Rake landscape rake for picking up apples?

hazmat · Sep 4, 2002

Has anybody used a landscape rake to clean up dropped apples? What is the spacing between the tines? Any other implement a better Idea? I've thought about a powered sweeper, but they are $$$expensive$$$.

They are starting to fall big time in my back yard. My plan of attack so far has been to use a walk behind leaf blower to consolidate, then rake them into the FEL. But I have a chicken vs. the egg problem. If I blow before I mow the tall grass slows down the process. If I mow before I blow, the tractor tires crush the apples into the ground.

I have a couple of spots I'd like to use a landscape rake to prep for new grass, but these are once in a while projects, probably just rent the rake for that. If it will work for cleaning up the apples, I might get approval from the CFO to purchase. I know from reading here that the gauge wheels are a worth while accesory.

Stonewall · Sep 4, 2002

The spacing on most rakes is 1" - 2" between tines so you won't have too many apples slipping through. The temptation might be to try to go too far without lifting/clearing the rake and you'll end up with applesauce that you'll never get cleaned up. Wheels are a good idea for your apple raking. A heavy rake can tear up your yard if it just drags.

Thomas · Sep 4, 2002

Also..got any ideas on pine cones. /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif

Boondox · Sep 4, 2002

Steve -- Almost all rakes have one inch between the tines, so apples (or Thomas' pine cones) will be swept up. I used to round up fallen apples with mine, but now just call the chickens down to the feast. After eating all the apples on the ground they look up waiting for the next one to fall! Hysterical! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

One word of advice regarding gauge wheels. I have them, but they are mounted all the way at the ends of the rake. So if I'm raking close to a wall, ditch, etc, the rake must be straight lest the inboard wheel hit the wall, fall into the ditch, etc. Better to get the kind that mount in a bit.

Pete

chim · Sep 4, 2002

I never had a landscape rake, so I don't know - can they be rotated or remounted backwards? Then you wouldn't need to drive over them first......................chim

Rowski · Sep 4, 2002

My Woods rake can. It angle pivot swivels 360 degrees. The only problem is the length and getting it past the tires during rotation. I just unhook it from the three point hitch and turn it then hook it back up.

Anonymous Poster · Sep 4, 2002

My Frontier landscape rake's gauge wheels can be set to keep the tines from 1/2" off level gound to 5+". At the min clearance, I think it would scoop most apples. Most LR's, mine included, can be swung around and pushed ahead of the tractor. Also most LR's can be equiped with end caps to keep material (apples) from falling to the sides. You can also use the top link of the 3ph to angle the tines more severely to lift the apples, rather than drag them.
jim

Egon · Sep 5, 2002

Thomas:
On one of my internet forays into unobtainable toys, I mean attachments, I can rember seeing something about a pine needle rake or baler. Can't rember which and can't remember where.
Egon

hazmat · Sep 5, 2002

Thanks guys, you've convinced me, now I just have to convince the wife. We have plans to pick up apples on saturday, maybe I'll rent a rake & see if it's faster.