After I mow the field how can I collect the grass?

[jcw74801]

I mow about 2-3 acres of field several times per year with a rotary cutter. It is thick bermuda, other grasses and weeds. I see all this nice green vegetation just lying on the ground and would love to mix it with my neighbor's barn litter to make some awesome compost for the garden.

I am wondering what would be best for collecting the cut grass? I have a Mitsubishi 30hp 4x4 tractor with FEL.

I also need to prepare about an acre of sandy soil for planting grass seed and I have a gravel drive that needs maintained. A landscape rake would be handy. Would it be any good at dragging the cut grass into a pile?

What else could I use to collect cut grass?

thanks,
John

 

[3RRL]

Since you have other plans for it anyway, a landscape would be a good idea.
My wife uses hers to rake cuttings like that into plies.

 

[amigauser]

A landscape rake might work but something like this is made to do it.

Rake lift RP 2-4-5

 

[ragkar]

Well, my landscape rake won't rake a fallen layer of leaves. If there's a pile (roll) then it will drag it. The problem is that the tines are too far apart and the raking 'touch' is too heavy or too light.

 

[JDeerekid]

I would look for an old side delivery rake sitting in the weeds on an old farm or on craigslist for cheap. Then pick up with pitch forks and put on a wagon or trailer. Did this for years on neigbors small farm that didnt have a baler.

 

[Egon]

One of the varieties of hay rakes should work well.

I have used a home built rake using pickup tines and mounted it on the three point on my little tractor. It does work but not well.

 

[wedge40]

I use my landscape rake to collect my cuttings. Works fine for me. I might have to make a couple of trips, but it gets the job done.

Wedge

 

[jcw74801]

Thanks for the ideas. I will start with a LS rake since I can put it to use right away. I am surrounded by hay producers so there should be a few hay rakes lying around.

regards,
John

 

[Soundguy]

landscape rake it...

soundguy

 

[cotterd]

I almost posted the same question today. I used my landscape rake to rake grass into large piles and then pitchforked it into the bed of my truck. The rake worked OK -- it got most but not all of the grass up, ripped up the grass in some sections where the ground was wet. Using the pitchfork gives a great deal of respect for the old-time farmers who had to do whole fields that way.

Lots of work that made me think there must be an easier way.

Option 1: What would happen if I didn't collect the clippings? We let the field grow all summer and just cut it down last week. Will the grass just grow back through the clippings?

Option 2: Would it help if I let the grass dry first and then raked it?

Thanks

dc