Rake Can you use an estate rake to rake leaves?

[Larry_Van_Horn]

Given the price of a PTO blower, I am looking for lower cost options. Is this one?
Larry

 

[markie61]

I find it a bit agressive, but when you are desperate (like after Isabel) you use it anyway /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif.
Mark

 

[JackIL]

There is a wheel rake called the Estate Rake (www.estateyardcare.com/estate_rake.shtml) that will rake leaves into windrows like hay. You can make a number of passes to gather several windrows together, but you still have to finish the job manually.

I assume by Estate Rake you didn't mean "Landscape Rake" which some folks call a rock rake or York rake (York is a brand name of one landscape rake). These are intended for finish grading soil or leveling rock and gravel driveways. I would think they would be way too aggressive for leaves on a lawn.

JackIL

 

[Deerlope]

I bought a pull type unit called a lawn broom from central tractor, the same unit is avilable from most True value stores. It works very well on leaves, pine needles, pine cones and small stones. I tow it behind my mower when the hopper gets full just drive over to the pile and pull the rope to dump it.

 

[TCowner]

Larry, No you can't. I owned an Estate Rake a few years ago and sold it a year later. It actually works pretty well to dethatch your lawn in the spring although you are still left with the windrows that you have to pick up. But for leaves it just doesn't work.

I suppose if you went out every day before there was any accumulation it might work but your still left with that row. I tried my neighbor's lawn with a good accumulation of maple leaves and I didn't get ten feet before it plugged.

I also had a problem with the unit continually wanting to side draft. I experimented with every setting and weight adjustment to get it to stop with no luck. Its a nice looking unit but just didn't work for me. I use a powerflow attachment for my JD X595 which works pretty well for the leaves. Its a dirty and dusty job if the wind is in the wrong direction but works well. The only problem I have is the exhaust on my X595 blows some of the leaves over to the area I just cleaned. JD supposedly makes an exhaust extension that I am going to check out.

 

[lpdcac]

If, by estate rake, you're talking about a landscape or rock rake, that would be too aggressive to use on a lawn. We use a pine straw rake (3pt, 4', very flexible tines) to pile up pine needles, small branches off the trees, other light debris including leaves. Pick up these piles with your FEL. The straw rake isn't perfect but it's generally effective

If you want a really good solution where cost isn't a problem, hook a cyclone rake to the back of your lawn tractor. The combo will pick up darn near everything including loose soil and small rocks. The only complaint I have about ours is it's TOO efficient and results in a lot of piles to pick up. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Dozernut]

You might check out a set of mulching blades for your mower. Here is one site with a picture of them. http://www.hsionline.com/products/ecbuilder2/item6683.htm
We live in the woods and the leaves get deep. We have too many acres to rake, so we mulch them with the mower equipped with the Gator Blades. The only raking we do is to get the leaves away from the trees and plants. You have to block the discharge on the mower for the blades to be effective and the blades work great. The best part is this setup will cost you $50 or under.

 

[Currmudgeon]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( If, by estate rake, you're talking about a landscape or rock rake, that would be too aggressive to use on a lawn. )</font>

I have used one to rake grass clippings from a rough lawn. It worked OK, but is slow. It's not an efficient grass rake, and takes a lot of backing and filling to make a windrow. Still, it was better than hand raking and I needed the practice time.

Gave me a helluva stiff neck from looking back over my shoulder.

The pine straw rake sounds like a good solution. Who made yours?

 

[RedHawkRidge]

The results you get using an Estate Rake depend largely on what you want to accomplish. I have had two -- the smaller one, then traded up to their big unit. I've got 6+ acres that I mow, and the bordering woods are mostly oak, which drop plenty of leaves that don't disintegrate easily. Too many to rake/sweep up.
So I've found that cutting them up with a finish mower will promote fast disintegration. But a major problem is that they tend to lay tight in layers on the ground -- they resist lifting by the mower. Especially after a winter of snow on them.
So the estate rake is the most helpful tool I've found. It scratches up the leaves (and some thatch), and deposits them in windrows. These I then go over with my CUT/mower. In a few weeks, all trace of the leaves is gone. I'm referring to spring activity, obviously. A side benefit is that the ground gets scratched up for better overseeding.
The estate rakes are like most accessories and implements -- there's a learning curve and ways to twink their behavior for best performance. One example is to go light on the ground force by the rakes. Too much or too little and the unit goes from side-walking to ineffectiveness.
I found the smaller unit had to be "tethered" with a light chain to the axle of my ATV to hold it from excessive sidewalking.
And you absolutely can't go any direction but forward -- if you back up the rake wheels get bent easily.
Let me know if you have more questions on them.

jim