MAINTENANCE EQUIPMENT
By Matt Gersib
Why Mid-Size Walk Mowers Make Sense U.S. Lawns franchisee explains why the intermediate walk mower is still his go-to mowing machine – even on large industrial properties.
Photo Credit: Exmark Mfg.
T
he commercial walk-behind mower remains a mainstay on the trailers of landscape professionals across the country. And, while zero-turn and stand-on riders remain popular options for many crews, a number of companies have found that walk-behind mowers give them a
run for my employees,” Pursell says. “The ability to get closer to landscaping and run up under bushes and shrubbery means there’s less finish work after the primary mowing is done.” The majority of Pursell’s crews leave every day with two mowers on the trailer: a 60-inch Exmark Turf Tracer X-Series wide-area walk-behind, and a 48-inch Tur f Tracer S-Series hydro-drive interm e d i a t e w a l kbehind. A handful of zero-turn riding mowers are available for specific jobs or needs, but Pursell says the majority of his crews’ mowing work is done by the 48- or 60-inch walk-behind machines. Given the majority of Pursell’s business is comprised of industrial and commercial clients, his extensive use of walk-behind machines may seem counterintuitive to some. But he says his crews
“Walk-behind mowers are lighter, easier to operate and more efficient to run for my employees.” number of competitive advantages. According to David Pursell, owner of U.S. Lawns franchises in the Ridgeland and Vicksburg, MS, areas, the advantages of running walk-behind mowers are many. “Walk-behind mowers are lighter, easier to operate and more efficient to
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lose little, if any, productivity compared to crews running zero-turn riders. “Almost all of our 60- and 48-inch machines are equipped with a stand-on sulky, so it’s rare when our operators are actually walking behind the machines,” Pursell says. “And while it’s true a zeroturn rider may have a higher top speed than an equivalent walk-behind, it’s rare you’re actually able to mow at top speed, regardless of mower type.” Pursell says that, in terms of productivity, he believes a properly equipped 60-inch walk-behind is every bit as productive in most conditions as a 60-inch zero-turn rider. “In a wide-open field, the increased speed of a zero-turn rider may save some time. That said, on most of the properties we maintain, I believe a sulky-equipped walk-behind mower is just as productive.”
Right mix of mowers
For Pursell’s mostly commercial client base, the choice of a 48-inch intermediate and 60-inch wide-area
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2/27/17 12:45 PM