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7• RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OBTAINING A GREEN LAWN
• A scarifier frees a lawn of weeds and moss. This matted layer,
composed of dead plant fragments, prevents air, water and
nutrients from reaching the roots.
• After winter, the soil surface is hardened. The scarifier blades cut
into the soil, removing the matted layer. The right time to scarify
is April/May and in August/September.
• Before scarifying, the dry lawn must be mown to about 2 cm and
the mowings collected.
• The work depth is set so that the blades only go 1 to 3 millimetres
into the soil without damaging the roots.
• Continue scarifying in strips just as you normally do with the
mower.
• It is recommended to pass twice, scarifying first in one sense and
then perpendicular to this.
• Examin the plant remains removed by the scarifier. To carry out
the following assessment, you must have scarified at least once
a year. If you see that there is a majority of moss, you must do
something to stop the moss developing.
• Moss grows best in shady places or in soil that is too acidic. A
remedy for acidic soils (low pH), is to provide calcium carbonate.
Note that the pH should not exceed 6.5.
• You can then add fertilizer to the lawn to compensate for the lack
of nutrients. The simplest way is to use a mineral fertilizer. Follow
the manufacturer’s instructions for the amount. Excess fertilizer is
bad for the environment.
• In autumn, you should use fertilizer with a higher level of phos-
phorus and potassium for the lawn to pass winter.
You should always add fertilizer when the sky is overcast and not
in very hot periods or in high wind. Afterwards you should water
the lawn well.
• If the lawn is too covered with moss and weeds, an extra sowing
is needed to eliminate the bare places on the lawn.. Use a rake to
spread the seeds at a maximum depth of 1 cm. Then compact the
loose soil. Be careful when watering so that the seeds are not was-
hed away.
• You should mow the lawn regularly to 3 - 4 cm height when it has
reached 6 - 8 cm.
• If you want a particularly thick carpet of lawn, you must invest
time and labour. For an English lawn, the grass must be shortened
to a height of 3.5 to 5 cm twice a week from the end of April,
and the mowings collected. Frequent mowing stimulates lateral
growth, creating a particularly thick lawn. Moreover, many weeds
do not stand up to frequent mowing because they cannot flower
and form seeds.
• If you use a mulching mower (the mowings remain on the sur-
face), you should also mow once a week with a standard mower
to prevent a tough matt forming because of an excess of mowings.
Regular scarifying is recommended.
• If despite all your maintenance measures moss still forms, it is
recommended to aerate the lawn to compensate for compacting in
the zone where the main roots are (up to 10 cm depth). By making
holes, removing clumps of earth from the soil or making deep cuts
and adding sand, aeration and drainage are greatly enhanced.
8• MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING
8•1 BASIC SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
• Carry out the adjustment, maintenance and inspection operations in
the service manual at the intervals given, and follow the information
on replacing parts/equipment. Only qualified personnel can carry out
these works.
• Inform the personnel driving the machine before starting special
work or maintenance! Designate a person for supervision!
• For all work on servicing, adapting to production or adjusting the ma-
chine and its safety devices, together with maintenance, inspections
and repairs, carry out the machine starting and stopping operations
in accordance with the service manual and the maintenance instruc-
tions! If necessary, protect the maintenance area!
• If the machine has been completely stopped for maintenance or re-
pair work, it must be protected against accidental starting:
- Remove the key and/or
- Fix a warning sign on the main switch.
• When carrying out maintenance and renovation work the machine
must be placed on flat ground that can support it and stop it rolling
or overturning.
• Individual parts and large assemblies to be replaced must be slung
cautiously by hoists and made secure.
• Only use appropriate hoists in perfect technical condition and sus-
pension methods with a sufficiently large load capacity. Do not lean
or work on suspended loads!
• Clean the machine and especially the connectors and screws and re-
move traces of oil, fuel and cleaning products before starting main-
tenance or repair! Do not use aggressive maintenance products! Use
lint-free cloths!
• Before cleaning the machine with water or steam jet (high pres-
sure cleaner) or when using other cleaning products, close all
openings and protect them for safety or functional reasons from
penetrating water, steam or other cleaning products. This risk par-
ticularly applies to the electrical parts and other parts carrying a
voltage. When cleaning has finished, remove the protective ma
-
terial!
• When cleaning is finished, inspect all the fuel, engine oil and brake
hoses together with hydraulic fluid and ensure that there are no leaks,
that the connections have not come loose and that there is no rubbing
or other damage! Repair any defects immediately!
• Tighten the screw connectors that were loosened during maintenance
and repair!
• If it becomes necessary to remove safety devices for assembly, main-
tenance or troubleshooting, they must be re-fitted and checked when
maintenance and repair work has finished.
• Make sure that consumables and spare parts are disposed of safely
and in an environmentally friendly way!
• The electrical equipment of a machine must be checked and ins-
pected regularly. Defects such as loosened connections or damages
cables must be remedied immediately.
