spreading mulch with a tractor

[tractchores]

I'm mid way through my annual mulch spreading on flower beds around the house. I have to spread around 8 or 9 yards once a year. My normal method is to scoop up a bucket load, drive and position the bucket and then throw it by hand on the beds. In areas where I can't or don't want to take a tractor I fill a wheel barrel with the FEL and use that.

My big question is - is there a better way to spread mulch with a tractor? Right now it takes a solid 5 -8 hours depending on how hard I work (usually am doing it myself). Is there a better way?

 

[Soundguy]

get rid of the flower beds?

 

[tractchores]

get rid of the flower beds?

Then I have to mow it! It'd be nice to let it just grow up and mow it a few times a year, but the wife won't accept that.

 

[Soundguy]

mowings easier than mulching in my book.

my last house I had landscaped beds around the perimeter of the house and around a tree inthe front yard.. and onthe sides.

insurance co on my next house advised against them due to moisture and wood debris near house / termites. I was happy too.

I just mow now.

 

[Ed of all trades]

You drive the tractor and "let" your wife spread the mulch.:thumbsup:

 

[mjarrels]

Get a pto manure spreader, fill with mulch, back up to the area to be spreading mulch and ingage pto... watch the mulch fly!

mark

 

[k0ua]

You drive the tractor and "let" your wife spread the mulch.:thumbsup:

That's the way it works at my house.

 

[Carl_NH]

Tratchores.

I use the FEL bucket and make small piles in beds and at the edge where I can reach with the FEL then use a rake to push around.

For those other areas deeper in beds maybe 30% I use a wheelbarrow I fill with mulch at the pile using the FEL.

Takes most of a day to do 15 yards.

 

[forgeblast]

Use a big flat shovel, I have an old shovel from my grams coal bin that holds a lot of mulch. I find its easier to throw the mulch into position then move it by hand/rake if needed.

 

[HeyNow]

I pile in the front of the beds with the FEL and then rake back....I put down 15 yards a year around my house....

 

[s219]

I go and get a trailer full with my SUV, then hitch up the trailer to my tractor when I get home. I drive the trailer around from bed to bed, and pitchfork directly from the trailer into the beds. My beds are all about 4-5 feet wide (from the house foundation).

 

[tractchores]

Thanks, some good ideas. I like the wife one the best, but so far no dice on that, she seems to go 'missing' when its time to mulch! I have done some of the dump a pile and rake it or use a pitch fork to spread it (which works decently). I even tried some areas where I back dragged the fel, which worked but used a huge amount of mulch. I wonder if they make one of those PTO mulch blower things....

 

[Carl_NH]

Yep, they rent the mulch blowers Finn Bark BB302 Blower for rent

But I think you need someone filling it and someone spreading it.

My advice is to get a helper.

I used to "do it all" - mulching, edging 800' of beds, and about 3 years ago we found a fellow to assist, and it makes things bearable and manageable.