Want a machine that will mulch leaves...lots of leaves.

[shooterdon]

Tried of bagging and blowing. I spend almost as much time removing leaves in the fall as I do mowing all year. My Husqvarna YTH24 with bagger is what I am using now.

I want a machine that will cut grass and mulch leaves. I have about 2 acres of lawn to tend. 2 dozen trees in the lawn area and surrounded by woods. Trees are oak, maple, birch and poplar.

I was all set to buy a Country Clipper from the local Amish dealer, but he was honest, and told me it was a poor choice for mulching.

Prefer a ZT but a rider is fine if it does the mulching job. Budget is $5k.

Thanks for any guidance.

 

[amaxwell]

Tried of bagging and blowing. I spend almost as much time removing leaves in the fall as I do mowing all year. My Husqvarna YTH24 with bagger is what I am using now.

I want a machine that will cut grass and mulch leaves. I have about 2 acres of lawn to tend. 2 dozen trees in the lawn area and surrounded by woods. Trees are oak, maple, birch and poplar.

I was all set to buy a Country Clipper from the local Amish dealer, but he was honest, and told me it was a poor choice for mulching.

Prefer a ZT but a rider is fine if it does the mulching job. Budget is $5k.

Thanks for any guidance.

I just made a plate of 1/8 aluminum to bolt over the grass outlet of my Exmark ,and it does a good but dusty job mulching. If I can I try to mulch after a rain to cut down on dust.

 

[SJay]

I live in the woods and am surrounded by 100's of trees. I got a Cyclone Rake and I use it with my zero turn. In the fall I use it about 3-4 times and it takes care of all the leaves. Works very well.

 

[ChuckT]

Second vote for a cyclone rake.
I've gotta add its a clumsy appendage on a lawn tractor but it does the job. We had 6 acres, 2 cleared, when we had it with lots of trees. And oaks in Florida will drop leaves if you look at them crooked. In Sandy spots it did almost too good a job.

 

[Carl_NH]

I use a Trac Vac 580 - it has a metal 27 Cu Ft box for collection and a Ferris Zero Turn with Gator mulching blades. For the first few light leaf falls I just mulch them down to fine bits, then when the trees drop most of their leaves I mulch and window them then collect with the trac vac.

This is on about 2.5 acres with at least 30-40 oak and maple trees. There are a few units available locally here - the DR looks to be a nice sized unit - 8 or 10 HP engine. THen there is a cyclone rake - small one for a great price $500. northern MI for sale "leaf vacuum" - craigslist

The cyclone rake would work behind your current tractor, and invest in some gator blades too - they make a big difference.

 

[ChuckT]

Yeah buddy on the Gator blades!

 

[Gem99ultra]

If you want to go cheap, buy the mulching kit and mulching blades for your Husqvarna YTH24. It'll do a good job and keep the chopped up leaves there for fertilizer.

 

[5030]

Yeah buddy on the Gator blades!

Gator Mulcher blades on your existing unit. Mich cheaper. In my case I just let the wind blow my leaves down to the next property...

 

[Industrial Toys]

Doesn't there come a point at which there are simply too many leaves for mulching in place?

 

[Shaneard]

We have very large willow oaks in our yard (among a lot of other tress in our yard and around us) and I constantly fight leaves in the fall. I have a zero turn with a 54" deck, bought a Trac-Vac at an auction like new for less than half the price of a new one. Hooked it to the ZT and spent more time unclogging the hose than getting leaves up (deck puts out to much for the hose to handle). A friend gave me an older Cub Cadet with a 32" deck. I was going to get rid of it but decided to hook the Trac-Vac to it. Got leaves up with it 2 years ago and never once stopped to unclog the hose. Used it last year and did great again.

I blow my leaves away from the house, take the ZT and mow/mulch them into rows then take the Cub Cadet with the Trac-Vac and get them up. It's a lot of work but you got to do what you got to do.

I have learned to not try and get leaves up when they are the least little bit wet, it's a pain.