Rake Pine Straw Rake

[rlk]

Does anyone know where I can find a pine straw rake? I have found one online at Agri Supply, however, they do not show a picture of it, and I don't know if it attaches to a 3 pt hitch, or is a pull behind. I want one that attaches to a 3 pt hitch.

A pine straw rake differs from a landscape rake in that the tines are about the size of the tines on a pitch fork, and are spaced about 2 inches apart. A pine straw rake does not dig into the ground like a landscape rake or root rake. It also does not mix much dirt into the pine straw as a landscape rake does.

 

[Thomas]

rlk,
I fine this interesting.
I never heard of a pine straw rake,but by the sounds of what your describing it sound like a early model dump hay rake in which we call it up here in the norhteast.

I hope someone else remember what I'm talking about as far as the dump rake. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

If you should come arcoss site with a picture I would be please if you pass it on to me.

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[gordon]

Here you go this shows both a self powered and a three point rake. http://www.agriquip.com/psrake.html I've been looking into the same thing it's a growing market. Here is there home page--http://www.agriquip.com/
Hope this helps
Gordon

 

[Thomas]

Not sure how that works,so would that be like a side delivery rake?

Okay being from the north /w3tcompact/icons/blush.gif..what is pine straw?

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

 

[s1120]

Thomas, is this what you mean? We found this on the land we just got.

Paul Bradway

 

[gordon]

Thomas pine straw is nothing but long leaf pine needles that are harvested in the winter time. Pinestraw==dried up pine needles.
Gordon

 

[jyoutz]

I know exactly what you're looking for. There are 5', 6', 7' sized pinestraw rakes available from a company in N Carolina (Winston-Salem) called Leinbach Machinery (or Leinbach Manufacturing). I used to have their literature and the price was pretty reasonable and the weight was not too bad for shipping. If you can't locate them, either do a search on the old tractorbynet archives (where I got this info) or email me and I will dig through my files. Hope this helps. I sure was going to get one to help with yard clean-up of pine needles, since I have lots of ponderosa pine. But I didn't get around to ordering and ended up getting my exercise again this year.

 

[Von]

Ok, now that Thomas and I know what pine straw is, what do you use it for? On the one site they were baling it and stated it was worth money, but for what? It would seem to me that the sap on the needles would make it not good for any use. I don't know of anything that eats pine needles. and it would make for a sticky bedding. So let me know of its use, there is tons of the stuff laying around that would be free for the picking around here.

Von

 

[gordon]

Von one of the uses is in flower beds. The higher acid soils love it. Doesn't wash away as easy as bark nuggets. There are a couple of studies going on dealing with adding in a small percentage of the straw with the cows feed. The results from that look good so far.

The down side is that the bales have to be free of cones and twigs. So you still have to walk the stand before you use the rake. Going rates for the bales are between 6-12 dollars. The debte is how often can you take the straw from the stand without hurting the trees. The needles do a few different things the help the tree grow--natures fertilizer also they add warmth to the soil to help prevent the roots from damage. They also help erosion. So if you bale every year you have to fertilize to comensate for what your taking away from the tree. But the net returns still look pretty good even after all expenses. As long as you have a decent stand of pine.
Bet that was more than you wanted to know!/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
I'm seriously considering doing it to my pine stand.
Gordon

 

[gordon]

J, Have you ever looked into selling the straw or were you interested in cleanup only? Also what are your views on harvesting the straw, adverse effects long term on the stand???? Or with proper fertilizer would it help the stand??

Gordon