Key to landscaper productivity is compact loader attachments

Trencher attachments easily dig lines for irrigation systems.

Ask landscapers what they like about their job, and most of them will say they enjoy how varied the work is. From preparing an area, to installing plants and features, to maintaining improved properties and cleaning up when finished, each day is filled with different tasks. While every day is unique, there is one constant on each jobsite — landscapers rely on compact loaders and attachments to complete the work. From the start of a project to the end, there is an attachment that helps a landscaper be more efficient, more productive and more profitable.

Land clearing

Of course, the first step at any landscaping job is to prepare the site for the work. Sometimes, an area must be cleared before new landscaping can be installed. The first thing that needs to be done is to remove grass, brush and trees. Rotary cutters use blades to cut through the toughest grass and brush and can mulch branches and saplings that are up to three inches in diameter.

The flail cutter is just like the rotary cutter, but uses rotating hammers instead of blades to cut grass, brush and trees up to three inches in diameter. The hammers rotate and cut vertically, throwing debris onto the ground so it is spread evenly instead of being thrown out to the side where it might hit another object.

Removing thicker brush and taller trees requires different attachments. Many landscapers don’t consider the brush saw, a horizontally mounted saw that cuts through brush and trees up to 15 feet tall. The brush saw is especially handy when a landscaper needs to be selective about the trees that need to be removed. By cutting below the ground with the brush saw, a landscaper can minimize stumps.

If a large area of trees needs to be cleared, the forestry cutter is a high-production solution. This attachment grinds down trees from top to bottom, leaving nothing but mulch. Some forestry cutters have optional front gates that allow the material to be retained. Bryan Zent, marketing manager with Bobcat Company, says the forestry cutter requires additional safety equipment. “The Bobcat forestry cutter can only be used on machines with a forestry applications kit,” says Zent. “This kit has a number of features that keep the operator safe and prevent the machine from being damaged, including polycarbonate windows and debris shields.”

Once trees and brush have been cut down, there is waste that needs to be removed, including stumps. Any remaining tree limbs or brush can be disposed of with the chipper attachment, and the stump grinder attachment removes stumps. “The Bobcat® stump grinder pivots from side to side, allowing the operator to remove a stump up to 45 inches in diameter without repositioning the loader,” says Zent. “The work group is mounted at a 90-degree angle from the operator, making it easier for the person running the attachment to see what they’re doing.”

Roots, rock, brush and other debris can be cleared with a root grapple. A combination bucket can also work as a grapple when the clamshell is opened. The combination bucket is several attachments in one, since it can also be used as a traditional bucket and as a dozer when the clamshell is opened.

Hardscaping

After land is cleared, the next step for many landscapers is hardscaping, and there are many attachments that assist with the placement of pavers, retaining wall block and concrete. Excavating ponds and other water features can be done with a backhoe attachment. The backhoe can also be used to install drainage tile and is helpful in retaining wall construction — from digging a base for a wall to moving dirt to clear the way, or to scoop fill behind the wall.

In any hardscaping application, compaction of dirt, sand or other material is always necessary, and the vibratory roller quickly creates a good foundation to build on. Often, dirt or sand needs to be taken to or removed from the jobsite. To minimize the number of trips and the time spent moving this material, landscapers should consider a dumping hopper. The dumping hopper holds more material than buckets and makes fast work of any material-handling task.

For jobsites in established residential neighborhoods, it’s often impossible for the concrete truck to reach backyards, where much hardscaping is installed. The concrete pump attachment moves the concrete from the truck to the jobsite without requiring the loader to be moved. The pump runs off power from the loader and moves the concrete through a hose that can be routed through small openings, under decks, through bushes and around buildings. Zent says contractors don’t even need to have someone at the loader when using the concrete pump. “The Bobcat concrete pump has an optional radio remote control, allowing the flow of concrete to be done at the work area,” says Zent.

Hardscaping work that needs only a small amount of concrete can be done with the concrete mixer attachment. When used with a remote attachment control kit, the mixer can be operated from outside the cab. By using the mixer, landscapers make only as much concrete as necessary and can produce it as soon as it’s needed, saving time and money.

Plants, trees and shrubs

One of the most common tasks a landscaper performs is planting trees, shrubs and other greenery, and since this work is done so often, landscapers want to save as much time as possible doing it. The backhoe attachment can be used to dig holes for trees, but the auger may be a better option because the auger does not disturb as much ground as the backhoe. Some landscapers use a digger attachment for greenery. The digger is like a shovel, but because it is used on a loader, it works much faster. Pallet forks move pallets of small bushes and are also sometimes used to move trees. Zent says Bobcat offers a tree fork attachment for mini track and small skid-steer loaders.

Perhaps the best attachment for planting trees is the tree spade. There are three types of blade configurations on tree spades, each suited to a type of soil and each providing a different type of root ball. Zent says landscapers using the tree spade attachment should remember the 10-to-1 ratio. Multiplying the diameter of the tree trunk by 10 will give the size of the tree spade to use. For instance, a tree with a trunk diameter of 3 inches requires a 30-inch tree spade. “Many loader manufacturers require that rear counterweights and stabilizers be used on the loader when using a tree spade attachment,” says Zent.

Irrigation

One of the benefits of using attachments to install irrigation systems is that the work is done by disturbing as little ground as possible. This helps landscapers by cutting down on the cost and time involved in clean-up when these systems are installed in established yards.

Trenchers and vibratory plows dig lines for irrigation systems. The vibratory plow disturbs less ground than the trencher attachment, and Zent suggests landscapers who install systems at existing property consider purchasing this attachment and using it on a mini track loader. The vibratory plow works faster than a trencher by slicing a thin blade into the ground and placing the irrigation line directly into the trench with a single pass.

Holes for valve boxes can be drilled by using the auger. Once all the components are in place, the trench can be compacted with the trench compactor.

A soil conditioner attachment grades and smoothes an area while preparing it for seeding.

Turf After hardscape, irrigation and trees have been put in place, landscapers finish up a job by installing turf. Before turf can be put down, the area must be prepped. The box blade grades the area and landplanes and landscape rakes smooth out and level the soil. The landscape rake will also collect any surface debris, such as trash that accumulates around new construction, saving time on site clean-up. The soil conditioner is a cost-effective landscape attachment because it grades and smoothes an area while preparing it for seeding. Sometimes, ground needs to be broken up before it can be prepared for seeding, and the tiller quickly mixes the soil.

Seeder attachments are more accurate than broadcast spreaders in giving seeds proper spacing and putting the seed at the right depth. If sod is going to be used, Zent recommends the sod layer. Bobcat models can install 24- to 48-inch-wide rolls. “The Bobcat sod layer has a lock and pin system that will prevent the sod from unrolling while it is being transported,” says Zent. “The Bobcat sod layer also has a relief valve so the attachment will not over-squeeze and damage the roll.”

Clean-up

Whether it’s a new development or an existing neighborhood, preventing soil from running off the jobsite and cleaning up the street is important. “While many municipalities are issuing fines for soils that run into storm sewer systems, keeping a jobsite clean is just good professional practice,” says Zent.

An angle broom is good for pushing material off finished surfaces. However, if the material needs to be collected — such as scooping up and removing dirt from a street — the sweeper is a better option. Dirt and other debris are collected in the sweeper and then dumped in a truck or other appropriate location. Bobcat offers an optional gutter brush for use on the sweeper, which makes it even easier to clean along curbs, buildings and other hard-to-reach areas. “Many work permits require a dust abatement plan,” says Zent. “A water kit is available for both the angle broom and sweeper to help control dust on the jobsite.”

Snow removal

Most landscapers are working year-round, removing snow in the winter months. Zent suggests that landscapers don’t just outfit their pickup trucks, but use their fleet of compact loaders and attachments to clear snow as well.

The angle broom, snow blade and snow pusher all move snow out of the way. When snow needs to be completely removed, snow blowers with truck-loading chutes can load snow into dump trucks. The snow V-blade is useful for clearing deep snow and has five blade positions — angled left or right, straight, angled in the middle as a V-blade and scoop. The versatility of the snow V-blade quickly removes snow. Scrapers break up packed snow or ice from sidewalks or parking lots. Spreader attachments distribute salt or sand for traction on cleared areas.

The number of attachments available for landscapers may seem overwhelming — we’ve listed more than 30 here. We’ve also mentioned nearly 20 common landscaping tasks that take up labor and time. The more attachments in a landscaper’s fleet, the more productive a contractor can become. “Landscapers who use multiple attachments on their jobs are able to do more with the labor force they have,” says Zent. “Instead of having a crew of five dedicated to one job, a landscaper can have a crew of two and a crew of three on separate jobs, and with a compact loader with attachments, those two crews will do twice as much work as a single crew.”

Consider the carrier

While attachments make compact loaders into versatile machines, landscapers need to consider what type of loader is best suited to the job.

Landscape contractors who perform most of their work on established properties may want to use a mini track loader. The small size of this loader allows landscapers to get between narrow passages between houses or go through gates and mechanize tasks that would otherwise have to be performed by hand. Since the loader has tracks, it can work with minimal damage to the turf, which is the biggest complaint landscapers have about using equipment. When turf is disturbed, more time is spent on the job and it is less profitable.

Sod layer attachments quickly install large sod rolls.

If access isn’t an issue, the landscaper may prefer a compact track loader because it has a higher-rated operating capacity and is more powerful than a mini track loader. The tracks will minimize turf damage. “Many landscapers like to use compact track loaders because the tracks allow work to continue when it’s raining or if the ground is muddy,” says Bryan Zent, marketing manager for Bobcat Company.

Zent says that the best option for landscapers is the all-wheel steer loader, an exclusive of Bobcat. This loader can be used two ways — as a skid-steer loader with wheels locked in place or with four steerable axles. When used in skid-steer mode, the loader can turn within its own length, easily maneuvering in tight areas. In the all-wheel steer mode, the wheels turn like a wheel loader and do not damage the turf and do not mark up concrete or asphalt on the street. Concrete and asphalt are abrasive to tires and tracks, and the all-wheel steer mode lessens the wear on the tires. “Many contractors are moving from the street to the turf, and the all-wheel steer loader moves best over both surfaces,” says Zent.