The Green Industry's Resource Center

recycledsole · #1 10-25-2012, 09:32 PM

Hey guys,
did my first fall cleanup today and got slammed. way underbid. but a learning experience. i blew all the leaves into piles and used the tarp to get them in my truck. took way too long. Should i just use a mower with a bag? i think that would work better. please let me know
thanks alot

knox gsl · #2 10-25-2012, 09:44 PM

So are we talking about lawns less than 5K in area? I would mow over and then bag on the second pass. Even on heavily covered areas this should be the fasted way.

mowerbrad · #3 10-25-2012, 11:20 PM

I would agree, if you have a mower with a bagger, mow over the lawn first without the bagger on to help chop up some of the leaves then go back over it a second time with the bagger on and pick everything up. This will help you fit more in the bag before having to empty. If you have a small bagger, you may want to put a barrel or tarp near where you are mowing so you can just empty the bagger there instead of having to go all the way back to the truck to empty it and then just move the barrel/tarp to the truck after emptying a few times.

Jimslawncareservice · #4 10-25-2012, 11:32 PM

If you carry 2 mowers, install a mulch kit or plate on one and bag with the other. Most of small stuff like that, my navigator chops them up enough. Usually and hour and I'm out of there. Unless the leaves are tough. I have a 2 acre property with up to 12" of leaves in places.
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ddixon7 · #5 10-25-2012, 11:33 PM

I don't know what kind of mower you are using, but let the bag fill up and keep on mowing them. This will act like a mulch kit kind of. Then, bag up the crumbs.

Jimslawncareservice · #6 10-25-2012, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddixon7

I don't know what kind of mower you are using, but let the bag fill up and keep on mowing them. This will act like a mulch kit kind of. Then, bag up the crumbs.

Better take the belt off first. I burned up several my first season.
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orangemower · #7 10-26-2012, 07:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recycledsole

Hey guys,
did my first fall cleanup today and got slammed. way underbid. but a learning experience. i blew all the leaves into piles and used the tarp to get them in my truck. took way too long. Should i just use a mower with a bag? i think that would work better. please let me know
thanks alot

Maybe it "seemed" as though it took to long. Maybe it's the fact that you grossly under charged the customer? I hate to even ask what you charged to do the job?

STIHL GUY · #8 10-26-2012, 08:13 AM

I blow all the leaves into a pile by the street and suck them up with the leaf loader
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recycledsole · #9 10-26-2012, 09:14 AM

yea i dont like to tell you even what i charged :'(
i am not upset or anything, i learn from my mistakes
with the help of lawnsite!

so it seems like mower would be good. i tell you on my 21 honda mower it took about 15 seconds to fill the bag up when running it through the pile.
i am going to get a real mower soon

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangemower

Maybe it "seemed" as though it took to long. Maybe it's the fact that you grossly under charged the customer? I hate to even ask what you charged to do the job?