I use a bush hog to mow my 16 acre prairie. At times I need some of the grass that has been mowed to mulch my large country garden with. A month ago I mowed about 1 acre and used my landscape rake to attempt to pull it into a pile and use my grapple to move it with. The landscape rake did not work very well. I considered a pine needle rake but the guy from Everything Attachments did not think that was the right tool either. I do not have a sickle mower and I cannot find anyone to bale this small amount of grass that also has a fair amount of weeds in it. I hand raked about a quarter acre but that was just too labor intensive for it to be practice. Any advice would be appreciated!
Is there an attachment that will help me?
- Thread starter kubota4me
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3 Horse Ranch
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Around here I see used ground drive hay rakes selling in the 800 to 2000 range. It would at least allow you to rake it into wind rows. Anything else is going to cost.
Roadworthy
Elite Member
You could make arrangements with a local tree trimmer to allow them to dump their chipped up tree waste on your property. For your immediate problem you may want to investigate a sweeper that tows behind a lawn mower. They're pretty good at collecting cut grass.
CobyRupert
Super Member
I think it will be difficult as long if you’re cutting grass with the Bushhog. It probably leaves chopped up pieces which might be good for mulch, but hard to rake versus keeping the whole stalk intact.
Not sure if a hay rake would work on such short pieces.
Getting a sickle mower might be the answer.
Roadworthy’s idea of a lawn sweeper for Bushhog clippings seems like a good idea too if the ground is smooth enough and mower cuts low enough.
Not sure if a hay rake would work on such short pieces.
Getting a sickle mower might be the answer.
Roadworthy’s idea of a lawn sweeper for Bushhog clippings seems like a good idea too if the ground is smooth enough and mower cuts low enough.
Last edited:
jjp8182
Platinum Member
My first question would be how well did the hand raking work for collecting the material?
If it did a serviceable job, then making something like this "Leaf-Raking Toolbar Fits Tractor 3-pt.":FARM SHOW Magazine - The BEST stories about Made-It-Myself Shop Inventions, Farming and Gardening Tips, Time-saving Tricks & the Best Farm Shop Hacks, DIY Farm Projects, Tips on Boosting your farm income, time-saving farming advice, farming tractors - might be an option
Otherwise, small scale baling implements are also available (though not always cheap depending on the implement type): Hay Rakes | Tractor Tools Direct | Small-Farm Haying Independence
Just some ideas to consider...
If it did a serviceable job, then making something like this "Leaf-Raking Toolbar Fits Tractor 3-pt.":FARM SHOW Magazine - The BEST stories about Made-It-Myself Shop Inventions, Farming and Gardening Tips, Time-saving Tricks & the Best Farm Shop Hacks, DIY Farm Projects, Tips on Boosting your farm income, time-saving farming advice, farming tractors - might be an option
Otherwise, small scale baling implements are also available (though not always cheap depending on the implement type): Hay Rakes | Tractor Tools Direct | Small-Farm Haying Independence
Just some ideas to consider...
RalphVa
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A rig that our church in NJ used before I got them to get a ZTR was some Sears Craftsman tractors with underbelly mowers. In the fall, they'd attach a about a 6 or 8 inch corrugated tube to the mower discharge and route it to a blower powered by another engine mounted behind the seat. That thing discharged into a covered cart being pulled behind. Good way to go deaf.
I just used the ZTR discharging inward until it about croaked to "mulch" up the leaves and just left them on the grass.
In Vermont, I used to have the neighbors drop their leaves and grass off to me. I'd spread the lot among our trees. In the meanwhile, our neighbor from NYC cut down most of his trees and planted and mowed grass.
Ralph
I just used the ZTR discharging inward until it about croaked to "mulch" up the leaves and just left them on the grass.
In Vermont, I used to have the neighbors drop their leaves and grass off to me. I'd spread the lot among our trees. In the meanwhile, our neighbor from NYC cut down most of his trees and planted and mowed grass.
Ralph
DJ54
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I have 2, Mow & Vacs I use to pick up leaves & grass to use as mulch around plants in my garden. I bought both for $150 ea. The white one the PO couldn't get the gas cap off, got frustrated, and sold it, just to get rid of it. The other one I bought at a consignment sale. It was raining pretty hard, and most of the crowd headed for inside. I was prepared with my long rain proof duster, and umbrella. Just got to be in the right place, at the right time, and deals can be had.
Both ran, and work great. I bought the Cub Cadet also for cheap, did a few repairs, and dedicated it to that Vac. The other one I bought the pickup hosewith handle, to pick up piles of leaves. I have 3,neighbors who live in wooded secluded properties, and loved it 2 years ago when I offered to Vac up their leaves for free, just for the leaves. I also Vac up my lawn grass every week. There is enough to fill that little trailer every week. That is enough mulch to do 1 row across my 90' long garden.
This Spring I mowed, and Vaccuumed up about 3/4 of an acre of newly seeded pasture. It was a little course, and did plug the boot a couple times. I realized I was running too high of RPM's on the tractor, and too fast of ground speed, and was sticking in the boot, faster than the Vac could vaccuum it out. Cut the RPM's, and ground speed, and it worked like a charm.
Both ran, and work great. I bought the Cub Cadet also for cheap, did a few repairs, and dedicated it to that Vac. The other one I bought the pickup hosewith handle, to pick up piles of leaves. I have 3,neighbors who live in wooded secluded properties, and loved it 2 years ago when I offered to Vac up their leaves for free, just for the leaves. I also Vac up my lawn grass every week. There is enough to fill that little trailer every week. That is enough mulch to do 1 row across my 90' long garden.
This Spring I mowed, and Vaccuumed up about 3/4 of an acre of newly seeded pasture. It was a little course, and did plug the boot a couple times. I realized I was running too high of RPM's on the tractor, and too fast of ground speed, and was sticking in the boot, faster than the Vac could vaccuum it out. Cut the RPM's, and ground speed, and it worked like a charm.
Attachments
CADplans
Elite Member
I do it occasionally,,,
oldnslo
Super Member
Does your bush hog leave the clippings in a windrow or scattered out. Reason I ask is that my 5 ft bush hog is single spindle and throws everything to the left side so I purposely cut back and forth. Then using my landscape rake I purchased a longer toplink and adjust as long as it will go so tines are trying to lift the material Vs pull and spread material. Also have to adjust rear gauge wheels. This works reasonably well for me. Granted it does not get all the clippings but I would estimate 80 - 90 percent of them. This is similar principal to the old dump rakes farmers used to use to rake loose hay.
MH8675309
Platinum Member
A buck rake was used in the past. I welded one for my Amish neighbor. His is a pull behind but I have heard there are some that would mount on a loader frame. You might even fabricate one. On a loader frame you could rake it and dump it onto a flat rack.