Buying Advice Landscape uses and limitations

[SI2305]

Hello all,

It has been a while since I posted, but at this time of year, I have several thoughts on my mind. I just got done bushhogging/mowing my 6 acres of tall grass. By now, that orriginal 6 acres has been trimmed down a bit as I have a substantial fruit patch and a growing orchard, all of which is located in broad paths I have cut into the tall grass (I also maintain several interconnecting paths through my tall grass--just feels fun to walk down a meandering path). I am in the process of building/creating another strip on which to eventually plant raspberries. I intend for this to be a slighhtly raised bed, and I am preparing this bed using chaff left over from the hogging & mowing. I have laid down two layers thus far. The first, six months ago has decomposed nicely and is a crumbly texture that leaves the immediately surrounding grass lush and green. I am now laying my second layer and I hope to let it decompose till spring.

This brings me to my question. I have a bad back. Previously, I hand-raked all of this material with considerably time/effort. This morning, before dawn, I was up and raking more chaff into piles that I then used the FEL to transport and dump. However, I was wondering/wishing that a landscape rake might be the appropriate tool.

Specifically, I was wondering about the following:

1) Will it pick up mowed grass clippings efficiently?

2) Will it collect hogged chaff efficiently (tends to be much longer than clippings)?

3) Will it fill so quickly that It won't really be worth the effort?

4) I have a JD 2305 and I have never been wanting for more power/torque--can it handle
a 6' rake?

5)Will the angle function create windrows or just make a mess of things

6) I don't have a MMM--I use a combination of an LX4 and a Landpride RFM (both work GREAT, but they are different beasts. I sometimes hog the tall grass,then mow the debris, makes the acreage look nice but can be time consuming) Getting a bagger is out of the question unless one is available that does not require a MMM--plus I am sure that they are spendy items anyway.

I don't really intend to MOVE the debris very far, just collect it into piles so I can easily rake it into the FEL for transport & dump. I dump all the chaff & clippings into a windrow (made by dumping from FEL) in order to make a nice, fertilebed--it is almost like making your own topsoil! I am not an organic farmer, but I do like to use some organic principles. I just feel better using the bounty of my own land to make my own food.

Another long winded question, but if anyone has any thoughts, please let me know. Also, if I missed something here, again, I am totally open to thoughts/suggestions.

Thanks in advance,

SI2305

 

[Carl_NH]

SI2305

I have seen dethachers like this on Craiglist for $200 or so - you could either tow behind your mower or make a bracket and mount on your FEL.

This would "rake" the loose material and you could push it into a pile.

I think a landscape rake would be too aggressive as there is not a lot of give in the tines and it would rip up the turf.

The benefit of mounting on the FEL would enable you to lift/lower and bunch up piles or push to your bed..

Carl

 

[jenkinsph]

Sounds to me what you need is a pine straw rake, EverythingAttachments has a new model out with replaceable tines. These leave the grass without damage but still do a good job of collecting the clippings and twigs.

Here is a few pics of mine behind my x749, this is a 6' model.

 

[SI2305]

Thanks for the quick responses!

I had not thought of the pine straw rake, but it looks promising.

As far as ripping up the land, I would not use this on my lawn, but rather in my "field"--an old pasture that I try to now leave as a tall grass prarie. Local regulations require that I mow the acreage at least once per year, and I know that the tines on a rake would be aggressive on turf, but I don't really know if this is relevant on the tall grass I would be working on.

How would the tines on the pine rake stand up to the chaff left over by bushhogging? I certainly don't know/have experience here, but the tines on the pine rake look like they would bend away under pressure.

Just my thoughts, and as always, I am open to advice. Thank you for the info, I certainly will take it under advice.

thanks

SI2305

PS How broad a rake--of whatever type--could my 2305 handle?

 

[Carl_NH]

At least 6'-8' I would think, but it depends on your smallest opening/area or path.

I suggested front mount on the FEL that way you keep your mower/brush hog attached to the rear.. less changes and easier on your back..

 

[jenkinsph]

The PSR is light guessing about 60 pounds so it doesn't damage the lawn. I have used mine quite a lot and have added two 42# suitcase weights when raking some loose rocks and trash or covering seeds.

I have used it to rake my own Fescue lawn without damage, understand the above pictures were of one of my customers lawns, this lawn had previously had little care. The first thing we did was remove the pine needles so the grass could grow properly. The prior raking removed a six inch layer of old needles, numerous sticks and pine cones.

These rakes are available in 5' and 6' and I would select the larger one unless it won't fit between the trees on your property.

This is a very handy inexpensive tool, about $350 delivered, I also have a Frontier landscape rake 5' and use it where more aggresive results are needed, but if I were buying only one of these it would be the PSR.

 

[SI2305]

OK, just to fill in my mental gaps, the PSR will NOT harm my lawn. Will it be sturdy enough to collect dense chaff in heavy grass? Don't get me wrong, this looks more and more like a great option, I just don't want to buy an implement that would not get through some very heavy spots

Thanks for all the advice,

SI2305

 

[SI2305]

Carl,

I truly appreciate your thoughts/concerns for my back. It has really intereared with things I never thought twice about before. I have two specific thoughts:

1) will the dethacher hold up under all the grass clippings I am going to through at it? I am not using it for the lawn, but for 6-7 foot tall grass that has been hogged, a process that leaves some pretty long clippings and generally just a LOT of matter left behind.

2) can I simply scoop up grass or rake in grass pile into the bucket and use the FEL as usual with the dethatcher still attached?

Thanks for your thoughts, I had never thought of either of these items before and I certainly am thankful for the thoughts.

SI2305

JD2305, CX200, LX4, LandPride 60" RFM, 60" grader blade, extra forward light kit, Pat's Easy Change

 

[Carl_NH]

SI2305

I like the pine straw option as it has a much larger area/capacity to collect grass and spring loaded tines. The dethacher has limited capacity but was what came to mind.. thats why its great to have others chime in too.

Here's a 5' one $175. seems reasonable but who knows with shipping the total cost. 5' NEW Tractor Three Point Hitch Pine Straw Rake | eBay

The other thing, I have seen brush hogged fields that were not "clean" but left the grass matted down and not all cut. If its matted down any rake will be tough going pulling out clumps of grass and soil too.

The dethacher is meant to be front mounted and the pine straw rake rear 3PTH. The best would be the pine straw mounted on the front (if you want to elimnate changeover) but for the price I would get the 5' one and use it as a 3PTH model then modify if you want/need to.

Its like a big yard rake IMO..

 

[lost in wisconsin]

Carl,

Might I ask what the gap is between the tines? I am constantly looking for a better way to rake horse apples in the pasture to help them breakdown.

Thank you in advance,
lost