What does everyone else do about leaves?

[jamieg74]

I have 5 and a half acres and most of the yard is full of trees. I have been reading about the Cyclone Rake, does anyone have an opinion on this thing?

I have been blowing the leaves into the clear, then mowing them into piles that I rake on to a trailer that I unload on to my compost pile. This process only takes about 11 months to complete. What does everyone else do?

Help!

Jamie

[Jackman]

Leaves leaves and more leaves,,,,,,, I bet I clean up more leaves than any one on this site ,,,, and I do mean that........ If you have 5 1/2 acres and lots of leaves its a worthy investment imop to buy some good equipment,,,, here is what would make fun and fast work of your yard maintenace......

One Exmark Lazer Z 60, 8,000 dollars
One Ultra Vac 3 bagger for the Z, about 2,800 dollars
One Redmax EBZ 8000 backpack blower, about 500 dollars

Then just make weekly maintenance of the yard cut and bag and use the back pack to put the leaves were you want them.....

I never have seen a Cyclone rake have heard about them but most lawn pros use a Z with bagger and push type and back ppack blowers and if need be a truck loader,,,, An EBZ 8000 is with out a dout better than a big engined push blower, you can really move some leaves with it.....

[ScottyD'sdad]

I use a Cyclone rake, attached to one of those green and yellow mowing tractors. Ed

[Bill Hudson]

I use a Cub Cadet 1450 with a 42" mower deck to grind up my leaves in-place. I used expanded metal to make a block for the exit chute. No drilling needed, two holes are there in the perfect location. Then simply mow to your heart's content. This dramatically reduces leaf volume and virtuallt eliminates leaves blowing from one spot to another. The final result is, as the leaves decompose, organic fertilizer for the lawn. Works great for me, however, I don't have 5.5 acres.

Bill

[smigelski]

Leaves leaves and more leaves,,,,,,, I bet I clean up more leaves than any one on this site ,,,, and I do mean that........

not sure about that I have handled just over 300 tons so far this year, with an expect another 300 ton. Also have a guy come in with a bulldozer to do final leveling in the spring.
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thats a mulch pile. a neighbor has 1 of those leaf rakes and only does an acre. He will spend a whole day screwing with that thing and gets half of it done. if the leaves get to thick or wet, it causes him to have a nervous break down. I just keep running them over with the lawnmower. every weekend for 4 weeks and they are gone.

[jsharp1071]

I've got the same problem, but its 3 acres and lots of trees. I have a backpack blower and a tarp, but it takes days to get done. If we have lots of rain or an early snowfall, the work effort doubles.

Are tractor mounted rakes of any use? What about tractor mounted blowers?

Joe

[Jackman]

Hey Jamieg74, I saw a DR leaf packer (same as Cyclone rake) in service at a big condo complex, seem to do a good job they had a JD tractor pulling it .

Are tractor mounted rakes of any use? What about tractor mounted blowers?

Joe

Never seen a tractor mounted rake, but there is a tractor mounted leaf plow it attaches to the front of tractor and you can either make rows of leaves with the mower or the blowers then use the plow to push the pile........ There is also a mount to put a Little Wonder blower on the front of the tractor, some guys have them but to me its just an extra,,,,,,,, ya can't take the work out of leaf work........

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Just finished getting rid of my leaves. Used the Simplicity ZTR to blow them into the woods.

[beaconlight]

On Staten Island I collect mine and neighbors about 80 bags a year and turn them in to the garden. 30 by 50 feet. I also use 6 neighbors grass clippings for mulch. In Franklin I have about 40 acres half woods and the rest open including the 3 1/2 acre pond. Fortunately it is windy enough mother nature blows the fallen leaves in to the woods.

[Boss Hog]

The wind blows mine into the woods. Something to think about when building a house, the prevailing wind.

David

[Former Member]

I wait till they are all down, mow them 3 times into mulch. SEAT time.

[Tim Martin]

I mower over them with the mower deck discharging in the same direction. My lawn is about two acres and by the time I finish the last run, what little that is still left is blow into the woods.

[beaconlight]

The wind blows mine into the woods. Something to think about when building a house, the prevailing wind.

David

Yep and the view. I got em both.

[BackswampCub]

I stand on the Porch and look at them. While Cursing the trees for making the leaves. Then go back in to finish my Beer

[howard950]

They are bagged and put around my foundation for the winter. In the spring, they're composted.