Canadian Gardening Enthusiast Uses Shantui Mini Excavator to Create Private Ecological Garden
In a picturesque lakeside community northwest of Toronto, retired engineer Mr. James Wilson recently completed a landscaping project that has impressed his neighbors: using a Shantui 1.8-ton mini excavator, he successfully transformed his nearly two-acre sloping backyard into an exquisite landscape garden featuring terraced flowerbeds, an ecological pond, and gravel pathways.
“This little machine changed my perception of yard work,” Mr. Wilson said, standing by the newly excavated ecological pond. “I had planned to spend the entire summer manually completing the earthwork, but this excavator precisely completed all the terrain modifications in just three days. Its zero-tail swing design allowed me to work freely between trees and fences, and the adjustable hydraulic flow control enabled me to transplant shrubs with the same precision as if I were using my hands.”
Records from Shantui’s North American dealer show that the special configuration selected by the customer included: a cold-weather starting kit for low-temperature operation, a thumb clamp bucket for fine work, and low ground pressure tracks to protect the lawn. Notably, during a week of intermittent operation, the equipment’s operating noise consistently remained below local community regulations, demonstrating excellent environmental friendliness.
Innovative Application Sparks Community Interest
Mr. Wilson’s landscaping project has attracted considerable interest from the local community. Sarah Miller, a member of the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects, commented after a visit: “This creative use of light engineering machinery in high-end private gardens demonstrates a new trend in horticultural engineering. The precision control exhibited by the equipment, particularly its ability to excavate contours on slopes and protect root systems, provides new ideas for landscape construction.”
Even more noteworthy, Mr. Wilson documented the construction process on social media, and the related videos have received over 100,000 views. Many netizens inquired about the equipment model, including professional landscaping companies and small farm owners. “I initially just shared my retirement life, but I didn’t expect it to spark so much interest in small-scale mechanized gardening,” he said with a smile. New Insights into Market Demand
The head of Sany Canada’s marketing department highly values this case: “Traditionally, small excavators were mainly used in professional fields, but in recent years, with the rise of DIY culture and sophisticated gardening in North America, more and more individual users have begun to recognize their value. This case has helped us redefine our product positioning – it’s not just engineering equipment, but also a tool for creating a better life.”
Based on this demand, Sany Canada is discussing with its dealer network the launch of a “home gardening package,” combining small excavators with common gardening attachments, operational training, and safety guidance. Data shows that in the first two quarters of this year, sales of Sany’s 1-3 ton small excavators in the Canadian individual user market have increased by 65% year-on-year, indicating that a new consumer segment is rapidly forming.
Mr. Wilson’s garden will host a community open day this summer, where Sany equipment will be demonstrated for gardening applications. This story, which started in a private garden, is quietly changing people’s perception of the application boundaries of small construction machinery.
