While homeowners and developers may be developing vastly different spaces, both groups seem to have a similar goal: to create a landscape that feels like an “outdoor living space” and extend their interior design from the living room to the backyard.
Inspired by Pinterest and Instagram projects, homeowners and contractors alike want a plan to transform their landscapes into living areas by changing terrains, removing trees, and installing utility lines or LED lights. Your customers vie for the ability to create their own outdoor oasis. But many of these customers don’t know where to begin. As a rental business, you are often one of the first steps towards the creation of a new outdoor living space.
What Are Outdoor Living Spaces?
Outside living trends emphasize stylish, functional outdoor spaces for relaxing, dining, and entertaining — blending nature with comfort, sustainability, and modern design aesthetics. While every customer’s preferences will differ, here homeowners and/or hardscaping contractors may very well be interested in:
- Removing obstacles
- Adding irrigation
- Electric installation for lighting
- Add structures like pergolas, decks, or patios
In the equipment business, we’ve experienced many more homeowners or landscapers looking for affordable equipment that will help to complete tasks involved in crafting unique outdoor living spaces. The size and scope of the project will always affect a rental’s recommendations for equipment and support solutions.
When a landscaper has all the details from a homeowner or property manager, they can talk to their trusted equipment rental business for specific recommendations. In my experience, two compact but powerful machines are usually selected for these types of projects: pedestrian trenchers and stump cutters. These machines can be compact yet powerful tools for cost-conscious customers.
Why Trenchers and Stump Cutters?
Both trenchers and stump cutters are great options for the installation of underground utilities like LED lights or water lines and clear old or dying trees. Here’s a quick review of these two machines.
Walk-behind trenchers are ideal for digging narrow trenches for irrigation systems, electrical lines, or drainage pipes. It allows precise control and is suitable for residential or small commercial projects where space is limited.
After removing trees, the stump cutter grinds down the remaining stumps to below ground level, a crucial smoothing step for other elements like gardens or decks.
Both these machines should help your customers to prepare the site for new installations that make an outdoor living space possible. In fact, landscapers whom we’ve partnered with said these machines are particularly useful in transforming previously wooded areas into an accessible space.
RDO Equipment Co.
Stump Cutters: Quickly Transforming Terrains
Stump cutters can increase an operator’s day-to-day productivity, quickly removing stumps without the additional wood chip clean-up work. Stump cutters are designed to reduce downtime with more fuel capacity and chip containment.
When looking at adding a new stump cutter to your fleet, consider features such as:
- Large fuel capacity, look for 18+ gallons
- Large chip containment, often represented in feet
- Cutting adjustability — find a dependable linkage system to increase cutting height, depth, and straight-line width to grind at more angles
- A four-wheel drive and differential lock should help operators run machines on rough terrain with minimal ground distribution
- Intelligent control systems should be designed to handle higher torques without causing extra wear and tear while providing wheel rate to help create a consistent cut
- Integrated safety systems — machines that can detect an operator's presence decrease potential risks
Walk-behind Trenchers: Versatile Utility Installers
A pedestrian or walk-behind trencher can work on multiple terrains, soil types, and textures. These trenchers have "no tool needed" access to serviceable components, making maintenance easier for operators at any level of experience.
When looking at adding a new pedestrian trencher, consider features such as:
- Different teeth options — Cupping teeth are designed to scoop materials, while rotary cutters break up rocks
- Soil chains work best with cupping teeth
- Rock chains work best with rotary cutters, which have carbide-tipped teeth
- An intuitive and responsive control/steering system
Finally, rentals should search out an equipment dealer they can trust. A good dealer will be able to partner with you to ensure you have the right assets to take advantage this growing segment of outdoor lifestyle seekers and find the machines required to make a customer's dream come true.
