The landscaping industry is vital for the care and maintenance of any outdoor space for residential and commercial properties. As a professional landscaper, your ability to perform your job efficiently and effectively relies heavily on a wide variety of tools and equipment. Your landscaping equipment needs to be in excellent condition so that it doesn’t hamper your business operations. This is why it’s so important to maintain your landscaping equipment properly.
Having a proactive equipment maintenance plan is essential to helping you adhere to your company’s mission. You need a well-functioning set of landscaping equipment pieces so your crew can successfully perform each job. Proper maintenance will also help you maximize the lifespan of each piece of equipment and spare you from time-consuming and costly repairs.
Because the upkeep of your tools and equipment is so crucial to the success of your business, be sure to follow these landscaping equipment care tips.
Create a preventive maintenance schedule
Keeping up with regular landscaping equipment maintenance may seem like a tedious task, especially when you have several items to maintain. This can make it difficult for you to keep track or even realize when something is broken. Whether or not you have a maintenance system or any backup solutions in place, you need to remember that broken equipment can negatively impact your business and may result in delays in your operations.
The last thing you want is the need to bring your business to a sudden halt because a piece of equipment has stopped working. This is why a preventative maintenance schedule is so important. Creating a preventive maintenance schedule allows you to stay on top of your equipment's health so you can avoid any downtime on the job whenever possible.
Conduct routine inspections regularly
While preventive maintenance is key to ensuring your equipment stays in good condition, conducting routine inspections is equally important. Keep your landscaping equipment in tip-top shape by making it a habit to perform daily checks. This step will help keep you informed of your equipment's status and identify potential problems that need to be addressed.
You may want to consider using landscaping equipment inspection apps to help your team inspect each piece of equipment more efficiently. Instead of going through the tedious process of using paper forms, your team can conduct efficient inspections with just a few clicks and swipes if you utilize technology. Using maintenance software is also an efficient way to monitor and keep track of any problems that arise.
Promote team collaboration
Keeping your landscaping equipment in tip-top shape isn’t a one-person job. It requires the collaboration of your entire team so you can most effectively identify and resolve any issues with your equipment before they escalate to bigger problems.
Be sure to promote collaboration among your team members regarding the upkeep of your tools and equipment. Stay connected, and be sure to communicate tasks and gather updates. Encourage cooperation and work together so that everyone stays on the same page when it comes to everything related to your machinery and equipment. Ensure that everyone is equally responsible for taking good care of your landscaping equipment because, at the end of the day, efficiently working equipment can impact both your team’s and your company’s success.
Create a preventative checklist
When it comes to landscaping equipment maintenance, a checklist will come in handy to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks and all vital components of your equipment are inspected. Here’s a list of some of the things that should be part of your checklist:
- Oil and filters. Your lawn mower is one of the most essential pieces of your equipment in order to accomplish your landscaping jobs. To make sure your mower stays in good condition, it’s imperative to check the oil and filters regularly. The last thing you want is to deal with an engine failure because you failed to check and refill the oil when needed.
- Air filters. A clean air filter is also vital for reducing dirt and increasing air circulation. There are various types of air filters for different mowers. You can check out Mow More’s website to find the filter that will best suit your needs.
- Belt condition. Belts are relatively inexpensive components of your equipment, but they can result in costly downtime if they’re not replaced when they’re broken or worn out.
- Tire pressure. Your equipment’s tire pressure is another important thing you need to monitor. Make sure your pressure is kept at the proper levels at all times to ensure efficiency and performance.
- Blades. Sharp and balanced blades are critical, not only to your job efficiency but also to the life of your machine. Make sure your blades are always sharp and in good condition. Have them replaced when necessary.
Running a successful commercial landscaping company involves the regular upkeep of your landscaping equipment. Your tools and pieces of equipment are your partners for getting the job done and ensuring a smooth business operation. Be sure to follow these tips to make sure all your equipment stays in good shape.
Here at Mow More, we provide professional landscapers with high-quality tools and all of the parts you need for your landscaping business. Visit our website to learn more.