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Growers need tough hard-working machines to get the job done. Whether you are managing the complexities of a greenhouse to make sure you deliver your poinsettias for Christmas or you are a nursery ensuring your product is ready at the right moment to deliver to customers for the spring season, you rely on your hard-working equipment and team to hit those deadlines.
Check out these equipment ideas to streamline efficiency so you can rock your production and hit those numbers.
The STILT.PRO GROUND GRINDER soil mixer machines give you the freedom to make a custom soil mix to your specific plants needs in house. The simple design of the unit ensures many years of use. The equipment gives you:
The STILT.PRO model is ideal for operations that are wanting to run batches 200 one-gallon containers or about 67 three-gallon containers. Mixing time is about three to five minutes.
Literally the workhorse of the business, reliable tractors and wagons are versatile and give you means to move plants to and from the field, load material into soil mixing machines, grade lanes, dig trenches and accomplish most any task you can imagine.
A machine like the John Deere 3 Series has the reliability and the available attachments to do any job you need on the nursery.
There are many methods for weed control. A relatively new solution is the application of PBH rice hulls as a mulch on top of your containers. PBH rice hulls are certified organic, they are renewable, and they reduce your dependence on chemicals weed control. Your customers are becoming more eco conscious and this is a good way to work towards that. For large nurseries, a good piece of equipment to have around is the STILT.PRO SHORTSHOT Rice Hull Blower. This machine is easily 4 times as fast as hand application of rice hulls in a container nursery.
Big operation or small, A properly designed irrigation system is critical to the success of your operation. Any gaps in watering, especially during propagation, seeding or during the summer heat can easily result in devastating crop loss. Growing concern over water scarcity in the US is putting more pressure on efficient use of water. A good independent backup system is a must and a PTO Water Pump is an easy insurance policy for your operation. Make sure to setup a test schedule to periodically run the pump to make sure it will be working when you most need it. When things go wrong, small issues can quickly compound and make a situation much worse.
Battery technology has come a long way and there are some inexpensive homeowner models that are quite well suited for nurseries and greenhouses. A good example is the rechargeable STIHL HSA 45. These rechargeable trimmers have the added benefit of being LIGHTER than gas counterparts which helps to reduce operator fatigue for those long days of trimming. They are inexpensive to replace should it fall off a trailer. You do not have to service the engine, but don’t forget to oil the blade clean and disinfect your pruning tools to prevent the spread of pathogens.
Organization is key for quick access to the tools you need, when you need it. You should plan out an organizational system for your work areas, whether they a shop or a wagon dedicated to a specific task. Don’t forget to build in the systems required for prepping and cleaning and storing your valuable equipment. There are endless options for custom storage, you may need to experiment a little. Don’t sell yourself short, your team may be best suited to build the organization system as they are the day-to-day users of this equipment. A good system will pay off in increased efficiency when people find what they need, when they need. A good technique is to use the 5S workplace organization methodology.
The best nursery and greenhouse equipment, like the Ground Grinder and tractor and wagon, will streamline your process and help build on your success.
Click below to check out STILT.PROs collection of landscape equipment now.
3 Year, Unlimited Hours Warranty – INCLUDED
Includes: Problem identification, remote trouble shooting of issue, support and instruction for proper repair, and providing replacement of failed parts.
Excludes – Misuse of equipment (including using non horticultural potting mixes with high sand and field soil content) or improper care, such as leaving fertilizer in machine for an extended period of time. Wear parts (chain, slats, wear plates or surfaces). External physical damage inflicted on the machine. Labor repair costs.
Yes, we keep inventory of most all parts. Most all of the components are either US Sourced or a common off the shelf component. We are having some supply chain issues on components, but we are working through the best way to manage that.
All of our machines are designed right here in the US. We design these machines to be easily repairable by an inexperienced worker. Should a problem arise, you won’t need to weld or fabricate a new part. The entire machine is bolted together and you can simply bolt in a replacement part.
We have heard that concern, I get it, you won’t be able to load a machine up and let a person pot plants for a day.
Some perspective – The rear load machine holds about 3/4 – 1 cubic yard which is up to about 200 gallons of material. That gives you about 15 minutes of runtime without stopping.
The reason for the smaller equipment size is to primarily keep the price and complexity down.
-Increase horsepower requirements which means increased power – now you have to have dedicated power for the machine.
-Increasing the hopper size also increases the physical size of the machine which increases the overall cost and reduces portability
You may have not made a purchase on a potting machine in the past because of the overall cost.
From time to time, we hear that our production rates appear slow. Look at it this way though. You have 5 or 10 workers running a high-speed line. SOMETHING GOES WRONG, you now have all these people standing around and/or you need to find a different job for them.
If you have a machine problem with a high-speed line you’re completely shut down. With a cell-based design, you have a small part of the potting operation down. Your efficiency is similar whether you have 1 or 4 people operating STILT.PRO machines.
Help shape our future and be the first to know about new products