Need a way to handle sticks & branches

[gary_dsc]

Each spring and after windstorms, my lawn is littered with lots of sticks and small branches. It gets real old walking the 2 acres that I mow and picking up this stuff, which is especially heavy under the ash trees. Has anyone tried to use a landscape rake to move this debris into piles without tearing up the grass? Is there another way to do this? I mulch the grass clippings with my mower, but it doesn't do a good job of picking up the sticks. Any ideas?

 

[andrewj]

remove two tines, leave one, remove two, leave one....will gather sticks, renovate, airate, and re seed

 

[gary_dsc]

OK, thanks AndrewJ. I will give it a try.

 

[shvl73]

Unless they are larger than 1/2", I just mow them and it grinds them up. I use mulch blades as well and you sure don't get much lift but, eventually it does get them. You might see if Gator blades are made for your mower. I think they might make a high lift version.

 

[OKnewguy]

I find that the landscape rake works wonders. It scuffs up our bermuda, but in a week or so it comes back stronger. I believe it helps stimulate the grass. Bremuda is pretty tuff though, on the shade grass (kentucky 31 I think) I am a little more gingerly with it. Compared to the bermuda the shade grass is fragile. BTW, set your rake up where the tines are about perpendicular to the ground, that way you do not get hardly any soil.
Dave

 

[schmism]

a landscape rake with gauge wheels sounds like it would work well.

I have to admit to not picking up the smallest of the sticks... but i do try to move most of them....

 

[SteveInMD]

I only pick up the large ones, and I mow up the rest. I don't bother to sharpen my mower blades until after the first few mowings of the year, when I encounter the majority of the sticks.

 

[gary_dsc]

Sounds like a landscape rake has possibilities and I'm looking around for one to buy. Like everything else, I'm sure that some are better than others. Do they all offer the same capabilities as far as removeable tines, etc.?

I'm not familar with Gator blades. What advantage do they offer and are they available for mulching mowers?

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[shvl73]

Here's some info on the Gator blades: The Gator Mulcher blade

 

[kwolfe]

a landscape rake with gauge wheels sounds like it would work well.

I have to admit to not picking up the smallest of the sticks... but i do try to move most of them....

Could not agree more. Set the guage wheels close to the rake and go. Should work great.