rmaynard 16,376 #1 Posted November 11, 2013 (edited) Once again it is that time of the year when living on a 100% wooded lot is no longer fun. All summer long we enjoy the shade provided by the 80 to 100 foot tall oak trees, but when the leaves begin to drop in October, the job of cleaning them up continues until late in November. So each year I wonder, how do other members get rid of their leaves. Here is what I use. This is my Simplicity Broadmoor with a Cyclone Rake attached. This is a shot of the dump pile where all of 2013's leaves go. This pile composts nicely over the winter, and in the spring I will have several cubic yards of beautiful soil for patching and planting. The other problem with living in the woods on a lot filled with "old growth" red oak trees, is that they are all dying from Gypsy Moth blight. So each year, we are forced to take down dead trees. Here is the wood pile from seven of them that I had to have taken down last week. The only plus to this expensive problem is that three of the biggest trees were sitting next to the Wheel Horse stable. This will allow me to extend the building in the spring to accommodate the ever-growing herd of horses. I lined up all the ones that currently don't have shelter to see what size building I need to build. So that's my story for this fall. By the way, you might be wondering about the Simplicity. I don't have any Wheel Horses with a side discharge deck and a two-point hitch on the back for the Cyclone Rake. So it is pulled by my Simplicity. Edited November 11, 2013 by rmaynard 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 23,307 #2 Posted November 11, 2013 Great pictures Bob...WOW...you got LEAVES. I would like some of that Oak...it is fireplace week here this week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dclarke 4,085 #3 Posted November 11, 2013 I have four pin oaks and a red oak and I thought I had a lot of leaves. It's good that you have a place to pile them Bob, but I have to agree that it's a lot of work. I like that Cyclone Rake, hope to get one some day.... Better build that shed to hold more that what's parked there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,211 #4 Posted November 11, 2013 Better build it big enough for two rows deep, stacked three 's high Bob. Ever tried to sell that compost? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 16,376 #5 Posted November 11, 2013 Not sure how big it's going to end up, but I have an area 12 x 14 to work with there. On the other hand I have an area that I can add on to the side of the garage that is 9 x 18. That might end up bring my best option. That option would require less material. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
squonk 43,962 #6 Posted November 11, 2013 Build the biggest you can afford and fit into the spot. If you don't you will kick yourself later. I don't have a lot of leave trees but I have a lot of neighbor's trees hat dump and nobody rakes their lawn. Guess where they wind up? In my yard of course. I sweep them up and have been leaving debris by the road all year. Every month the village came by and loaded them up for a big compost pile. Now during leaf season they decided they wanted them bagged. I filled 22 contractor bags last week with 1 arm and they took them Fri. Swept Sunday morning and filled the hopper 4 times and dumped them on the garden. Today I found a Flowtron leaf mulcher on CL for $30.00. It's light enough to carry with 1 hand, I can set it on a garbage can and it'd electric so I can get it out when needed without fooling with gas. I have a nice chipper shredder but I couldn't begin to pull the cord with my current state plus it's heavy and buried in the Horse Barn. I plugged that Flowtron in, set it in the garden and mulched all the leaves in about 20 min. Here's a video. Not done by me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
specialwheelhorse 174 #7 Posted November 12, 2013 Love your trees, love your leaves !!! We have friends In the Philippines That no longer have either or anything else on their property, but they are alive and thankful. great folks ! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marv 984 #8 Posted November 13, 2013 Bob, Does your rake engine start easily on first or second pull. Mine want's to be onery after sitting for long periods of time. Younger days wouldn't bother me much. Not so now. Marvin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 16,376 #9 Posted November 13, 2013 It's a Tecumseh. It does not start easily. I usually have to pull it about 4 or 5 times when it has been sitting. After it is warmed, it starts easily. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marv 984 #10 Posted November 14, 2013 Thanks Bob. That's how mine does. Runs good though. Marvin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
leeave96 490 #11 Posted November 14, 2013 Hmmm - mow grass all spring/summer, round up leave in the fall, snow in the winter. I'm thinking lots of seat time... ;) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stigian 1,234 #12 Posted November 14, 2013 WoW, that's a serious amount of leafage there Bob! I take care of fallen leaves the easy way... I just let the wind blow them away across the fields Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 16,376 #13 Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) WoW, that's a serious amount of leafage there Bob! I take care of fallen leaves the easy way... I just let the wind blow them away across the fields The prevailing wind is from the west, and with trees on three sides, that means the leaves are always blowing towards me. One neighbor is 86 and can no longer do his leaves, so I do his as well, otherwise his leaves find their way into my yard. Edited November 14, 2013 by rmaynard Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 16,376 #14 Posted November 14, 2013 Hmmm - mow grass all spring/summer, round up leave in the fall, snow in the winter. I'm thinking lots of seat time... Didn't have much snow last winter, but when it does snow, there is a serious lot of seat time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ken B 3,189 #15 Posted November 14, 2013 I'm in the exact situation as you Bob. I'm surrounded by Red Oaks in my yard and I mean BIG TIME. Its great in the summer, not so much when the leaves begin to fall. I've tried every method of leave removal known to man. When I bought my house twenty yrs ago I started out with a Craftsman electric handheld blower! Leaf cleanup took a month of Sundays so that lasted just a yr. I then started to rake the leaves onto a big tarp and drag them into the woods. That works great when you are younger but It'll wear you out once you reach a certain age. (especially if the leaves are a little wet) I worked myself upto a Trac-Vac and that worked awesome but was a pain with the tight quarters of my property. I then switched it up to a new 9hp Little Wonder leaf blower and a Stihl BR 600 back pack blower a few yrs ago. That was the perfect combo until I bought my wood stove. Ya see, right where I used to blow all of the leaves there now sits ten cords of split firewood. The Little Wonder works great but it doesn't cut the leaves up at all so they wind up taking up a ton of room. I don't want leaf piles surrounding my wood pile. I now have to dump the leaves behind the fence in the back yard so this season I switched things up a little. I now use a Snapper rear engine rider with a bagger on it. It will suck up acorns and all. The only downfall is that the bag is kinda small so I have to empty it more often, but it does a helluva job I must say. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rmaynard 16,376 #16 Posted November 14, 2013 I have had the Cyclone Rake for about 13 years. Before that it was blow, rake, and drag as you described. At that time I thought it was an expensive toy ($1300.00), but I've got to say, it was the best $1300.00 I have every spent. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites