Yard Raking Attachments

[Elviscaretaker]

I too have two full grown (80 ft) Sycamore and a full grown Soft Maple in my front yard. The Sycamores are the biggest problem. .... with stix galore after every routine storm. I can't think of a thing, nor even imagine something that will collect the branches and stix that they drop year around.

I bought a Cyclone Rake a few years ago. It is great for leaves and such things as pine needles, pine cones...maybe even a walnut or two....but, mowing over the stix, just cuts them up without sucking them up. Likewise, my Pine Needle Rake is good for Pine Needles etc....and somewhat effective at general debris in rough areas.....but of no use in gathering Sycamore stix/limbs.

Your idea about stabilizing the Pine Needle Rake tines sounds like it's worth a try. In the meantime.....I just "pick up' or hand "rake up" the crap every now and then.....and then haul it off to a burn pile or run it thru my Chipper Shredder.[

Cheers,
Mike

???? https://www.drpower.com/power-equipment/leaf-blowers-vacuums/tow-behind-leaf-vacs

 

[dbritt]

I pick up anything that would damage the mower, then I just mow over what's left and chop it up. That's how I've dealt with the problem for 50+ years. Oddly, it doesn't seem to do any noticeable damage to the blades. But, anything larger than 3/8" diameter gets picked up by hand. Last week of April a 100+ mph straight wind that took care of a lot of the sources of the sticks and leaves. Rain, rain and more rain this spring has softened the ground to the point that 21 big oak, hickory, walnut, and maple trees, plus a huge pecan tree all uprooted. Think about cleaning all that up before you mow and your problem won't look so bad.

 

[D&D]

Last week of April a 100+ mph straight wind that took care of a lot of the sources of the sticks and leaves. Rain, rain and more rain this spring has softened the ground to the point that 21 big oak, hickory, walnut, and maple trees, plus a huge pecan tree all uprooted. Think about cleaning all that up before you mow and your problem won't look so bad.

What a terrible loss for you

 

[Zork]

I bought a 3 bag bagger 29 years ago and have ever regretted buying one. This tractor has now retired for bagging only.

 

[Zork]

There is also an estate rake but you would still need to get the leaves up and off the lawn afterwards.

https://www.northerntool.com/products/strongway-55in-inline-acreage-rake-operating-width-55-in-model-acr-600tswl-6105428?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Lawn%20%2B%20Garden%20%3E%20Dethatchers%20%2B%20Rakes&utm_campaign=Strongway&utm_content=6105428&ogmap=SHP%7CPLA%7CGOOG%7CSTND%7Cm%7CSITEWIDE%7COOT%7CGroundsMaintenanceOwnedBrands%7C%7Badgroup%7D%7C%7C19587235355%7C148243178151&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19587235355&gbraid=0AAAAADpPfbNOBJZZwc6iwH4dmHY5hKZvQ&gclid=CjwKCAjwl_XBBhAUEiwAWK2hzo0A7dKLPIjonYHOHitndJzJ_2Lhuh7ljiBJ7ZczPcInszIMS3DZjRoCAHQQAvD_BwE

 

[Wannabe Tractor Man]

I have the same issue you have and bit the big one 27 years ago and purchased a cyclone rake. Best investment I ever made! It’s so easy to use I use it every time I cut the grass. The machine is extremely well built and the company is a pleasure to deal with. Anyone who talks bad about this machine is crazy. Cyclonerake.com

 

[masscity]

My older brother who died 3 years ago loved his cyclonerake. His whole yard was covered with trees. He used it on a zero turn first, but bought another garden tractor, he said it worked better on.

 

[Pecosbill7]

Try one of these. It’s pretty darn effective and it’s especially good at getting up leaves in the fall. You need to find just the right setting to where it just flicks the debris up into the basket. If you set it too deeply it will just get bogged down in the grass; too lightly and it won’t pick anything up. You can attach a rope to the basket and when it’s full you just drive to your dump/mulch site and pull the rope and dump it out. I’ve used one for years and once you get it dialed in it works pretty darn good, especially for the money:

https://www.northerntool.com/products/brinly-hardy-54in-lawn-sweeper-with-double-helix-brushes-working-width-54-in-hopper-capacity-31-ft-model-ls2-54bh-g-6489396

 

[Hoho223]

How about picking up anything over a half inch or so and just mow/mulch the rest.

 

[coopdog]

Anybody have a GOOD way to rake their yard with some sort of attachment or yard tool outside of a good old-fashioned hand rake?
I have over one and 2/3 acres of yard with many maples and Sycamore trees that lose branches and twigs like leaves. Every time there is wind, I am out there raking by hand and in many cases, I am raking the complete yard by hand.
I have tried a Pineneedle Rake, and the tires are so springy that they release the raked contents after a little loading, and do no good. I do have an Estate Rake, but twigs are not its friend. It does wonders for detaching, however.
Other options I have thought of our a power rake like a Shindiawa or Stihl, and although it’s not manually raking, hustling a 40 pound yard tool with an 18 inch brush or rubber, paddle roller, seems like a fair amount of work.
Having a $20,000 tractor sitting there, sure tries to get me to think of ways to either find an attachment, or make something that would work to save me some time.
Any thoughts are appreciated.

I use a ride on Scag Windstorm machine which does wonders. It’s expensive but I have a lot of leaves to move.
A less expensive option for you is a PTO leaf blower attachment. There are several brands available depending on your needs.