TBN Poll - Best Leave Removal Method

JohnnyD · Nov 13, 2002

Allright guys. Many of us cant just grind up our leaves with the mower deck, or blow them from point A to B. We actually have to move piles that we make with a leaf blower to some other spot. So what works for you? Pulling tarps with the tractor? A big plywood box that somehow is attached to the FEL? Lawn vacs? Maybe you have an ingenious method. Enlighten us that struggle this time of year and are convinced there has got to be an easier method. John

Boondox · Nov 13, 2002

Johnny -- I use a chicken tractor mounted to the FEL. Basically a 4x8x3 frame with chicken wire (used as a portable pen). It can handle a lot of volume but not much weight, so it's perfect for moving leaves. I know Corm uses a plywood scoop thingie to extend the bottom and sides of his loader bucket. Doesn't hold as much but is far easier to load up and dump than mine.

Pete

Bird · Nov 13, 2002

I don't guess I ever found an easier way either. I just set two 55 gallon plastic barrels in the front end loader, filled them up, took them and dumped them in the garden, then tilled them in.

Gatorboy · Nov 13, 2002

Manually, the best way (I have found) is to spread out a large bed sheet, rake the leaves onto the sheet, lift all 4 corners together, and trek off like Santa Claus to your burn pile, or dumping area.

Ho Ho Ho

bellweather · Nov 13, 2002

Over time, I have found it easiest to lift the receiver off the hook, dial the landscaping service, and then write a check. Just kidding...I actually enjoy raking leaves and I use those big green plastic barrels.

riptides · Nov 13, 2002

Leaf removal for me consists of at LEAST three weekend dates with the following:
Handheld Leaf Blower
Troy-Built ChipperVAC
12X20 tarp
Hand Rake

Due to the various trees, oaks, maples, beech, they all drop the leaves at different dates.

I usually blow toward a pile, then vac the rest. then pull the pile to a dumping area, mulching what is left.

Kind of ryhms, don't it?

/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

-Mike Z.

hazmat · Nov 13, 2002

Well if Santa Cluas is generous & gets me the bucket forks I asked for, next year I'll build a big box (I like Boondox's chicken wire lets the air go somewhere) with the front open & blow them into that.

For now, I blow them into a pile, tarp 'em & haul to the compost pile. I've found that having the wife help me carry the tarp is easier on it than dragging with the tractor.

rockyridgefarm · Nov 13, 2002

1 rake away from house

2 drop a match

3 watch the pretty flames dance through the leaves

Course I don't get new imlements this way

Why is this thread in KOO?

Harv · Nov 13, 2002

<font color=blue>Why is this thread in KOO?</font color=blue>

Wondering the same thing myself. /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

Considered moving it to Rural Living, but leaf gathering is not unique to country homes. We spend a good number of hours raking/blowing/disposing of leaves here in subrubia, too, so let's make it one of those ongoing Projects.