I have used the largest bags I could find and put them in a large trash can and filled them that way, it went pretty fast. It would help a lot if the leaves are mulched up also, you get a lot more into the bags. and charge per bag for disposal seperatley on the bill.

My county does offer loose leaf pickup "within one to ten days after placing the order" for only $30. Money out of my pocket, but a lot less headache... and probably happier customers (assuming the county shows up on time).

This could be a good idea for you to think about. Get the leaves to curb and they take away. It would definetley not be money out of your pocket, in the bid you add the charge in there and customers pay for their leaf removal.

 

Place all the bags open, on the ground, a week before the leaves come off. When leaves are done, just go back for the bags.

Easy?

 

Place all the bags open, on the ground, a week before the leaves come off. When leaves are done, just go back for the bags.

Easy?

I've tried that, it does not work as good as I thought it would

 

Sir, that is not true, there is one landfill that accepts anyone's waste, they are so big they take waste from out of state and even Norfolk delivers some (no I am not joking). Yes, commercial, residential, industrial, they don't care so long it's not hazardous waste.

Shooshmith Landfill, 1100+ acres of land, biggest landfill you ever seen your whole life, guaranteed. Surprised you've never heard of them, they're well known (then again, I had never heard of them before either lol).

They're on route 10 between the courthouse and chester, to be more accurate they're between that Wawa and the Kmart/applebees/dmv shopping center. If you're coming from Chester they're on the left, if you're coming from the county they're on the right, look for that big water tower on your right and they are almost where that water tower is. Uhm, probably 2-3 miles south of the courthouse, more like 5-6 miles north of chester (but not 100% sure on that).

They do charge but I am NOT bagging no leaves! Their charge is $40 per ton and $40 minimum, with my 6x12 I have ALWAYS paid $40 so I charge customers $200 / load and I am through with the nonsense. This has also stopped a lot of the stupid junk hauling requests, soon as I quote the price the bs is over.

If you want to find out more, it's at http://www.shoosmith.com/
Their address lists as Lewis Road but it's directly off route 10, I think Lewis Road actually belongs to them, not sure.

p.s.: There's another guy off Qualla Road and he charges less but he's not always open and you can never be too sure when he's open and when he's not, so I got tired of playing games and I use Shoosmith.

 

Wow I guess living in Fla is really good. All landfills will take leaves, just not in bags in some areas. Some have the huge dumpsters and most have the huge mountains. We just drive to where all the brush is at and dump. Weight in and weight out. Then you pay a few dollars. All done.

 

Sir, that is not true, there is one landfill that accepts anyone's waste, they are so big they take waste from out of state and even Norfolk delivers some (no I am not joking). Yes, commercial, residential, industrial, they don't care so long it's not hazardous waste.

Topsites, thanks for suggesting that. I'm in Glen Allen, so it would be about a 40 minute drive one way. I was thinking that would be too far to drive to dump the leaves. Maybe not... I really don't want to bag leaves this fall.

PMLAWN, I'll try that and let you know how it works out...

 

I use a grain shovel. Blow them into a pile then shovel them in.

 

Well there is no easy way, but the easiest way is to first rake the leaves into big piles, then go to the pile with bag in hand spread your legs, like a three point stance in football, open the bag and stand on it opening it as wide as possible, then with one hand lift the bag up off the ground, while you r still standing on the bottom part and use your other hand and the rake to rake them into the bag. Ive done thousands of bags this way, as well as clippings from shrubs and everything else this way and it is the most efficient way I have found to clean up piles of debris and put them in bags.

 

We use the Stihl hand held convertible blower/vacuum. It works very well vacumes and shreds them up we have been using them daily for 18 months with no problems except worn out bags. We vacuum all kinds of leaves and they are especially good for Bougainvillea bracs which are like small pieces of crepe paper.

 

I would rake em into a huge rubbber/flewable garbage can then put into bags form there. ONe more step but it is a heck of a lot easier to get into plastic bags.

How about a billy goat?

 

How about a billy goat?

Goats just eat the grass-- not the dead leaves:laugh:

 

Yes, fill a plastic garbage can with them, just lay it on its side and pile them in with a rake. Jam them in, sticks and all. Then put a plastic garbage bag over the whole works, turn it upside down and shake and pull the garbage can out.

If you put the bag inside the can first sticks and stuff may catch it but if there are no sticks might as well put the bag inside.

 

You said the property is not big enough for a mower but if you can get a 21" mower with mulch kit....simply mulch them up. Don't rake them first because if they get deep it is hard to mulch. Once you get them mulched then rake them up and finish by switch the mower to bagging. Did this on small yards many years using 21" Snappers.

 

Thanks for all of your suggestions. I think I've decided to build a box on my truck and get a leaf loader... some of my jobs will be in the neighboring county and I can use their public landfill for those jobs. For the jobs in my county I'll just drive 40 minutes to the other landfill or find a farmer that's closer and wants my leaves. (That's how my county gets rid of the leaves they pick up...)

Just a tip for those that will be bagging... if you fill the bag by putting it in a trash can first, drill some small holes in the bottom of the can so you don't create a vacuum when you pull the bag out. Makes things a little easier.

 

Goats just eat the grass-- not the dead leaves:laugh:

Uh ever heard of a billygoat yard vac??

 

I blow the leaves into a pile, then I use a Craftman blower/Vac, I have an attachment that fits over a 32 gal trash can (the plastice trash can) I then suck them into it and once it is full I remove the top and with the help of my worker we put a trash bag over the top and flip the trash can over, the leaves slide into the bag just fine. It workes for me and it might work for you also.Hope this is of some help. Mike MJR Lawn

 

Uh ever heard of a billygoat yard vac??

Boy you new guys are not much fun any more

 

You said the property is not big enough for a mower but if you can get a 21" mower with mulch kit....simply mulch them up. Don't rake them first because if they get deep it is hard to mulch. Once you get them mulched then rake them up and finish by switch the mower to bagging. Did this on small yards many years using 21" Snappers.

Yup! it works!

 

Yup! it works!

Didn't convince the undergraduate.....he is going to buy a big sucker upper and get a big truck and haul them......Billygoat only sold one of those sucking machines in TExas this year and it is going to be used to pick up grass when they strip it for fall rye.

 

Ok, here is my secret for filling bags with leaves or grass when there is no other way. Take the proper sized ROUND garbage can and cut the bottom half off. Flip this over, place bag over the bottom, flip can back over and proceed to fill the can. Mash them as much as you want, when you think it is full simply remove the can from the bag and voila! Full garbage bag with ease, no hassle of holding bag while loading, etc.

Going to the dump with a trailer full of leaves is much easier but you cant always do that.