YARD SWEEPERS

[RUSS HAYNES]

I am looking to buy a yard sweeper I am wondering if anyone can lead me to which brand is the best to buy? Are they worth buying or is it a waste of money?
Russ

 

[oliver28472]

I have a Craftsman that is a 38" bought new probably 9-10 years ago. I have worn it out and rebuilt it. It has done mostly what I ask of it. It will pick up leaves, pine needles, cones, etc. If you set it low enough it will sweep your concreted drive. There are better ones and more expensive ones out there. Mine has served me pretty well. The stitches wore off the back where the thick plastic bottom is sewed to the canvas sides. I took an upholstery needle and some braided fishing line and sewed it up day before yesterday. I think most of them now are 42" wide. Welcome to TBN!

 

[amigauser]

Russ,

Good question. I have wondered the same thing.

This one has received good reviews.
www.wikco.biz/GroomerSweeper.htm

Norm

 

[oliver28472]

Now that looks interesting.

 

[Grand_Pooba]

I've got one thats about 30 years old and still woks good. It looks like this one Agri-Fab. It's nice because you can dump it without getting off the tractor. I only use it for leaves now but I used to use it while mowing with my rear discharge Wheelhorse mower.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I have a Craftsman that has served me well for the last couple of years. The linked unit in the previous post looks very substantial, but so does the price tag. I have a vacuum collector for my garden tractor and belly mower, but try to mulch the yard most of the time. Occasionally, if I wait a day too long, I'll get some windrowing. That is when the sweeper really shines. I can pick up the windrows, while leaving most of the clippings on the lawn.

I have also used it to pick up the plugs after aerating. If you do that, dump it long before the hopper is full. Don't ask me how I know this.

 

[ancientlake]

I think that yard sweepers are the easiest, cheapest way to make your lawn look great. I pull mine while I'm mowing. It enables me to mow with my side discharge pointing "in" on the lawn tractor. This gets enough of the cutting to make it look clean but leaves some to mulch in.

I had a lousy sweeper for a while and even it worked well. Looked into which was best a couple of years ago and consensus was the Craftsman. I wouldn't buy a Craftsmen tractor, but the sweeper is good and reasonably priced. The rotating sweeper is geared up to spin faster which enables it to pick up clippings even at slower mowing speeds (the sweeper part is driven by the turning wheels of the unit as it is pulled).

 

[wedge40]

I've had one of the Agri-Fabs for about 10 years now. Dont use it every time I mow but probably once or twice a season. But it works well and I like it when I use it. The only thing I'd change is I wish the sweeper would turn faster at slower speeds. To get my yard to look good, I usually mow into windrows and then rake the grass and haul it away with a little dump trailer. I dont have a mulching mower, so my grass comes out pretty clumpy. I guess it'd help if I mowed more often too.

Wedge

 

[wedge40]

I have also used it to pick up the plugs after aerating. If you do that, dump it long before the hopper is full. Don't ask me how I know this.

Do have your own aerator or did you rent one? I've thought about getting one but for something I'd use every couple of years, just doesn't seem worth it.

Wedge

 

[oliver28472]

If you buy a good aerator your brothers will borrow it.

 

[mjfox6]

Just got back from Sears, where I bought this one. It is on sale through March 1. I've never used one before.

Craftsman 42 in. High Speed Sweeper - Model 24222 at Sears.com