Lawn sweeper vs bagger

HGM · Aug 11, 2005

Just curious of your experience with lawn sweepers. I'm in need of something to pick up the massive amounts of grass left after I finaly get a chance to mow. Its been raining here for 4-5days per week for the past??????????I forgot how long its been... Anyhow, the grass is pretty healthy and my JD LT150 just stacks it allong side as it cuts.

I'm afraid to invest in a bagger that wont pick up wet grass, and really not sure if I want to spend the money on a powered unit either. I saw the sweepers and though they are meant for leaves, thought it might be a cheaper option for the several times a year I would use it. I cut about 1.5acres and have very few leaves to pick up. Under normal circumstances, w/o the rain I would just let it lay.

I figure some of you guys have been there and would have a few good suggestions, thanks.

Phoenix1 · Aug 12, 2005

I use a sweeper and works pretty good. Also use it for leaves as I have at least a gazillion. Make sure you have someplace to dump the grass (like in the woods).

You might try one other thing before investing in the sweeper, though. I assume you discharge the grass to the outside of the path. After you're done cutting, re cut going in the opposite direction throwing the grass to the inside. This accumulates the vast majority of it and makes raking very easy as the grass is piled up already. If you have an extreme amount and it starts to choke the blades, make multiple piles.

Panache · Aug 12, 2005

I bought one from Sears to do just what you are doing. I cut one day and recut then sweep the second day. This way when sweeping the grass has dried a lot. Most of my grass is crabgrass and bahia and needs to dry before sweeping. When cutting the second day I windrow it.

bontai_Joe · Aug 12, 2005

Sweeping wet grass does not work as well as dry grass, so if you can let it lay for a day and then sweep, it tends to come up very clean. However a sweeper will pick up wet grass without all the plugging and stoppages of a bagger. I've used a sweeper for over 25 years with good success on wet grass, dry grass, large pine cones, even the accidently shredded paper that goes through a mower if you live near a road where folks throw out their trash while driving buy. The other plus of a sweeper is that it fits the tractor you have now, and will also fit any future machines, no special adapters, no special brackets, and they tend to cost less to boot. The down side to a sweeper is that as long as you are pulling it, it's sweeping. A hassle if you have to cross mulched or gravel walkways.