Loads of Fallen Apples - How to Pick up?

[TMcD_in_MI]

I've got eight older full sized apple and pear trees in my yard and this year is the best/worst year for fruit that I can remember. The ground under the trees is almost totally covered with apples and pears. I've heard that you should keep it all cleaned up to cut down on disease, so I've been trying, but raking and shoveling is getting mighty old, and so am I. I get about six loader buckets full of fruit from the worst trees. It doesn't help that the ground under the trees is not a nice smooth lawn, but kind of uneven - the kind that makes you mutter #@@&*!! when your shovel snags in the dirt and grass instead of picking up a nice clean shovelful. It makes it pretty much impossible to scoop them up with the loader.

So, is there any hope that I could somehow do this all from the seat of a tractor, or am I stuck with manual labor? Anybody have a good trick up their sleeve for this? I have two grandsons, but they're about ten years away from being able to help. At least when I get really old I can turn to them.

Tom

[KubotaSteve]

I see on you avatar you have a snowblower. Hmmmm Well that might not work as well in real life as in my mind.

I think after I picked the apples up, I would prep under the trees to make life easier in the future. A landscape rake would help get the apples away from the tree, could even try a box blade. Once you got them away from the tree and piled up, it might make quick work with the FEL.

[dknarnd]

Guess there are no deer in your area?

[jdbower]

I'm not sure about long term damage, but I bag my grass and just mow over the walnuts to clean them up. It doesn't get all of them, but enough that the squirrels take care of the rest.

[charlz]

For the future: try calling your local foodbank as they can sometimes coordinate someone to come out and pick it before it hits the ground

[Texas Dodge]

I see on you avatar you have a snowblower. Hmmmm Well that might not work as well in real life as in my mind.

I think after I picked the apples up, I would prep under the trees to make life easier in the future. A landscape rake would help get the apples away from the tree, could even try a box blade. Once you got them away from the tree and piled up, it might make quick work with the FEL.

What he said

[AndyMA]

Guess there are no deer in your area?

Just what I was thinking. On my farm there are numerous old apple and pear trees. Thousands of apples and pears on the ground and then all of a sudden they are all gone. (usually in one night) I've seen as many as 20 dear feasting at once.

Andy

[AndyMA]

When I have wanted to clear them up earlier than the deer, a York Rake worked pretty well.

Andy

[andrewj]

I'm in my 30s. 3 young kids and one on the way. I just planted 140 apple trees over 1.5 acres two and a half years ago. they are growing and branching out well. each year I walk through the orchard and dream of apples one day. I am over run with deer. The deer browse leaves, twigs and do immense damage.

So I am comforted that one day, when each tree dumps a load of apples, those deer I have fought for years will finally help me clean up!!!!

[Grrrr]

I vote for trrying the snowblower

Just make sure you take pictures

Hmmm I'm wondering whether it would pick them up though