RDO Equipment’s Mark Rieckhoff Explains How Landscapers Can Embrace Creating Outdoor Living Spaces

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. Husbands, housewives and company heads want a plan to transform their landscapes into living areas by changing terrains, removing trees and installing utility lines or LED lights. As younger generations are becoming homeowners, inspired by Pinterest or Instagram projects, they vie for the ability to create their own outdoor oasis. But many of these customers don’t know where to begin. Landscapers and tree work professionals can partner with these types of customers to take the first steps towards creating new outdoor living spaces.

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 are few steps homeowners or property managers may request:

1. Design functional spaces, remove obstacles, add irrigation
2. Use effective lighting for spring and summer dining
3. 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 always affect a dealer’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 dealer 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 landscapers.

Why Select Trenchers and Stump Cutters?

Both Vermeer’s RTX250 trencher and Stump Cutter (SC) 1052 are great options for completing the tasks most often associated with creating outdoor living spaces. Landscapers usually need to install 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: This tool is 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. 
• Stump cutters: 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 help landscapers to prepare the site for new installations that make an outdoor living space possible. In fact, landscapers who we’ve partnered with said these machines are particularly useful in transforming previously wooded areas into an accessible space. Let’s take a closer look at the RTX250 and SC1052 models.

Stump Cutters: Quickly Transforming Terrains

Landscapers usually opt for these machines because they 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. Consider SC1052’s features that landscapers should consider:

• Larger fuel capacity, 18-plus gallons, and chip containment, additional 28 ft of containment
• 4-bar linkage system increases cutting height, depth and straight-line width to grind at more angles
• Four-wheel drive and differential lock, so operators can run machines on rough terrain with minimal ground distribution
• Vermeer cutting system (VCS) and SmartSweep control system are designed to handle higher torques without causing extra wear and tear
• The SmartSweep control system tracks the cutter’s wheel rate, so operators create a consistent cut
• Operator Presence System decreases potential risks, increasing operator safety

Walk-Behind Trenchers: Versatile Utility Installers

Vermeer’s Pedestrian trencher, 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. Consider RTX250’s features that landscapers should consider:

• Different teeth options: cupping teeth scoops 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
• VZ steering system, intuitive and responsive trencher controls 

A trusted dealer partners with landscapers looking to capture the attention of this growing segment of outdoor lifestyle seekers. Together, landscapers and equipment dealers will acquire the machines required to make these customers’ dreams come true. Before talking with the next homeowner or property manager, consider reaching out to a dealer like RDO, who can not only provide the equipment but also the training to equip your business for success.

Mark Rieckhoff is the regional sales manager for the Vermeer division of RDO Equipment Co.