Buffalo lawnmowers available from Honda
With unpredictable weather patterns and ensuing dry conditions, gardeners and horticulturalists alike have had to make considerable changes in order to meet water limit restrictions in many states.
Gardening and landscape maintenance are big business in Australia due to the vast suburban expanses, sporting fields and public amenities; the horticultural industry contributes over a billion dollars each year into the economy.
In recent years there have been trend changes in the industry as the once favoured and water-dependent English-styled cottage gardens and lawns become unsuitable in one among the dry continents on earth.
Akin to the way in which horticulturalist and gardening enthusiasts are opting for drought resistant plants and Asian style gardens, so too is there a shift in gardening-care equipment, particularly among professional contractors.
The Honda range of Buffalo lawnmowers is considered by many municipal operators, gardening enthusiasts and contractors as a strong, fuel efficient and reliable mower according to owner and horticulturalist, Chris Smith from CRS Horticulture in Ringwood, Victoria.
"I've had other lawnmower brands before, as I've been in the horticultural business for 11 years, but during this time Honda has proven to be the most reliable and fuel efficient," Chris Smith said.
CRS Horticulture like many other gardening and horticultural businesses, sprouted from humble beginnings.
The family business, which is operated with the help of wife Sue MacDonald, has an ever-expanding clientele that includes customers as diverse as Vermont Waste Transfer Station, The Department of Justice in Heidelberg, The Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant and the Manor Inn in Mitcham.
According to Chris Smith, having full bookings means downtime needs to be kept to a minimum so CRS Horticulture's equipment must be reliable as well as user friendly and safe.
"My wife Sue and I have never had any problems with the Honda mowers; they are renowned for their easy starting and safety, my wife Sue can attest to that. She is able to operate the mowers as well as any burly contractor," Chris Smith said.
Chris Smith said that rising fuel costs and current weather patterns have had a serious effect on the horticultural industry, as an influx in drought proof gardens and the replacement of traditional lawns with drought-hardy varieties now proving well-liked.
"Similar to the way in which people have changed to drip irrigation instead of spray for their gardens, businesses such as ours have also had to be proactive and adapt to the change," Chris Smith said.
CRS Horticulture's equipment list includes three HRU197 Buffalo Bull mowers, which are yielding a good return on investment, according to Chris Smith.
"Some of the outstanding features of the HRU197 are its power, torque and fuel economy compared to other mowers in the same specification range," Chris Smith said.
"Being a four-stroke engine means time isn't wasted mixing fuel or having the expense of purchasing pre-mixed blends. The four-strokes also provide better fuel efficiency which is an important consideration to the business' bottom line."
Compliance with municipal laws and noise regulations has also been a contributing factor in Chris Smith's Honda lawnmower purchase decision.
"We work a lot in quiet suburban neighbourhoods and on weekends when people don't appreciate being woken by raucous power equipment.”
“Noise is a major OH&S issue, but with the Hondas we have little to worry about. The HRU 197 is one of the quietest mowers we have used, and it enables us greater flexibility to operate at certain times, especially in the mornings and on weekends," Chris Smith said.
8-Aug-2008