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Lawn vacuums? Help on finding them…

Buzzsaw | Posted in General Discussion on November 21, 2007 08:59am

I have just finished cleaning up my leaves for another year and it is really becoming unbearable. I will be turning 50 this year and this is getting extremely exhausting. Also, it totally consumes any weekend time I have and I would rather be woodworking. So I am trying to figure out a better way to “skin a cat”. I see landscaping people using a wide diameter hose to suck the leaves into the back of their truck. I have a truck and I have access to woods behind my house. So, I am wondering what they call these contraptions? I am not talking about the walk-behind lawn sweepers that are advertised by DR but just a motorized vacuum and attached hose that I could use and I could fashion the back of my truck with plywood and an opening to suck the leaves into. Can you buy these commercially and where? What are they called? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Also, any idea of any articles or links about these would also be helpful.

Regards,

Buzzsaw

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Gil Bailie

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  1. User avater
    DDay | Nov 21, 2007 09:28pm | #1

    How large is your yard? With those vac's, you still need to blow them into a pile for that type of blower. If you have woods, I would a large push blower, like a 10hp or spend the money on a riding mower with a vac. The truck mount ones will be a few thousand dollars. Having someone do it for you, it would take quite a while to get up to $2k.

    Here's a link to a national landscape supply house, they should have one in your area. http://www.lesco.com/ProdCatalog/ProdCatalogNav.aspx?ProdGroupID=838

    1. Buzzsaw | Nov 21, 2007 11:54pm | #3

      My yard is about an acre. I've been doing this for years. I have a blower that I can blow them into a pile with and I know the option that allows me to suck them into my truck would work great for me. I didn't see much on that website. There were no images at all but thanks for the post.Regards,

      Buzzsaw

      "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

  2. achome | Nov 21, 2007 09:35pm | #2

    Buzzsaw-

    I know this isn't exactly what you want but I have a Trac-Vac and it works pretty well.  It's an enclosed trailer with it's own engine that attaches to my rider mower's discharge chute with a flexible hose (about 5" diameter).  When full I dump the leaves out back. 

    Johnny

    1. Buzzsaw | Nov 21, 2007 11:55pm | #4

      I'll have to look for a website. The problem with my yard is that I really cannot use a tractor in it because it is hilly. So using a flexible hose and sucking them into the back of my truck would be ideal. I will look at you Trac-Vac..Who makes it?Regards,

      Buzzsaw

      "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

      1. achome | Nov 22, 2007 12:01am | #5

        Palmor products

        http://www.trac-vac.com/

        My yard is hilly too and I really have to be careful with the trailer.  I sometimes park and just use the hose to pick up the leaves.

        I think the makers of the "Dr" mowers etc also make one very similar to mine.

        It has really saved my back.

        good luck.

        Johnny

      2. User avater
        DDay | Nov 22, 2007 12:53am | #6

        DR or Troy built makes something like that for a riding mower. I see it advertised on tv around here. Same concept as the other set up but probably much cheaper and you don't need to blow them into a pile first. That would be my route first. If you like the idea of the truck mount, check craigslist.org's tool section and other sellers publications like that. They have used ones on there from time to time. My local craigslist in Boston has a used one on there for $700.

  3. TBone | Nov 22, 2007 01:07am | #7

    You thought of or tried one of these? We used to use them at the garden I worked at. They work awesome.Billy Goat

    1. Buzzsaw | Nov 26, 2007 07:07pm | #19

      Thanks for the suggestion. May I ask what you paid for yours?Regards,

      Buzzsaw

      "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

      1. TBone | Nov 27, 2007 12:32am | #20

        As I didn't write the check, I don't know for sure. But I think you can get a basic one for around $800-900 or one with all the bells and whistles (bigger engine, self-propelled) for upwards of $3k.

        1. TBone | Nov 27, 2007 06:24am | #22

          Thought I'd offer some other thoughts in addition to the Billy Goat.I used to be a landscaper in a former life and my dad is a lifelong horticulturist. There's background for you.Numerous studies have shown that mulching leaves into the turf is a great thing to do, but if you're mulching plant matter i.e. grass all year long, mulching leaves is kind of neither here nor there. Go ahead and pick them up with whatever method you choose but instead of burning or trashing them, make a compost pile that you can then spread on your vegetable garden or flower garden. That's actually how we got grass to root quickly. Throw some compost down and toss the seed on top. Sprouted quick.And fertilize. Your lawn does need it no matter how much you mulch.

          1. Buzzsaw | Nov 27, 2007 04:33pm | #23

            I always put my leaves in one spot every year and use the dirt to re-vitalize my gardens and when I do any planting. I tend to use peat moss when I grow grass. It always seems to sprout up really quick with the peat moss. Maybe I will try your suggestion.Regards,

            Buzzsaw

            "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

  4. alwaysoverbudget | Nov 22, 2007 01:09am | #8

    i just bought a jd 680 zero turn mower with a rear catcher.if you want to have some fun while doing this,this is it. you can find them on ebay for around 2500. larry

    if a man speaks in the forest,and there's not a woman to hear him,is he still wrong?

  5. frenchy | Nov 22, 2007 03:02am | #9

    Buzzsaw,

     Well it's time you rethink the whole leaves thing!

      All those leaves sucked nutrients out of the lawn and the chemicals that you use in the spring to replace them aren't really good long term for your soil.. I could blather on about nematodes and worms etc.. but you'd find it boring so I'll just skip to the solution..

     Mulch leaves..

     I know but do it anyway.. I have leaves at least knee deep in my yard and sometimes to my waist. What I do is keep running over them with the mulching plug in my discharge chute until they disappear.. well they don't really disappear but fall down below the blades of grass only to decompose over the spring..That becomes black dirt..........  That  attracts worms* and worms are great for your soil..

      You won't need as much fertilizer and during the summer draughts your grass will remain greener longer without as much watering..

     I run over the lawn every single week mulching leaves until after freeze up and my grass gets greener and deeper ever single year.. Every year I use less and less fertilizer.

      How do you like that? less back breaking work is actually good for your lawn. 

      

     *shortened version

     

    1. Buzzsaw | Nov 26, 2007 04:04pm | #13

      Frenchy,
      I understand what you are saying but I cannot see mulching my leaves especially the volume of leaves that I have. I think that might keep me out there longer than picking them up. By the way, I do recycle the soil as I put the leaves in one place then I use that dirt in my garden every year. So I am recycling them and utilizing the nutrients. Thanks for your post...Regards,

      Buzzsaw

      "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

      1. frenchy | Nov 26, 2007 06:04pm | #16

        Buzzsaw,

         I assure you that the depth of leaves is not a problem.. Oh, if I attack a pile that is over waist high my mower bogs down and dies, so what I do is attack a little at a time.  slice off whatever won't cause my mower to bog down and just keep at it..

          In the fall I might have really heavy leaf fall for three weekends in a row.  Then just before it's expected to snow I make one last pass to get the late hangers.

             I've got a lot of really big trees plus I have an orchard of apples trees. (not to mention all my neighbors trees)   Normally I can mow my lawn in about 1/2 an hour but mulching leaves takes me close to an hour.   Because I keep on mulching leaves untill they disappear..  I do mean disappear as in vanish like they were never there..

          I wish I could explain what you are doing to your lawn when you deprive it from the nutriants of the leaves.. Think of it this way..

         Before you came (or anybody) black dirt was made by worms eating the by product of decaying leaves etc..  those worms did a lot of nice things in addition to making black dirt.  Without those leaves  worms aren't attracted and you are on your way with the addition of chemical fertilizers  towards making your yard one big brick..

         

        1. User avater
          popawheelie | Nov 26, 2007 06:31pm | #17

          Frenchy, I am in complete agreement with your approach. I'm trying to build up my lawn with mulch (organic material).

          A couple of things that I've read or figured out.

          You don't want to overwhelm your lawn by putting to much on at a time. So mowing in organic material more often is best. You want to feed you lawn a continuos diet of organic material that it will break down.

          You don't want the lawn to be to dry or the process slows way down. Most lawns that have been neglected are dry and sterile. The soil is hard and dry.

          Most people don't want to deal with the lawn so they put it off and mistreat it. They dump chemicals on it for a quick fix. It turns green and grows for a short period and them goes back to it's sorry state.

        2. Buzzsaw | Nov 26, 2007 07:03pm | #18

          Frenchy,
          I don't use a bag at all the whole year so my lawn gets plenty of organic material from the cut grass (52" Bunton landscaping mower with Alligator blades). The leaves are just so voluminous that I don't think mulching when they start to fall is an option for me. In fact, I think it will make the job longer. I just want to let everyone know that it isn't so much that I am getting older, it is more that I want to spend some time doing things other than picking up leaves in the Fall. I look at my neighbors and their task is nothing compared to mine. My lawn does not allow me to use a tractor so that is not an option for me. My neighbor has a flat lawn and I noticed that he just bought his wife her own John Deere so they now have his and hers with the attached container the leaves go in. They just drive over their lawn and they are done in about an hour.Regards,

          Buzzsaw

          "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

    2. Marc5 | Nov 27, 2007 05:51am | #21

      Frenchy,

      I can't seem to find a happy solution between hauling and mulching leaves.  We have very large maple trees in our yard, which borders a woods.  Last year I attempted mulching with our Woods/Grasshopper zero-turn mower, but it seemed like the "leaf meal" built up in the grass and killed it in some spots.  This year I resorted to blowing, raking, tarping and hauling--ugh.  What's the secret to adequate mulching?  Do I need to spring for the fancy "mulching" cap and blades they sell for my mower, or do you have some special tips?  At this point a giant vac seems like a good idea.

      Thanks for any ideas,

      Marc

      1. frenchy | Nov 27, 2007 07:27pm | #24

        Marc5

         On  or right next to my little over a 1/3 acre I have 19 mature trees plus 10 orchard trees (mostly apple)  That doesn't count bushes etc..  My neighbors have similar number (without the orchard)  One neighbor has Something like 30 maple "trees" on the property line for privacy They form a hedge 

            So I understand leaves!

           The trick to mulching is a mulching plug in your discharge chute. 

        That keeps the leaves in suspension long enough to turn them into tiny particles. 

         That and going over and over the leaves..

          I don't stop mulching untill I can't see leaves anymore.. It normally takes me 1/2 hour to mow my lawn but when I'm mulching it takes me an hour.  I plan on several weekends in a row of mulching.. If it rains I wait for the leaves to dry out before muching.. Dry leaves really do turn to powder. 

  6. user-204835 | Nov 22, 2007 03:03am | #10

    I picked up a Yard-Man lawn vacuum several years ago for $200, it did a good job of picking up and mulching the leaves. Motor froze up (leaking shaft seal) last Spring, replaced the motor with a new one. Considering I have a 2 acre yard and the vacuum was used every week for the past several years, it was worth the investment.

    O

    1. Buzzsaw | Nov 26, 2007 03:51pm | #11

      Thanks All for the info on the leaves pickup. I will have to look into the lawn vacuums. I still think that using a large vacuum tube to pull the leaves into my truck is the best way to go. I need to get something that will cut down on my "picking up leaves" time. It is consuming my life in the Fall and I don't see it getting any easier...Regards,

      Buzzsaw

      "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

    2. Buzzsaw | Nov 26, 2007 03:58pm | #12

      I heard that you could purchase an extra vacuum attachment. Did you buy this? I assume that you bought this used for that price. Is there a push vs a self-propelled version? I am doing everything manually now. I have a 52" Bunton landscaping lawnmower but it doesn't have a bag. I just figured it would fill up too fast. Do you typically vacuum first and then mow? Thanks for your post.Regards,

      Buzzsaw

      "Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

  7. MrBlister | Nov 26, 2007 04:39pm | #14

    You’re exhausted at 50 doing leaves?  Wait till you hit 60. (although a little exercise raking leaves is not a bad thing)

     

     I agree that mulching them would be the right thing to do, In our yard, the leaves are just too thick on the ground to mulch in place..  We use a  “Mow n vac” leaf vac that I tow behind the rider, and park by a pile of leaves we’ve previously raked up.  The short hose fitted to the impellor make quick work of the leaf pile, which is collected in covered garden tractor trailer for dumping in the neighbour’s veggie garden. 

     

    Check out this site for another version of a leaf vac.

     

    http://www.cyclonerake.com/sem/?gclid=CNW82ZTO-o8CFRGCGgodt0LulQ

     

    Cheers,

     

    Erwin

     

    "The obvious is devious"

  8. jayzog | Nov 26, 2007 05:45pm | #15

    I have the best way of doing the leaves....I bought my wife a rake!

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