Look what we mulched, then bagged.

[MOW ED]

Used the Toro 44" W/doubles and mulch kit. The pile was about 3 feet high after we blew everything to the grass area.

[MOW ED]

Toro chewed em up. All silver maple, real dry.

[MOW ED]

Made a mess

[MOW ED]

Walker finished it up

[ULTIMATE LAWN]

Hope you cleaned that air cleaner half way through.

Why not mulch them ON the lawn?

[MOW ED]

You would think we would have to clean the air filter.

We did mulch them on the lawn. ???

[MOW ED]

This is after 12 hours in the dust above. This air cleaner is in great shape and if I had my stock Kohler cover on it we would have had to stop every hour and clean. The Engineaire is a GREAT investment. 59 bucks for the Kohler 15. Well worth it.

[MacLawnCo]

That sure is a beautiful mess. How small did you get that pile of leaves down to?

[Envy Lawn Service]

I did a few like that this week. You know, the non-full service customers who at 1st don't want to pay for leaf management. I give them my pricing schedule for how I charge...

"Well..I don't know about that...it might run into too much money" or "we'll just rake them up one saturday"

Then once they get started they change their minds or weather strikes before they finish. Then they call me...

"We decided to go ahead and pay you to do it. We raked part of it up already"

***Get out the wallet or the checkbook and a good pen***

[Doc Pete]

I'm wondering, I assume the end result was you bagged everything with the walker, since it's impossible to make that amout of leaves disappear as it seems in the picture. And if so, why didn't you just tarp the leaves into the truck, or just suck them up in the beginning, rather than waste all that time mulching and them bagging????
thanks,
Pete

[Lawn-Scapes]

MOW ED.. I think he meant why didn't you mulch them before blowing into piles.. even if they are on the drive?

That is your wife with the Toro.. where's her dust mask?

[Ryan Lightning]

OK, someone has to say it! Whats with the stupid reflectors up the driveway? :dizzy:

[darryl gesner]

Ryan - In snow country people line the drives with reflectors so you don't plow the lawn when snow plowing. Painted wooded stakes work just as well. Especially helpful on curves, like those in the picture. I can't say for sure why those are there, but I'll just about guarantee you that's the answer.

[gravedigger5]

Did you have regular double blades or gators on that toro? I got single magnums on my Z and they work great on leaves.

[gogetter]

Mow Ed, the end result looks very good!. But I do have to say I'm not sure I understand the thinking behind the method.
As was already asked, why not just use the walker and collect them as you go rather then using the two mowers and mulching first?
It seems like a whole extra step involved.

I'm curious if you've given any thought to a leaf loader and box on your truck (since you're removing the leaves anyway). Seems like it woud work well for you in that sort of situation especially.

Hopefully you won't take my questions wrong. I'm not knocking ya (see first sentence). Just getting some ideas flowing for all of us. I know I'm always thinking of ways to do it easier/faster/better.

Take care.

[captdevo]

i do the same in thick leaves, i mulch most into dust, then whats not mulched i vac with the walker.

if you just use a Walker, you'll vac all the leaves, buy mulching first, you reduce clippings substantially.

[ULTIMATE LAWN]

Why get them in a pile & then mulch them instead of mulching them on the lawn?

Was it a pile pick-up only.

Regardless the results are impressive.

[mcambrose]

For those maple leaves, the mulching knocks it down to about 1/6 of the original volume. Also, mulching is fast because yoiu are not stopping to empty the walker. It does depend on the type of leaves. Some of the smaller oak eaves don't mulch hardly at all.

[MOW ED]

Guys, guys, No offense taken at all. I post here to encourage discussion about methods and what works. That is how I learned from all of you here and I am still learning. That being said, I will explain.
This is a rather large property 38000 sq ft on a river with a large hill in the back. The customer is a full season customer and he and his wife are what we call Snowbirds. They are here in the summer and Nov. 1st they are in Arizona until Mid May. He is a very wealthy man.
The lot has many trees and so do the neighboring lots. Many silver maples and if you have experience with them you will know that they turn to dust when they are dry. Very little remains.
We are at out 3rd and final visit here and we have aprox 16 man hours in it.
This is the first year for this customer and I was referred to him by an LCO that expanded his operation and needed to drop some of his bigger residentials. I have an in on what he charged per hour and This customer accepted my proposal of an additional $8.00 to the old rate.
I have many jobs to do and I cannot be tied to one property as we don't have a whole bunch of time to work.

To answer Ultimate Lawn, we only blew to a pile because this is the way the prevalent wind was blowing and the pile came from leaves that we blew from the house area. There is no way to run the mower up to the gravel and shrubs to mulch the stuff so we blew it out and it just happened to land in a pile. We do not blow things into piles to mulch them as it is quicker when there is a small layer but we had to here.

Gogetter,
You may think that it is an extra step but it isn't. The Walker is a good machine but there are limitations. I have learned this over the years. The other thing is that I only have one Walker. The Walker can hold about 10 bushels before you have to dump. When I work alone I usually just do what you said. Keep working the pile. The leaves are reduced with a Walker but I did some tests and found that I can reduce 100 bushels(about 10-11 loads) to ONE by usint the Toro WB with the mulch kit , hi lifts lower and atomics upper. I am not lying, that is why we do it.

What you see was the result of mulching them into fine pieces and then going over it with the Walker to pick up little stems and pieces that piled up. I took less than a full hopper to the curb to dump. While my wife was mulching I was on other parts of the property picking up leaves that werent very deep. So by both mowers working we are billing at double that rate since its billed per man hour.

We do not haul leaves to the dump, we put them on the curb and the city picks them up. The Walker does a great job of making the property look neat and it does vacuum up lots of excess material. The leaves that we mulch are from the tree where it fell so it isn't a major deal. They will be decomposed back into the soil by the time spring clean comes.

Ryan,
What darryl said

Tsg,
We will work on an Engineaire mask for her.;)

Pete, We dont tarp anything and we dont have a vac truck. That would help but I don't own one. Either way we are spoiled because of the curbside pickup.

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by MOW ED


Pete, We dont tarp anything and we dont have a vac truck. That would help but I don't own one. Either way we are spoiled because of the curbside pickup.

Thanks,
I guess out here in NJ I'm used to looking at fall cleanups with the lawn being perfectly clean. Actually, from the picture it looks as though the lawn has been cleaned well. From your post there is a fair amount of mulch, which there has to be, which the picture does not show. Also, you are lucky the leaves are dry.:p How do things work out if they are wet. I guess I should have taken things into consideration when I saw only a 15 hp on the 44. when we get wet stuff that mower would not be able to make even one pass.
Last, what the reason why you don't blow them into a pile first, and let the curbside service save a few steps????

Pete

[gogetter]

Mow Ed, you mean you're doing all that work to reduce the volume, and the city's taking them away????

Reducing volume would make alot of sense if YOU were removing them from property, but why do it for the city? I would have put those piles on a big tarp and dragged it to the curb. Use your walker to pull the tarp if it's too heavy. Or make a couple trips.

Not sure if the way I mentioned would be faster or easier (maybe, maybe not), but I would think it would be alot less messy and that is something I consider when deciding how to do handle a particular job.

However, maybe that's just me, because I really dislike standing in the middle of a dust cloud of leaves! LOL! Cough! cough!

Either way, your way works for you and thanks for sharing it with us.

[MOW ED]

Pete,
You are right about wet leaves. When they are wet it is a pain in the butt and I try and schedule certain properties depending on the weather. Too wet and we don't work. We have been fortunate this fall. The street is about 300 feet from where this pile is so blowing that mess against a wind and thru the spruce and pines would be a MAJOR pain. There is mulch in the grass but as I said the winter will make that disappear by the spring. I have been watching the results of this for a few years now and the maples really decompose nicely. That 15 may not seem too powerful but it really has done a nice job for us. It was purchased a few years ago to be a backup for a Walker that had a POS 25HP Kohler in it. Now my wife helps out and it has become hers. I would like a 52 with a Kawi on it but this only has 450 hours on it.

Gogetter,
I reduce the volume so that I can vacuum less debris up with the Walker. The time spent on tarping in the wind and dragging is time done with physical labor. I'd rather sit. If we dont reduce the volume the Walker has to make lots of trips back and forth dumping so we find our way a good way to keep 2 people working ($$) and reduce the physical labor part of the job. The reduced leaves are heavier and they do not tend to blow around so when we dump, they stay put.
The leaf dust is around but not really a huge issue most times. I kinda like it but then I am used to taking a little smoke in at fires too.:p .
I appreciate the input and I take all the suggestions and remember them. If I have time I will try different methods and you have introduced me to them. Thanks to all. Our season is just about over, 3 or 4 jobs to do then wash em up and off to winter storage. Take care.

[HOMER]

MowEd,

I'd a done it the same way. The way your doing it is faster in the long run and a mulched leaf won't blow away on you like a whole one will.

[jeffex]

TSG has it right! Why blow the leavs into a pile? just ride around mulching them to dust then make a pass with the bagger on to get last pieces. I did one tues. that the neighbors came out with looks of disbelief when I got done mulching 4" of leaves. I put the bagger on and filled it 2 times . I collected 2 bags of ground up dust. took 50 min. for $50 They had 25 plus bags nd were not done yet. One neighbor asked for a price and I will do her leaves this week. I will be cuttig her lawn next season too! I love leaves$$$$$

[The Mowerdude]

Well, I'm really NOT trying to be adversarial here, but....it seems that whenever someone posts about their particular method of leaf removal, it's open season for all the critics to come in and start picking it all apart.

"why don't you blow it all onto tarps and just drag it to the street?"

"why don't you just mulch it all?"

"why don't you....why don't you....why don't you...."

The fact is, anyone, such as MowEd, that has been at this for a while, and has both mulching options AND bagging options available, knows from experience what works, what doesn't work and he also knows his own properties and the fastest best way to finish them in a workmanlike manner. One may require mulching, another bagging and still another, a combination. We can bat this around back and forth until we're all blue in the face, but in the end, we still have to go out and figure it out for ourselves like MowEd has done here.

MowEd, looks to me like you figured this yard out because you've been there.

[jeffex]

Your right!! I guess I'll be voted off lawnsite Island this week. Just trying to help does sound too much like "know it allism". my appoligies!!! Great pictures

[Doc Pete]

Originally posted by The Mowerdude
MowEd, looks to me like you figured this yard out because you've been there.

Well, actually, in many cases that's just not true at all. Not to start an arguement, but reading the posts on pistol grip machines verses a Hustler WB........ AND chainsaw style hedge trimmers compared to pole hedge trimmer, many of you guy's have tunnel vision so bad it's hard to have a constructive conversation with.
Pete

[David Haggerty]

Originally posted by The Mowerdude
Well, I'm really NOT trying to be adversarial here, but....it seems that whenever someone posts about their particular method of leaf removal, it's open season for all the critics to come in and start picking it all apart.

"why don't you blow it all onto tarps and just drag it to the street?"

"why don't you just mulch it all?"

"why don't you....why don't you....why don't you...."

The fact is, anyone, such as MowEd, that has been at this for a while, and has both mulching options AND bagging options available, knows from experience what works, what doesn't work and he also knows his own properties and the fastest best way to finish them in a workmanlike manner. One may require mulching, another bagging and still another, a combination. We can bat this around back and forth until we're all blue in the face, but in the end, we still have to go out and figure it out for ourselves like MowEd has done here.

MowEd, looks to me like you figured this yard out because you've been there.

I think you've answered your own question here.
That's what this forum is about. How do you do it and why.

I've learned more this year about leaves than I already knew. I guess I just wasn't paying attention. But thenI'm only 56, so give me a chance.

I mow a little circle park in town of about an acre. There must be 20 trees, half of them maples. It has 13 houses surrounding it. Always before I'd begin in the middle and blow the leaves to the curb with the mower for the city to pick up.

This year (with what I learned here) I put double blades on the Toro 325 with Gators on the top. I started at the outside blowing the leaves in to the center. It looks better than it has in 20 years! (I've been mowing it for 20 years so I ought to know)
The leaves all got mulched to powder with no piles of leaves left to kill off the grass at the curb.

One of the residents came out of her house and watched what I was doing. She is a city councilwoman. So I guess I'm not the only one learning about leaves from this forum.

Thanks to everyone for posting.

Dave

[bobbygedd]

what about safety? the person on that toro sucked most of the dust into her lungs. can u say......dustmask???? or is it easier to say....lung disease?????//

[MOW ED]

Thanks for the tip. We will take your concern into consideration.

Can you say-- we already discussed this?

Or is it easier to say it again.

[kutnkru]

Originally posted by bobbygedd
what about safety? the person on that toro sucked most of the dust into her lungs. can u say......dustmask???? or is it easier to say....lung disease?????// This comment has got me thinking about just how unsafe the hedge trimming aspect of our jobs are, or even the line trimmers duties for that matter.

I know that I have done my best to virtually elimanate as much exhaust as I can for the positions, but I still get an awful lot of smoke from time to time while bending over this way and hanging upside down that way to get shrubs looking their best.

Never really gave it much thought considering how much tar many people inhale on a daily basis with cigartettes and the like. Just figured it was one of those things you either live with or move on from.

[gogetter]

Originally posted by The Mowerdude
it's open season for all the critics to come in and start picking it all apart.

"why don't you blow it all onto tarps and just drag it to the street?"


Mowerdude since you quoted one of my lines, I tought I should address this. If you read my posts on this thread I was never being critical or picking apart his techique.
As a matter of fact I was VEEERY careful about what I said as the last thing I wanted was for this thread to go in the same direction as some of the other leaf threads have recently.
I was simply trying to get ideas flowing for everyone. Never said anyone's technique was right or wrong.
There's a fine line between discussing something and criticizing something. As far as I can tell we were all just discussing it.

[MOW ED]

Here is a bump from the old days when we were just "learning" how to mulch.

[Snapper Jack]

This year (with what I learned here) I put double blades on the Toro 325 with Gators on the top. I started at the outside blowing the leaves in to the center. It looks better than it has in 20 years! (I've been mowing it for 20 years so I ought to know)
The leaves all got mulched to powder with no piles of leaves left to kill off the grass at the curb.

Dave

Those doubles with either Gators or G6s on top are freakin awesome aren't they? The heck with bagging:laugh:

[integrityman]

Those doubles with either Gators or G6s on top are freakin awesome aren't they? The heck with bagging:laugh:

I dont use doubles when grinding leaves as I tend to think it can create additional wear on the clutch. The leaves alone put extra stress on the clutch assembly. I use mamba blades from Gthomas and get fantastic results....

[2stroked]

The way I always do it is blow out of the flower beads and such, and then bag. Then after that I mulch up what's left and blow the dust into the woods. Works for me. Thank God I had a mask today. Dust was so thick I couldn't see at times!

[yardguy28]

Mow Ed, the end result looks very good!. But I do have to say I'm not sure I understand the thinking behind the method.
As was already asked, why not just use the walker and collect them as you go rather then using the two mowers and mulching first?
It seems like a whole extra step involved.

I'm curious if you've given any thought to a leaf loader and box on your truck (since you're removing the leaves anyway). Seems like it woud work well for you in that sort of situation especially.

Hopefully you won't take my questions wrong. I'm not knocking ya (see first sentence). Just getting some ideas flowing for all of us. I know I'm always thinking of ways to do it easier/faster/better.

Take care.

i can understand it because of the way i do it.

my set up is a quad cab pick up with 6' bed, pulling a 7' x 14' enclosed trailer full of equipment.

first i blow the leaves from the mulch beds, walk ways, drive ways into the turf areas.

then i throw the catcher on my grandstand and mow over everything once before emptying the catcher. once the catcher is full it mulches the leaves up.

then i empty the catcher and make a second pass collecting the rest usually. in thicker stuff i have to make 3 passes to get everything.

this saves considerable space in my 6' bed.

i can see making a pile works well too because i have a guy i'm friends with who does it this way. he blows all the leaves from everywhere into one pile and disects it with a 21 incher. then he mows the turf if needed.

personally i'd like to have a walker to make my final "collecting whats left" pass, but not for over 12k.

[Snapper Jack]

I dont use doubles when grinding leaves as I tend to think it can create additional wear on the clutch. The leaves alone put extra stress on the clutch assembly. I use mamba blades from Gthomas and get fantastic results....
LMAO, could of squeezed on another bag of leafs:laugh: I have manual,so there are no clutch issues but you'd be right on the electrical ones.