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Win the Weekend With Efficient Lawncare

August 24, 2023

Most people want to take a little time off after a busy work week, but that can be tough if you feel the pressure to spend most of the weekend working in your yard. It’s a good feeling to drive up to a great-looking lawn, keep your property value high, and even help the environment by maintaining your lawn. But just because you want a nice lawn doesn’t mean your entire weekend has to be spent on outdoor chores. 

If you want to save time and effort, make sure you’ve got the right equipment for each outdoor job. Here’s a quick rundown of some of our best lawn and outdoor equipment to make quick work of every task so there’s plenty of time left over to enjoy your weekend. 

a man standing next to a yellow lawn mower.

Cultivator

A cultivator is a lightweight, compact, and powerful tool that allows to prep almost any type of soil. It works perfectly for loosening the soil in existing planting areas, weeding, or mixing compost into the soil. If you’ve struggled in the past trying to work the soil in tight spaces, a cultivator is just what you need, making it a snap to get in and out of small areas, work alongside a fence, or till near delicate plants. 

A cultivator’s rotating tines break  up compacted surfaces and preparing the ground for planting. Whether you’re creating new garden beds or rejuvenating existing ones, using a cultivator will save you a ton of time and effort.

Rear and Front Tine Tillers

Rear and front tine tillers are essential for larger gardening projects. Rear tine tillers provide maximum power and stability, making them ideal for breaking up tough, untouched soil like when you’re preparing a brand new area for a garden. A depth gauge helps you maintain a consistent depth of soil as you work, in addition to providing balance. Many have self-propelled tires so all you need to do is guide the tiller while it muscles through tough terrain.

Front tine tillers offer increased maneuverability for smaller areas and lighter jobs such as weeding or aerating or preparing your garden soil. Variable tilling width and adjustable tilling depth are especially helpful when you want to go from tilling to planting as quickly as possible. With rear and front tine tillers, you can prepare any kind of soil efficiently and effectively.

String Trimmer

After you mow, you’re going to need to trim the parts of your lawn and garden that your mower can’t reach. A string trimmer, also known as a weed eater or a weed whacker adds a neat, finishing touch to a freshly cut lawn. Gas-powered trimmers are ergonomic, lightweight, and can help you get the manicured look you want for your lawn. 

A string trimmer is a versatile tool for efficiently trimming grass, weeds, and overgrown areas. The handle should be ergonomically designed for comfortable maneuverability and precise cutting in hard-to-reach places. The string offers increased visibility plus it allows you to bring the trimmer head closer to ground level for increased precision in tight spaces. You’ll notice an enhanced sense of balance and leverage as you maneuver this type of trimmer around your yard. No more long hours spent hunched over with a handheld trimmer for you! Get used to a more efficient and enjoyable trimming experience.

Walk-Behind Lawn Edger

If you want to take your property from overgrown to professionally edged in no time, you need a walk-behind lawn edger. For clean and professional-looking edges along sidewalks, driveways, and flower beds, it’s a game-changer. 

You’ll get a powerful blade and adjustable cutting depth, so you can create precise boundaries and give your lawn that well-manicured finish. Need to edge along a curb? No worries. A curb hop wheel adjustment is the perfect feature to make edging along the curb a pleasure instead of a pain. Cutting depth settings let you choose the depth of edge you need, while a blade bevel angle adjustment is handy when you want to create decorative edging along beds of mulch or flower beds. 

Say goodbye to the tedious task of manual edging and hello to a beautifully defined lawn.

Walk-Behind or Backpack Leaf Blower

Tackling leaves and debris can be a big job during fall, but anytime you’ve been mowing, tilling, cultivating, weeding, trimming, or edging, there’s going to be leftover debris that needs to be taken care of. 

Having a leaf blower handy can transform an hour-long raking or bagging chore into a simple 15-minute task. Backpack blowers and walk-behind blowers are excellent tools for moving large volumes of garden and yard debris quickly. If you leave your rake in the garage and choose a blower, you can be sure you’ll save your back and have time left over for other things you want to do. 

Investing in a walk-behind or backpack leaf blower will transform the way you handle this chore. These powerful blowers make quick work of clearing leaves from your lawn, driveways, and pathways, saving you time and energy. With adjustable speeds and easy maneuverability, you’ll be able to control the airflow and efficiently clear your outdoor spaces.

Gear Up

By equipping yourself with the right tools, such as a tiller cultivator, rear and front tine tillers, a curved shaft trimmer, a walk-behind lawn edger, and a walk-behind or backpack leaf blower, you can take your lawn care game to the next level. With increased efficiency and practicality, these pieces of equipment will help you accomplish your yard work quickly and effectively, ultimately freeing up more time for you to relax and enjoy your weekends. So, gear up and get ready to conquer your lawn care tasks like a true pro. Your weekends will never be the same again!

Maintaining and Storing Your Equipment

Now that you’re equipped with everything you need to have a great-looking lawn, don’t forget to maintain your equipment well so it will be ready to operate when you need it. 

If your equipment has a 2-stroke engine, remember this: Premix. Make sure you never mix the oil and fuel in the product’s fuel tank. Read the manufacturer’s directions carefully and always premix the oil and fuel in a separate container first, then add the mixture to the fuel tank on the product. 

If your equipment has a 4-stroke engine like the walk-behind edger, you will not mix oil and gasoline. Follow the directions in your owner’s manual for adding oil and fuel separately, and after use, be sure to store your equipment the right way to save yourself time and trouble later on. 

Before storing your equipment for an extended time, either drain the fuel or use a fuel-stabilizing additive. If you’re getting equipment out of storage in the springtime, do a spring check-up of all your equipment in case you stored your tools with gasoline in the engine. Gasoline sitting in an engine for an extended time can cause issues with your equipment, so it may not be ready to go when you need it. 

Depending on the type of equipment, you may also need to check the oil and change it before the beginning of the season. If your equipment has an air filter, take the time to clean, inspect it, and replace it if necessary. 

Do your tools have pull cords? If you’ve ever experienced a pull cord breaking when you’re ready to get down to work, you know how frustrating that can be. Pull out all your cords periodically and inspect the entire length. Check for cuts, breaks, or fraying. Save yourself time and trouble later by replacing the cord immediately if you notice any damage.

Check your edger blades to make sure they’re sharp and mounted correctly, and be sure your trimmer spool has plenty of string. It’s also wise to check your tools to be sure all the bolts and fasteners are tight.

Stock Up and Maintain

Stocking up on and maintaining the best lawn and garden equipment is the smart way to simplify all your outdoor tasks and be confident you’ll win the weekend every time.  

 

Camping Essentials in 2023: Portable Power Stations

August 11, 2023

The need to keep our electronic gadgets constantly charged grows as they become increasingly ingrained into our daily lives. But we can’t take the electricity grid with us. Portable power stations are the ideal way to keep us… well, powered up! These days power stations add enough convenience to justify adding one of these to your everyday  life as well.   

a yellow and black machine sitting in the trunk of a car.

The type and size of portable power station you’ll want depends on your specific needs and use cases. If you frequently go camping, engage in outdoor activities, experience power outages, or need a reliable power backup for your devices, a portable power station can be a valuable investment. They also offer the convenience of portable power without the noise and emissions of traditional generators, meaning you can safely use them inside.

Benefits of Portable Power Stations:

  • Portability: As the name suggests, these power stations are designed to be easily moved around, making them ideal for camping, outdoor activities, or emergency situations.
  • Renewable Energy: Many portable power stations can be converted to solar generators through the addition of solar panels, allowing for eco-friendly power generation.
  • Quiet and Emission-Free: Unlike traditional generators, portable power stations are quiet and produce no harmful emissions, making them more environmentally friendly and you can safely use them indoors!
  • Multiple Charging Options: They come equipped with various charging options (household wall outlets (AC), automotive-style ports or solar panels (DC)).
  • Backup Power: Portable power stations serve as reliable backup power sources during power outages at home or when camping in remote areas without access to electricity.
  • Built-in Inverter: power stations have built-in inverters, converting DC power to AC power, enabling you to run AC-powered devices and appliances with pure sine wave electricity.

 Champion Power Stations

The Champion Power Equipment Portable Power Station line features compact, feature-rich portable backup battery solutions ideal for RVing and camping, tailgating, work sites, or as a backup generator in case of an emergency.

 There are 2 distinct ports on a power station:

  1. INPUT: these ports allow the power station itself to charge
  2. OUTPUT: these allow the power station to send power to other items – like recharging your personal devices, or powering a TV

Champion Power Station Features:

  • Long-Lasting: Since there is no engine, no moving parts and no pollutants, the advanced li-ion technology provides long-lasting, fade-free power that you can use inside.
  • High-Speed Charging: Use AC or solar power alone to quickly charge your battery to 80% in just a few hours or combine solar and AC power to charge even quicker.
  • Expandable: When powering your house, office, or other space, you may increase your run time by connecting up to 10 extension batteries (sold separately).
  • Parallel Ready: To increase your output power, connect your power station to a ParaLINK-capable gas-powered inverter or another Champion power station.
  • Champion Support: There is a 3-year or 1000-cycle limited warranty included, as well as FREE lifelong technical assistance from committed specialists.

All in all, owning a Champion power station for any outdoor adventures is a wise investment. It not only keeps your appliances and electronics functioning during power outages, but it also gives you peace of mind in the case of an emergency.

Hurricane Season Readiness: What You Should Do Now

June 1, 2023

Hurricane season is upon us, and with it comes the potential for power outages. When a hurricane strikes, you want to be sure that you, your home, and, most importantly, your family are prepared. The best way to ensure your safety from storm-caused power outages is to take care of important items now, while there’s still time. Here’s everything you need to know so you can be prepared.  

a satellite image of a hurricane in the middle of the night.

Plan Ahead

Evacuation Plan: Make sure everyone in the family knows the recommended evacuation route should an evacuation order be put in place. It’s also important to keep your gas tank full so you won’t have to wait in long lines at the pump during an emergency. 

Supplies: Keep water and other supplies on hand such as canned goods and non-perishable items. A well-stocked hurricane kit is also essential and can save you time later. Your kit should include a first-aid kit, medications, a NOAA battery-powered radio, a flashlight, extra batteries, a whistle, and don’t forget local maps in case your phone isn’t working.

Important Documents: Back up your computer and make copies of important documents like birth certificates, insurance cards, driver’s licenses, bank statements, etc. Store your copies in a secure location like a safety deposit box or another safe location outside of your home.

Prepare Your Home

Secure outdoor items like furniture, tools, grills, garbage cans, and anything else that could become airborne in strong winds. Have a professional inspect your roof and shingles to make sure they’re in good condition and are rated for high wind speeds. 

Find the Right Generator

When hurricanes strike, chances are you could be without power for days or even weeks. Having a reliable generator will provide peace of mind knowing you can charge phones, run appliances, and cool off your home when the power goes out. There are two main types of generators for hurricanes: portable and home standby.

Portable generators: A portable generator is perfect for backing up just a few essentials. You’ll be so grateful to have the ability to keep the lights on, phones charged, fridge and freezer cold, fans on, and TVs working. Portable generators come in various sizes and running capacities. Some are powered by gasoline and others by propane. If you like options, Dual Fuel generators run on either, and generators with Tri-Fuel technology have the ability to run on natural gas, gasoline, or propane. Determining which fuel type is best for you will help you select a generator. If you choose this solution, make sure you are well versed in safely operating a portable generator – far away from buildings, doors, vents and air intake openings.

Home standby generators: Home standby generators are a set-it-and-forget-it solution. This type of generator is a more powerful solution since it connects to your home’s propane or natural gas system. You’ll be able to power your whole house instead of a few select items. Plus, your home standby generator starts automatically when the power goes out and returns to standby when power is restored, ensuring security and convenience for your family during a hurricane power outage.

Implement Your Plan

Having a plan in place and implementing it early gives you the best chance of staying safe should a storm hit. Don’t let a potential power outage leave your family unprepared – prepare now. Thinking ahead and having the right equipment can help keep you, your family, and your home safe during hurricane season.

Quick Takeaways

  • Know the recommended evacuation route and keep your car’s gas tank full.
  • Keep a hurricane kit stocked with essential items including a first-aid kit, medications, a NOAA battery-powered radio, a flashlight, and extra batteries.
  • Copy important documents and store them in a secure location outside of your home.
  • Secure outdoor items and inspect your roof and shingles to ensure they are in good shape.
  • Consider getting a generator to back up your power in case of a power outage.