What’s Hot? Expanding Your Equipment Versatility

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Because of this, tool carriers and attachments are not only playing a bigger role in the traditional landscaping market, but also with tree service contractors specializing in land clearing. All it takes is investing in the right tool carrier, such as a skid-steer loader, compact track loader, mini track loader, or utility work machine, and then the attachments that fit the services you offer, says Rob Otterson, landscaping marketing manager for Bobcat Company.

“Why use shovels, rakes, and wheelbarrows when a tool carrier and combination of attachments can save on manual labor and increase productivity?” Otterson asks.

Just as customers can choose from many varieties of perennials and types of paving stone, a landscaper has a wealth of options when it comes to attachments. From stump grinders and chippers to soil conditioners and seeders, tree care specialists are finding that attachments like these can take them from land clearing to the finishing touches, much like in traditional landscaping.

Rotary Cutter
One of the many advantages of using compact equipment and a variety of attachments is that they afford you the opportunity to be selective when removing trees, Otterson says. The rotary cutter is one of the first attachments you might utilize to cut through the toughest grass and brush, and mulch small branches and saplings up to 3 in. Rotary cutter attachments come in 60-in. and 90-in. cutting widths, work in forward and reverse, and have double-edged blades. Maneuverability also isn’t a problem because of a full-width tapered rear roller that allows more turning ability during operation.

When dealing with any cutting or grinding attachment, safety is always important. Safety features may vary from one brand to another, but you should look for such standards as a blade shut-off device that stops blade rotation when the cutter is raised off the ground and an easy-to-open cover that provides component and hose protection, Otterson says.

Flail Cutter
Among the several options landscapers have to cut and mulch grass and brush is the flail cutter attachment. Similar to the rotary cutter, the flail cutter can mulch small branches and saplings up to 3 inches in diameter, but it cuts the brush with rotating hammers instead of blades. Instead of using thrashers or other hand tools to cut down brush along lakefront property, trails, ditches, and construction sites, a flail cutter attachment can cut and mulch while spreading the material evenly. The rotating hammers on the flail cutter cut vertically so debris is thrown on the ground rather than out to the side where it could potentially hit another object.

Brush Saw
An attachment you might not think of is the brush saw. The brush saw uses a 28-in.-diameter, high-tensile blade with replaceable weld-on carbide teeth to cut through brush and small trees up to 15 ft. tall, which allows you to selectively remove some trees while leaving others. With its manual, three-position boom angle, the brush saw has the ability to cut beyond the mounting frame of the saw when angled left. And there’s no need to worry about protruding stumps because the brush saw cuts trees and brush flush with the ground or slightly below ground level. For tackling larger trees and stumps, Otterson suggests cutting down the tree and then using the chipper and stump grinder attachments.

Root Grapple
The root grapple attachment removes roots, brush, rocks, and other debris while leaving dirt behind. No longer will landscapers have to worry about dirt weighing down loads when clearing brush and overgrowth on jobsites. The attachment’s rugged, skeletal design allows dirt to fall between the teeth, thus minimizing topsoil removal. The Bobcat® root grapple is available in 72- and 82-in. widths and has curved teeth that enable operators to scoop material without plunging the grapple into the ground.

Stump Grinder
The stump grinder attachment is becoming a more recognized tool among landscapers. In fact, Otterson says Bobcat has recently seen a substantial growth in stump grinder attachment usage in this market. After cutting down trees for their customers, landscapers are often left with unsightly stumps protruding from the ground. In order to offer their customers a complete package, more and more landscapers are providing stump-grinding services. With the two models of Bobcat stump grinder attachments, landscapers can mount the attachments to the front of their loader or utility work machine to quickly remove tree stumps. The attachments have 11- and 32-in. cutting widths, allowing better access to a variety of stump sizes. The tool is mounted at a 90-degree angle to the operator for increased visibility to the cutting area, giving the operator the same wide view as a pull-behind stump grinder.

Chipper
Instead of buying a dedicated pull-type chipper whose size poses problems when trying to gain access to back yards and remote areas, contractors can turn to a chipper attachment. Otterson says landscapers can outfit their loader with a Bobcat chipper attachment that can reduce branch volume 10-to-1 with its 35 hp of chipping performance. Operators can load the tree branches from either the front or right side of the chipper, accommodating any location. The attachment has a standard hydraulic feed that allows the feed roller to move branches into the chipper at a consistent speed, so the operator can work safely and efficiently. Depending on the model, the chipper attachment produces material from 3- to 5-inches in diameter. The processed material is then blown out of the 360-degree discharge chute, allowing operators to place the material where they want it.

Landscape Rake
Whereas land-clearing attachments might be more commonly used in open areas, attachments such as the landscape rake are typically used in developed areas after construction. If you’re planning to seed a property, you can use the landscape rake to leave a smooth, level seeding surface. In just one pass, this attachment is able to do work that would take hours for a crew of several to complete by hand. It grades, levels, and scarifies in close quarters, breaking up lumpy soil and picking up rocks as small as 3/4 in. A hydraulic cylinder opens the top cover on the Bobcat landscape rake for easier dumping, and it also allows the bucket and cutting edge to be used to push and scrape debris. The rake bars have longer ground contact to provide better leveling, Otterson says. Adjustable side skis provide accurate depth control for better seed and sod placement.

Soil Conditioner
The soil conditioner can also be used to create a smooth, soft bed for laying sod, Otterson says. The versatile attachment can be used to knock down ruts on a jobsite. Its forward and reverse raking action grades and levels topsoil and windrows, and separates rocks and other debris. It’s a cost-effective tool no landscaping crew should be without, Otterson says. Rather than tearing old sod out with a shovel, a soil conditioner attached to the front of a loader or utility work machine can do the job faster. On the Bobcat soil conditioner attachment, a roller bar follows ground contours and a flip-up front bolster lets you get close to buildings and save space during transport.

Seeder
After leveling the ground, you can follow up with a new seeder attachment for your tool carrier. The seeder is a ground-driven unit that seeds directly into the soil for better germination and more accurate coverage than a broadcast seeder. The front roller firms and presses the seed into the top half-inch of the seedbed, while the rear roller ensures optimum seed-to-soil contact. Otterson says the 72-in. Bobcat seeder will easily handle most types of turf grass. It features a variable seeding rate, but he says landscapers can expect to see production rates of two acres per hour.

Tree Spade
Like with tree care specialists, the tree spade is one of the more commonly used attachments by landscapers. The tree spade lets an operator dig, transplant, or package a tree without leaving the cab of the loader. The attachment has an open design for easy access to trees, and overlapping blades that cut roots cleanly and support the root ball. Otterson says the tree spade eliminates the backbreaking manual labor that accompanies digging the hole with a shovel. Bobcat manufactures four models of tree spades whose compact, short tower designs are able to squeeze between closely planted trees and whose rugged, reinforced frame is built to handle the bumps and bruises. The tree spade has adjustable legs with four digging sizes to handle a variety of jobs. For easy maintenance, the attachment also has adjustable slides that don’t require greasing and are rust-resistant.

From start to finish, Otterson says pairing a tool carrier with a variety of attachments can allow contractors to tackle almost any job. By interchanging attachments, a skid-steer loader can go from a brush chipper to a stump grinder, and then to a seeder. Whether you’re a traditional landscaper or a tree care specialist who has started to take on more landscaping tasks, you can eliminate manual labor and save time by owning the right compact equipment and attachments.