider using a tire sealant.

Hydraulic hoses can be a weak link in your tractor’s hydraulic system. The exposed hoses are very vulnerable to wear – and thus leakage and failure. Nylon sleeves over the hoses can dramatically increase hose life.

A simple but accurate way of checking the output of your sprayer is the H 128 method of sprayer calibration.

You may be able to improve the performance of your compact utility tractor by ballasting the tractor properly.

Most small, hand-carried lawn and garden tools use 2-stroke engines and most larger machines such as lawn and garden tractors use 4-stroke engines. The reason for this has to do with the weight ratio of the engines.