We purchased this mower two years ago when we picked up two commercial HOA’s. It was a great mower for us at the time, and the first “commercial” sit down zero turn we had ever bought. We have two toro grandstands which I reviewed and this was the third mower we added to the fleet.

Pro’s

This mower has basically the same build as the Toro 4000 series which is their most popular seller. It has a heavy duty deck, the same arm levers, but a smaller hydro system and smaller engine.

• The first pro would be the heavy duty build, which I also think is a “Con” and I’ll explain below.
• The price point is also very good. As of 2023 I think they are about $9,000, but when I bought this mower two years ago it was $7,800 I believe.
• The seat is comfortable enough. It’s not the comfiest mower seat, but if you’re only cutting for a few hours a week, this seat will not bother your back at all.
• Extremely easy access to belts, and the deck lift system is nice.

Con’s

For a business owner, I probably wouldn’t recommend this mower. Unless you’re cutting two days a week or less, this mower in my opinion is not the right option. I think the engine is very under powered. It’s not the speed that is an issue, but cut quality with speed. It felt like we were constantly double cutting because the engine did not have enough power to send the grass far. I could change the blades every day and it still didn’t make a big difference. If the grass is wet, forget about it, you’re triple cutting.

The engine is also very hard to access and do simple tasks like filling the oil or draining the oil.

The hydro’s were also not great. I’ve driven Gravely’s, Scag’s and John Deere’s and turning isn’t that hard. However, this mower had the most sensitive hydro’s of any mower I have ever used. It felt like it was “herky-jerky” every time you went to turn.

Conclusion:

I really like Toro and I think they make a great product, which is why we bought two brand new Z Master 4000’s this year. But personally, the Z Master 2000 really isn’t for a commercial contractor. I think the best way to describe it, is it’s a homeowner engine with a commercial mower body. If you’re a homeowner and want a reliable mower to mow your acreage property, I would go with this mower. If you’re a lawn service provider, definitely skip this one and upgrade to the 4000 series.

Viburnum’s are excellent plants to add to your Pennsylvania home’s landscape. These shrubs can be used for a wide variety of different uses for your landscape. These ancient shrubs have the capability of growing between 3-20 ft. tall. Viburnum, similar to Hollies, can grow quickly to large heights, or be kept smaller and more shrub like.

Viburnum’s are very versatile for modern landscapes. These beautiful shrubs bloom between mid spring and early summer and will boast beautiful flowers for quite a few weeks.

Different Types Of Viburnum

There are around 165 known different varieties of Viburnum. It’s worth noting that Viburnums thrive in almost every growing zone, and there is no single viburnum foliage. Viburnums typically have white or pink flowers, and can grow blooms that are large like a Hydrangea, or small and flat like an Azalea. The three most common flower types are:

• Flat clusters of florets.
• Flat umbels outlined with larger flowers, resembling hydrangeas.
• Dome-shaped, snowball like clusters.

Viburnum Maintenance

Viburnums are typically low maintenance as far as watering is concerned. The amount of sun will impact the amount of blooms. Viburnum planted in a shady spot will tend to yield less blooms. Plant these shrubs in direct sun for best results. Most species are fast growing so yearly or twice yearly pruning will be required if you wish to keep these shrubs small. These shrubs can easily turn into a privacy fence and can grow to massive heights.

How To Plant Viburnum

Viburnum’s are no different than Hollies when it comes to planting. There is a 99% chance if you are reading this, that you will be getting the Viburnum from a nursery and it will come in a 3 Gallon Pot.

A Simple Tip For 1-5 Gallon Pot Plantings: Dig the hole as deep as the pot, and twice as wide.

Are you interested in having a professional landscape company in Chalfont PA re-plant your garden with new Viburnums? Contact us here on our contact page!

Plant Profile: Hollies

Hollies are very versatile plants that can range anywhere from only a foot high, to trees that are 70 feet tall. In ancient times, hollies were used to decorate statues of Saturn (the Roman god of the harvest), to providing medieval protection from evil spirits, and of course decorating our houses at Christmas time with them.

In South Eastern Pennsylvania where our company is located, hollies will have no problem growing. They are most hardy in regions 5 and 6, and in Southeast Pennsylvania we are zone 6. Zone 5 would be the Lehigh County and above.

Gender Of The Holly

When you think of hollies, you think of the bright white flowers, red berries, and the shiny prickly leaves. The gender of the holly actually plays a big role in the appearance of the plant. Female hollies will produce berries, while the male hollies will not. Hollies are unique in the fact that they have two separate genders, otherwise known as dioecious. Most trees and shrubs that we’re familiar with are monoecious, which means they are both male and female.

Holly Maintenance

These plants do not require regular pruning or trimming, but if you want to keep them small, or to prevent them from overcrowding, pruning is going to be required. Holly bushes are very low maintenance as well, and typically do not need to be watered unless we are in a dry spell.

We always recommend mulch for our clients for a variety of reasons, and Hollies are no exception. Mulch not only helps prevent plants and shrubs from the freeze thaw cycle, but once it decomposes it adds tons of nutrients back into the soil, eliminating or reducing the amount of fertilizer needed. We suggest using mulch from a supplier that does not use artificial dyes or chemicals. At our company, we only use naturally died mulch.

How To Plant Hollies

The holly bush you purchase is most likely going to be in a pot. The size of the pot should not matter, but most likely it’s going to be in a three gallon pot. Find the spot you wish to have your holly planted, and make sure it has adequate sunlight and good drainage. All good landscapes start with knowing what your plants need.

1. Dig a hole in the ground that is about 3 inches wider than the diameter of the holly. Do not dig the hole too deep; allow the holly to sit about one or two inches above the soil line.
2. Remove the holly from the container and using a shovel or spade, slice about 3 or four inserts into the root ball. Don’t cut the ball in half, just about one or two inches deep. This will prevent the roots from wrapping in a circle and choking itself out. Cutting these inserts will let the ball branch out into the garden.
3. Back fill the holly. (Fill in the space around the plant)
4. Sprinkle compost or manure around the bush to help with water retention.
5. Water.
6. Add mulch around the base.

Are you thinking of updating your home’s landscaping and are looking for the best landscaping service in Doylestown? Reach out to us today and we can transform the way your property looks! Click here to visit our contacts page