Landscape rake good for pine needles?

[tom correa]

I just bought a BX25 and am wondering if anyone uses a landscape rake for raking up pine needles and if so, how well does it work? Thanks.
Tom

 

[tom correa]

I should have been more specific on my question. I won't be trying to rake pine needles off turf. I want to rake them up from under the trees, which is dirt. Thanks for your response.
Tom

 

[RedDirt]

Tom,

Welcome aboard.

I have not used a landscape rake for pine needles because I thought it would create too much damage. Perhaps they work fine. As an alternative to a heavy rake I built my own lightweight version.



As light as it is it still leaves tine marks. But they are small and disappear fairly quickly.




See it post about it here

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/112451-good-landscape-rake-cheap.html

 

[northernjake]

Welcome Tom,
Although I have not used a landscape rake, and am interested in one myself, I think it would work pretty well if your terrain is fairly level. I mentioned that I was interested in a landscape rake, but before I buy one, there is a place locally where I can rent one for a few bucks on a weekend and see how it performs. From that experience, I will determine if I want to invest in one or not.

Only my 2 cents.... I'll bet you will get a response/s from folks that have "been there and done that".

Regards,
Jake

 

[Deano]

Tom,

I use my landscape rake on our dirt lane before it is graded. It works great! But, as already stated, it depends alot on ground condition etc. The lane I use it on is hard.

If you can find one to rent (already suggested) or borrow, you will find your answer before spending money .

Deano

 

[gwdixon]

If the soil underneath is too loose the rake will quickly fill up with dirt and act like a box scraper. If the dirt is hard packed it should work fine but will disturb and scarify the top half inch or so.

One technique I've used is to tilt the rake as far forward as possible by shortening the top link all the way. Then the rake has less "bite" in the ground and will slide across the top easier.

Trying to feather the 3 PT controls to just barely touch the ground is a waste of time even on perfectly flat concrete. The raking will be uneven no matter what. Try just setting it on the ground and then down a bit more to prevent gouging.

 

[ccsial]

I use a landscape rake to grade my gravel trail. It gets loaded with pine needles at times and the rake cleans them off very well. The biggest pain is getting them out of the rake after it fills up. I have gauge wheels on my rake and that keeps it from digging in but also makes removing the needles harder.

 

[MarkV]

We have about 1 mile of trails through our woods and that I rake the pine needles off of with a landscape rake. It works well but will fill up with needles to where they start rolling out under the rake. They do make a pine needle rake with finer tines. I have never used one so I can't say if it works any better.

MarkV

 

[rdsaustintx]

what about a tow-behind lawn sweeper??

 

[tom correa]

Thanks for all of the input on the landscape rake. Since I posted this I have heard about another implement called a pine straw rake which is supposed to be a bit lighter and easier on the ground. Anybody ever use one? If so, how well does it work? Thanks.
Tom

 

[RedDirt]

Thanks for all of the input on the landscape rake. Since I posted this I have heard about another implement called a pine straw rake which is supposed to be a bit lighter and easier on the ground. Anybody ever use one? If so, how well does it work? Thanks.
Tom

Tom,

Here is a link to AgriSupply's pine straw rake.

PINESTRAW RAKE 6 FT WIDTH 3 PT HITCH - Agri Supply

Is this what you are considering? It looks fairly similar to my home made rake above. I think it would work good for the light raking you seem to want and with minimal ground damage.

When I built my rake I had first considered the type of tines pictured in the pine straw rake but when I went to buy them at Tractor Supply I found the rubber hay rake replacements and thought they would work even better. The rubber teeth have worked excellent. They are stiff enough to pull or push a large pile of pine needles but also flexible enough to go over exposed boulders or roots. I've been running the rake about eight years now, spring and fall, and have not broken a tooth. And I don't baby the tool however I am just using it behind a 16HP garden tractor.

Do you have a float position on your three point? With the garden tractor I only have a fixed down position and I built the rake so at full down position the tines are just slightly bent on level ground. I think if I were to use it on a three point I'd try float position and weight the rake with an appropriate load, by trial and error, to apply the correct pressure to do the job with minimal damage.

My dealings with ASC (?AgriSuppy) have been good but I think the $350 (incl shipping) for the pine straw rake a bit high. If you can buy one locally for about $200-$250 that might not be too bad. If you or a friend can weld my little rake only cost about $40 in replacement teeth. You can build it any width you want. I had the angle for the frame in the scrap bin but if purchased this should not cost $25 or so. It is a very easy implement to build.

I like running my rake with the garden tractor because of it's great maneuverability. On my project list though is a front brush rake for the bx23. When that is done I may try the rubber tooth rake on the TPH. Then I'd have the rake to make piles and the forks (and maybe a grapple) to move the piles all on one machine.

 

[tom correa]

Thanks for the good info. I will check our Tractor Supply and see if they carry the tines to make one. No one out west carries the pine straw rakes. It seems to be an east coast/southern implement. And the shipping costs are a bit prohibitive. I'll try your approach and see if I can put one together. Doesn't seem like rocket science for the most part. I do weld a bit so maybe I will be able to come up with a good product for little money. Thanks again.
Tom

 

[RedDirt]

Tom,
Keep us posted and let us know what you decide and how it works. And remember, we all love photos.

I'd be especially interested how well my rake design works with a TPH. Last spring I built another rake for my neighbor, similar to the one I posted, but for use on the front of an ATV. He lifts it with his winch.
Ray

 

[gizmo111]

Would you be so kind to post the pictures of your rake? I would like to see it as I might like to build one. Thank you.

 

[Luv2Q]

Tom .. I can't comment on using the landscape rake with pine needles but have used mine to try to spread small wood chips. I have very sandy soil and, as others have mentioned, the rake loads up and then acts like a box blade. Plus the chips roll out from under the rake. But .. it moves material & if that's what you want to do, it should work fairly well. And, as mentioned, you can set the angle with the top link so it doesn't leave deep furrows.

You mentioned renting one. I'd sure give that a try. Lots of possible ways of setting a rake, especially if you find one that can be rotated a full 360 degrees (ie reversible) and has gauge wheels.

HTH ..

 

[ccsial]

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