Features Sports turf Turf Care Equipment
Getting the most bang for your buck

There’s no doubt about it. If you’re a sports turf manager, you’re operating on a tight budget. That’s why you have to make sure that you’re getting the most bang for your buck when it comes to the equipment you buy. Understanding what the best all-purpose pieces of equipment are for maintaining athletic fields is critical for producing a winning season when it comes to behind-the-scenes performance.

Compact utility tractors
Getting into the right compact utility tractor is the first step for any sports turf manager who needs a truly versatile piece of equipment or who has a multi-field property. If you’re with a municipality or a larger complex and equipment needs to be taken from site to site, a compact tractor doesn’t have to be trucked from one location to the next. It’s also simply one of the best multi-purpose pieces of equipment that you’re going to find for the job that you need to do.

What do you need to consider when purchasing a compact tractor? Here are the top characteristics in order of importance:

• Horsepower. Look at the big picture and determine whether you’re going to need more than just one implement over time. If so, you’ll want to get a tractor with an engine that has at least 40-45 horsepower. Even if your budget won’t allow you to get all of the implements that you think you’ll need at once, it’s important to start with the right foundation – enough horsepower to be able to power all of the implements that you may be buying in the future.
• Turf tires. A good set of turf tires will give you flotation over your fields without disturbing the turf and leaving any tire marks.
• Hydrostatic transmission. A hydrostatic transmission makes a tractor versatile and easy to drive for multiple users. You can also easily go from forward to reverse with a touch of a pedal.
• Turning radius. Knowing the turning radius of the tractor you’re thinking about buying is crucial. Go into the buying process knowing how much room you have on your fields so that you don’t waste time looking at models that won’t be compatible.
• Cab. A cab may seem like a luxury, but depending on where you are and how much time you’re spending on your tractor, you may find that it’s a necessity. It allows you to have air conditioning in the summer, and if you’re using it in all four seasons, heat in the winter.

Implements
When thinking about implements for your compact tractor, it’s best to have a plan for the order in which you’re going to buy them. This means starting with the most all-purpose pieces and then getting more specialized as you can purchase more.

• Flexwing finish mower. Most sports fields need a flexwing mower. It’s the best and most efficient way to maintain the turf. You can get up to 204 inches wide, which means cutting 17 feet of grass in one pass. That’s time savings that’s well worth the investment. It also makes for a very manicured cut so you can get nice striping as you go.
• Overseeder. With many municipalities having pesticide bans in place, field maintenance is limited to what can be used for controlling weeds. The thicker you can keep your turfgrass, the easier it is to block the sun from the soil to prevent weeds from taking hold. If you overseed your turf a couple of times a year, it will save quite a bit of money in the long run when it comes to weed control.
• Cultipacker. A cultipacker is used to achieve optimal seeding. It can smooth the ground, remove air pockets and ensure good seed-to-soil contact for a lush turf throughout the season.

When you’re buying implements, you’ll want to make sure that any parts that are moving on the equipment are readily available from your local supplier or dealer. That way, you can either service your equipment yourself or take it to the dealer for a quick turnaround. Quality products are all about self-sufficiency for the user, so you can perform maintenance and get back to work as soon as possible.

Zero turn radius mowers
If you’re on a tight budget and can’t justify buying a compact tractor, a zero turn radius mower (ZTR) is another piece of equipment that you’ll want to consider – especially if you have a site with just one sports field. With their speed and variety of deck widths, you can knock down the grass on the field itself and then use it for all the trim work that you need to do along the fences and around the parking lot.

Here are the top considerations when buying a zero turn mower:

• Ease of use and safety. Because you may have employees with different skill levels operating a ZTR, you’ll need it to be as easy to use, intuitive and as safe as possible. That means being able to operate the mower from the seat. There shouldn’t have to be any getting up to raise or lower the deck height or to engage the blade.
• Ergonomics. If you or an employee are going to be sitting on a ZTR for six to eight hours a day, you’ll want a high-back comfort seat or something that’s going to help prevent any jarring or impacts that your body will have to endure. You’ll also want to make sure that it can fit different body types if you have multiple employees using the ZTR. This can be dependent on how the seat can be adjusted and how the control panel is configured.
• Ground speed. A traveling speed of eight to 10 mph is ideal, so that your ZTR will let you work as efficiently as possible.
• Deck width. Get the widest deck that you can while keeping in mind maneuverability off the field when cutting around fences and other obstacles. A deck width of 48 to 60 inches is recommended, but again, you’ll need to confirm what will work for your field.
• Fuel capacity. Once the machine’s out on the far end of a field, it shouldn’t be running low on fuel. That’s why large fuel capacity is essential. You want to make sure that you can carry enough fuel for the ZTR to run for the day.

Multi-purpose equipment is the key
Having the right multi-purpose equipment on hand is the key to any winning athletic field – no matter your budget. Keeping these recommendations in mind will help to set you and the teams that you work for up for success.

Andrew McCorkindale is territory manager for KIOTI Tractor in Ontario and Western Canada. KIOTI supplies equipment to the U.S. and Canadian markets and offers a full line of compact tractors, utility vehicles and zero turn mowers for residential and commercial use.