I'm looking for ideas on how to clean up broken glass that is scattered throughout turf.
Let me explain. Last Friday, this area had a very sudden, and very strong wind/rain storm that came through late afternoon. It only lasted for 15 minutes, but took down many trees and limbs.
I went to my last customer of the day this evening, ready to mow 1.8A with my ZTR. The owner came out as I was trimming to explain she had not yet cleaned up the yard. After some explanation, we walked to an area scattered with glass. The wind had taken a glass table from their patio, and thrown the table top (not attached to the base) 60-70 feet away, with more glass pieces another 30 feet beyond the initial impact point.
The glass was a safety glass. It was a 4X6 ft table, the glass being encapsulated by a metal frame. The pieces on the turf was no bigger than 6" on any side, most were 2-3" on a side. And, there were many smaller pieces.
The problem is the safety glass disintegrates into small pieces, about 1/4" on a side. When trying to pick them up with a gloved hand, the pieces fall apart into pieces (1/4" on a side). I think the characteristics are not unlike those of an auto windshield, safety glass intended to break into small pieces rather than dangerous shards.
I tried to use a rake, but that only broke the pieces apart, settling more of the glass further into the turf. My best approach seemed to be grabbing handfuls of grass and glass together, hoping to get as much glass as possible. Sometimes, using two hands to cup together, again taking grass and glass together. I spent close to 1.5 hours, mostly on hand/knees, putting the debris into a cardboard box the owner gave to me.
Perhaps I should have tried a trowel, or a flat piece of cardboard (such as the back panel of a tablet).
I'm wondering of anybody else has had this to handle, and if so, how did you handle it? I'm concerned because thinking on customers with similar tables on their patio, I may encounter other properties with the same problem this week. The storm was late on Friday, so I still have many properties to visit before completing the weekly cycle.
I ran out of time to mow, so will return tomorrow to do the mowing. I'm hoping the small glass particles still remaining will not cause flat tires on my ZTR. I intend to make it the last stop of the day, so if I do have a problem, I will have completed all other work beforehand. And, I will leave the area in question to the last area to be mowed on that property.
... just looking for alternatives to do the cleanup.
Let me explain. Last Friday, this area had a very sudden, and very strong wind/rain storm that came through late afternoon. It only lasted for 15 minutes, but took down many trees and limbs.
I went to my last customer of the day this evening, ready to mow 1.8A with my ZTR. The owner came out as I was trimming to explain she had not yet cleaned up the yard. After some explanation, we walked to an area scattered with glass. The wind had taken a glass table from their patio, and thrown the table top (not attached to the base) 60-70 feet away, with more glass pieces another 30 feet beyond the initial impact point.
The glass was a safety glass. It was a 4X6 ft table, the glass being encapsulated by a metal frame. The pieces on the turf was no bigger than 6" on any side, most were 2-3" on a side. And, there were many smaller pieces.
The problem is the safety glass disintegrates into small pieces, about 1/4" on a side. When trying to pick them up with a gloved hand, the pieces fall apart into pieces (1/4" on a side). I think the characteristics are not unlike those of an auto windshield, safety glass intended to break into small pieces rather than dangerous shards.
I tried to use a rake, but that only broke the pieces apart, settling more of the glass further into the turf. My best approach seemed to be grabbing handfuls of grass and glass together, hoping to get as much glass as possible. Sometimes, using two hands to cup together, again taking grass and glass together. I spent close to 1.5 hours, mostly on hand/knees, putting the debris into a cardboard box the owner gave to me.
Perhaps I should have tried a trowel, or a flat piece of cardboard (such as the back panel of a tablet).
I'm wondering of anybody else has had this to handle, and if so, how did you handle it? I'm concerned because thinking on customers with similar tables on their patio, I may encounter other properties with the same problem this week. The storm was late on Friday, so I still have many properties to visit before completing the weekly cycle.
I ran out of time to mow, so will return tomorrow to do the mowing. I'm hoping the small glass particles still remaining will not cause flat tires on my ZTR. I intend to make it the last stop of the day, so if I do have a problem, I will have completed all other work beforehand. And, I will leave the area in question to the last area to be mowed on that property.
... just looking for alternatives to do the cleanup.
