Grass gathering devices

[skeets]

Years ago when we had the green houses, I would mow below the barn and let the clippings dry out a bit and then drive round and round trying to blow the clipping in to a semi pile where I could rake together and fork into the wagon and dump it onthe compost pile. All of which is no problem for a younger ,less crippled up old man. Now with fuel going up and me getting older getting down is becoming a PIA.
So what are you guys using on larger areas to gather up the grass clippings I need some ideas that wont break the bank

 

[D2Cat]

Have you tried these "gator" blades by Oregon?

My wife's hobby is mowing. This is what is on our (her) Grasshopper. She goes over the clippings a couple of times and there is nothing to rake up!

 

[chim]

Mornin' Skeets. In the past, your method was used here. It was often a problem before retirement because it required two dry days in the wetter season. The best solution was finding time to mow before it was tall enough to generate excessive clippings.

Best thing I can say is what D2Cat recommended - and mow more frequently. The Gator blades work very well for me. I have mowed in a light rain a few times. (Disclaimer - I have removed the deflector from the rear of my RFM)

Here's a shot of my nephew took a couple weeks ago of his dad (on right) and me when we happened to be mowing at the same time. He and I both have around 3-1/2 acres to mow and he has some additional pasture area. He has a Woods RM990 he uses in some areas and a big Ferris for closer to the house. I use a Caroni TC910 for everything. Still have old Ford 1210 with a Caroni TC59 that was THE mower from 1991 till 2002.

 

[GreensvilleJay]

I saw this on TV (really, decades ago..)
You bolt a long stick to the mower deck that's got an 8x10 tarp attached to it. Think of a 'flag on a pole' lying on the ground.
The idea is, as you cut, the clippings pile up on the tarp. Once full you drive to the compost are, then back up and the clippings automatically fall off. Simple, cheap, effective.

 

[GeoHorn]

Best grass gathering:

 

[rc51stierhoff]

Years ago when we had the green houses, I would mow below the barn and let the clippings dry out a bit and then drive round and round trying to blow the clipping in to a semi pile where I could rake together and fork into the wagon and dump it onthe compost pile. All of which is no problem for a younger ,less crippled up old man. Now with fuel going up and me getting older getting down is becoming a PIA.
So what are you guys using on larger areas to gather up the grass clippings I need some ideas that wont break the bank

Are you wanting to keep the clippings to compost, or eliminate the need for raking?

 

[skeets]

I use the clippings for compost along with some sheep dropping, to kick start the pile,,

 

[rc51stierhoff]

I use the clippings for compost along with some sheep dropping, to kick start the pile,,

I guess you could get a small hay rake but not sure that would really work…Get more sheep and mow / rake less. Or alpacas…my understanding is they are community crappers and tend to use same area…let them eat/process and then stop raking.

 

[Smokeydog]

Sold my flail genie to a gentleman in Kentucky so he could cut and feed his cows fresh grass.

 

[Fordtech86]

Just a general link, I have one similar I use for leaves and grass for compost.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Ohio-Steel-50-in-Lawn-Sweeper/5000247607

not as convenient as a bagger system or a cyclone rake though. It does get heavy to dump with grass, solved that by adding a cheap atv winch.

 

[Kubota Newbie]

I have a lawn genie! Don't have the basket though. Mine is the tow behind with its own motor.

 

[D2Cat]

I've got a version of this that is PTO driven. My wife won't let it on her yard! I've seen them at auction for as low as $800. They were only used in commercial applications since they cost 30K 25 years ago.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXgqzON0nj8

 

[Winkles_9]

I have a cyclone rake I primarily use in the fall for leaves, but it does a really good job with pine needles in the spring too. I use it behind my zero turn mower. They have their own engine and fold up really nice to store.

 

[Chad D.]

I hear a lot of chatter about people doubling up on their ZTR blades. Stack two sets in an “X” pattern with at least one set being a mulching type blade.

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I’ll be replacing blades soon and think I may give this a shot. I don’t bag and want the fines as fine as I can get!

 

[johnjk]

I blew them in to a row with the mmm and used the FEL to skim them off the surface and deposit in the compost pile. Worked pretty well