March 2010
Hire Fleet Additions

Our latest equipment additions to our hire fleet. (.pdf, 20kb)

March 2010
Spring Workout for the Lawn

Last winter has been so severe it has left the ground very compacted and the turf under stress. Lawns need some tender loving care. We can help you solve your problem by taking advantage of our very special rates.

Your lawn needs aerating Why?

Over time most soils will become compacted, squeezing the particles together and reducing the grass's ability to grow strong and healthy and to drain properly. This compaction will in itself cause a number of problems such as the likelihood of the lawn becoming flooded or water logged.

Compacted soil is more likely to become infested with either weeds, such as daisies, or moss. The roots are unable to access the nutrients they require, so the grass tends to be thin and very weak.

If thatch is a problem in a lawn then the best way to reduce its impact on the turf growth is by hollow tine aeration. This procedure is the most effective way of reducing sub-surface thatch and soil compaction. This operation involves the removal of thousands of cores, each about the size of a man's little finger, from the lawn.

Your lawn needs scarifying Why?

Lawns that have developed a large amount of thatch or moss needs to be scarified to remove as much of this material as possible, thus allowing space for the grass to grow.

To allow it to recover from this rigorous process, scarifying should be carried out at a time when the grass is growing actively, usually from Spring through to Autumn.

If a fertiliser treatment was going to be used, it would generally be more advisable to scarify beforehand, as this will greatly speed the rate of recovery from the process.

March 2010
Spring is in the air

Its time to start thinking about preparing the ground for seed. How will I do it? What shall I use?

Have we got a machine for you!!!!!!

The Turf Teq surface preparation rake is a robust time saving power harrow designed to quickly prepare a level, fine textured bed ready for seeding or turfing. It can also be used to slit the surface prior to re-seeding of a patchy or worn-out lawn. It is easy to handle, especially in the hard to reach areas, and also makes an excellent stone rake.

• It re-levels grassed areas that have become damaged and uneven.
• Loosens and levels compacted areas.
• Quickly creates a smooth, stone- free surface for reseeding or turfing.
• It will scarify worn out grassed areas ready for over-seeding.
• Rakes to the left, right to work debris into windrows for ease of collection.
• Raking depth is instantly adjustable from 3 to 30mm.
• 36" wide raking drum with carbide tungsten teeth.
• · Removes stones and small rocks from the soil surface

Don't delay! book today! call the Hire Desk for price and availablity.

December 2009
Local Footie News

For the last few years, we have loaned Tadley/Calleva Football Club 500m of plastic barrier fence and supports for their annual 6-aside football tournament. This popular event, which has taken place for at least the last ten years at AWE's Sports Field, draws teams from places as far afield as Portsmouth and Southampton.

In order that the tournament can be completed within the available time, nine games are played on nine pitches at the same time. For the last three years, space has been limited due to rebuilding work at the nuclear facility, and the Club asked us if we could provide fencing to separate the pitches.

The Football Club would be interested in hearing from any local individual or businesses who would be interested in providing sponsorship (however small) for future tournaments. For more information please contact Paul Holmes on 0777 97 222 60.

December 2009
Stop Think and be Safe

Working at height with ladders (.pdf, 20kb)

December 2009
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) for Hands

A review of gloves and their applications (.pdf, 14kb)

November 2009
Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Eyes

A review of eye protection and their applications (.pdf, 46kb)

November 2009
Worried about Hand Arm Vibration? (HAV)

Guidance on the causes of HAV (.pdf, 49kb)

November 2009
New to the Hire Fleet - Hilti TE80 Drill/Breaker

A comprehensive review of the Hilti TE80 Drill/Breaker (.pdf, 33kb)

January 2009
Product of the Month

We have recently added the complete range of Turf Teq landscape maintenance equipment to our hire fleet.

The range consists of a walk behind tractor unit with a 13hp Honda® engine with a hydrostatic transmission unit to which attachments can be quickly mounted. All attachments are easily removed and reinstalled when needed, in order to pass through gates as small as 28 inches

The Power Edger is an outstanding machine. It quickly creates the outline of new flower and shrub beds, redefines existing ones, cuts a crisp edge against kerbs or paths and digs narrow slits and trenches (1/2", 2" & 5" wide).

The Power Rake is the ideal tool for preparing a graded, stone-free surface for seeding or turfing, and can also be used to repair and renovate worn out surfaces on lawns and sports pitches. It has excellent maneuverability, and easily levels out damaged areas such as panned-out goal mouths and vehicle wheel ruts without disturbing the sub-soil

The Power Brush will quickly remove leaves, moss, twigs, grit, general debris and snow from hard or soft surfaces. Use it on car parks, tennis courts, artificial sports surfaces, pathways or grass. On lawns, it makes an excellent de-thatcher, pulling out only dead grass and moss, whilst leaving the healthy grass untouched

Hire Desk Controller, Richard Jankowski, is delighted with the new additions.

"We can thoroughly recommend these machines to landscapers, sports clubs and landscape maintenance companies. Our customers have received the new machines enthusiastically, and are impressed with the ease of use, excellent results and rugged build quality."

Turf Teq products are manufactured in the USA, and are imported by GroundsCare Products.

December 2008
Winter Tidy Up

As winter approaches the garden is just one area that will require attention whether it be a "clean up" or preparation for the winter months ahead. Depending on the level of maintenance, which has been given to the garden during summer the amount of time needed to tidy up the garden and its lawns can vary from a just a few hours work to several days or weekends. One job that can be laborious is the collection of fallen leaves, especially on grassed and paved areas. The traditional autumn "leaf drop" creates a lot of extra work at this time of year especially if your garden or home is bordered with a large number of trees.

The most popular piece of equipment to hire for this problem is the leaf blower. This piece of equipment is used to simply "blow" the fallen leaves into a confined area of your garden where they can then be collected for disposal or alternatively shredded if you have access to a garden shredder which can be easily hired.

The shredder is a very useful piece of equipment for disposing of your garden debris into a fine mulch.

The Turf Teq power broom can also assist in the leaf and debris tidy up. It will also gently scarify your lawn prior to that essential lawn feed.

November 2008
Safe Hire Assessment

We are delighted to announce that yet again we have recently had our Safe Hire qualification renewed for a further 12 months.

This is the seventh year in succession that it has been awarded to County Hire, and confirms the effectiveness of the procedures we use to ensure our equipment is safe to hire to our customers.

Safe Hire is the premier quality assurance scheme for the Hire Industry. Its effectiveness is ensured by regular, rigorous inspections by the Hire Association of Europe, backed up by occasional visits from "mystery shoppers".

Turf Lifter - Self Drive Camon XL

This new model features positive gear drive to the wheels, and the following advantages over the old one:

• Improved traction in all conditions
• Easily adjustable cutting depth (20 to 35mm)
• Less vibration transmitted to the operator
• Reduced overall machine length

Hire Prices.

Stair Tower

Painting and decorating the stairs and landing has always been an awkward job, but not any more. Now, you can rent a lightweight aluminium tower built specifically for that job. It is high enough to enable you to easily reach the landing ceiling, and has a work platform measuring 1.8m (6ft) x 0.7m (2ft 3"). The platform is surrounded by guard rails so you feel safe - and you are safe. Use it in place of the traditional ladder and a plank of wood!

The tower comes as a kit of easily-handled components which can be quickly assembled by two people, and you can still use the stairs whilst it is in place.

Hire Prices.

December 2007
Quick-Hitch Buckets for Mini Diggers & Mini Excavators

What is a Quick-hitch system? Quite simply, it’s a method of attaching buckets to mini diggers without having to fiddle around with the pins that traditionally have held the bucket onto the digging arm. Working from the driving seat, you position the digging arm so that it engages with hooks on the top of the bucket, and from there, the latching process is automatic.

They have been around for years on bigger excavators, but have gradually been becoming available for mini diggers and micro diggers. We have them fitted to our 2.5 ton mini excavators, to 50% of our 1.5 tonners and now have begun introducing them on our 1 ton mini diggers.

Don't put up with the frustration of changing buckets the old-fashioned way; come to County Hire for an easier life!