Leaves are Falling

TheProfessor · 11-04-2021, 05:34 PM

One explanation of why leaves fall.
And yes, leaves do fall in the Fall in the Lakes Region.

LEAVESFALLING

Some, few, many do clean up the leaves. What is your method, if any?

8gv · 11-04-2021, 07:10 PM

Leaf me alone!

Our first home had a yard that was a 125 bagger!

It was torture watching my wife rake and bag all those leaves.

We have a small lot now so it's not so bad but we do write a check to get them done these days.

One must conserve one's body capital for fun activities.

SailinAway · 11-04-2021, 08:10 PM

I tried something new this year. I mowed the leaves where they lay and didn't pick them up. It looks pretty good. I'm pretty sure the leaves will have disintegrated into the soil by spring. How come more people don't do this?

Two exceptions: the section with pine needles needs to be raked (multiple times every year), and walnut leaves cannot be left on the ground because they're toxic to the grass. My method: large self-standing plastic bags and a plastic manure rake (Tractor Supply) to pick up the leaves. Thank God this was not pine cone or walnut drop season.

Totally agree about preservation of body capital!

Descant · 11-04-2021, 09:14 PM

I'm confused. Doesn't your landscaper pick them up?

GodSmile · 11-05-2021, 05:38 AM

Each 0ctober I convert my tractor (which is typically set up for mulching) to bagging. The bagging unit picks up the leaves well, provided I keep up with it (mow at least once per week). I am able to spread the leaves in woods behind the house.

For mulched areas of the yard, we use a leaf blower/rake.

All in all, not too arduous even though we have over an acre to care for.

hilltopper · 11-05-2021, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SailinAway

I tried something new this year. I mowed the leaves where they lay and didn't pick them up. It looks pretty good. I'm pretty sure the will have disintegrated into the soil by spring. How come more people don't do this?

I have a large yard and I use the mowing method. One more leaf mow this weekend and the riding mower will go into hibernation. Works great. Then just a couple of hours of leaf blowing along the house where I can't mow.

I used to spend hours leaf blowing the entire yard until I got wise to the mowing method.

fatlazyless · 11-05-2021, 06:16 AM

The month of November has got to be the busiest time over at the Meredith Transfer Station for disposing leaves, pine needles, fallen tree limbs, and brush.

A small trailer is actually more difficult to back it up in a straight line than a longer trailer, and its always somewhat of a challenge to get it positioned good at the Meredith leaf dump area. Getting the old utility trailer positioned just right on that first try and it's a GOOD day, and everything is working great on all four Subaru cylinders! .....

thinkxingu · 11-05-2021, 06:19 AM

I think the mow method depends on the amount of trees you have. In my front yard, I can mow once or twice and the leaves will crumble. In my back, however, it gets gross with giant piles of crumbles.

Also, there are almost always little sticks and twigs in those piles, so the mower's blades get chewed up.

We tend to rake onto a tarp and put it on a trailer to bring to the recycle center. Lighter areas, I mow with a bagger.

I was just gifted a Ryobi backpack blower that seems to work well for pulling leaves away from the house, trailer, etc.

Not sure there's one best system other than 8gv's writing a check!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

chaseisland · 11-05-2021, 06:19 AM

Wait awhile, the snow will cover them.

Descant · 11-05-2021, 11:12 AM

Oaks are a nuisance because they drop their leaves late and only a partial drop. In the spring, new growth pushes the remaining leaves off and you have to rake all over again.

LakeTimes · 11-05-2021, 11:56 AM

I'll say this much - we get a lot of leaves and having to do multiple properties (between family members, inlaws, rentals etc.) this Backpack Blower I just got a few months back is amazing! Had the BR600 previously before it was stolen.
With the 800, I can literally can do several yards in one day easy and will blow logs, sticks, pine needles and any other debris across the yard if needed. Also use it to blow the moss right off the top of the soil in some areas when I focus it a bit more.

https://www.stihlusa.com/products/bl...owers/br800ce/

Hard to find these days - but if you are looking for a solid leaf blower, would suggest taking a serious look at Stihl's 800 CE Magnum. Best part is you can stop and start it back up without having to take it off your back.

Most will think I'm crazy. The ones that won't are clearly the ones who use a backpack blower

Nonetheless - I'm still left with the job of having to remove the leaves. For a few of the properties, I just pay a small and worthwhile fee for our landscaper to bring over his vacuum and suck away the piles while the other properties get 'tarped away' into the woods.

I'm still eyeing and mulling over buying a 'leaf vacuum' (actually called a debris loader - https://www.billygoat.com/na/en_us/p...html):liplick: to put on a dump trailer - just trying to make the financial justification in my head...

SailinAway · 11-05-2021, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hilltopper

I used to spend hours leaf blowing the entire yard until I got wise to the mowing method.

Me too! I never even finished raking before it snowed. Just skip your last mowing in August, let the grass grow a few inches, and mow it all in October when the leaves have fallen.

pondguy · 11-05-2021, 04:59 PM

I find if I mow the grass real short the last mowing of the season most of the leaves blow into the neighbors yards. Then I deal with what's left in the spring.

11-04-2021, 05:34 PM	#1
TheProfessor Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,120 Thanks: 17 Thanked 341 Times in 206 Posts	Leaves are Falling One explanation of why leaves fall. And yes, leaves do fall in the Fall in the Lakes Region. LEAVESFALLING Some, few, many do clean up the leaves. What is your method, if any?

11-04-2021, 08:10 PM	#3
SailinAway Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2019 Posts: 991 Thanks: 256 Thanked 280 Times in 169 Posts	I tried something new this year. I mowed the leaves where they lay and didn't pick them up. It looks pretty good. I'm pretty sure the leaves will have disintegrated into the soil by spring. How come more people don't do this? Two exceptions: the section with pine needles needs to be raked (multiple times every year), and walnut leaves cannot be left on the ground because they're toxic to the grass. My method: large self-standing plastic bags and a plastic manure rake (Tractor Supply) to pick up the leaves. Thank God this was not pine cone or walnut drop season. Totally agree about preservation of body capital! Last edited by SailinAway; 11-05-2021 at 01:23 PM.

11-05-2021, 05:38 AM	#5
GodSmile Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 190 Thanks: 91 Thanked 57 Times in 37 Posts	Tractor Each 0ctober I convert my tractor (which is typically set up for mulching) to bagging. The bagging unit picks up the leaves well, provided I keep up with it (mow at least once per week). I am able to spread the leaves in woods behind the house. For mulched areas of the yard, we use a leaf blower/rake. All in all, not too arduous even though we have over an acre to care for.

11-05-2021, 06:16 AM	#7
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,746 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	The month of November has got to be the busiest time over at the Meredith Transfer Station for disposing leaves, pine needles, fallen tree limbs, and brush. A small trailer is actually more difficult to back it up in a straight line than a longer trailer, and its always somewhat of a challenge to get it positioned good at the Meredith leaf dump area. Getting the old utility trailer positioned just right on that first try and it's a GOOD day, and everything is working great on all four Subaru cylinders! ..... __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

11-05-2021, 06:19 AM	#9
chaseisland Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Concord, NH Posts: 157 Thanks: 17 Thanked 68 Times in 44 Posts	Snow Wait awhile, the snow will cover them.

The Following User Says Thank You to TheProfessor For This Useful Post:
trfour (11-04-2021)

11-04-2021, 07:10 PM	#2
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,093 Thanks: 64 Thanked 744 Times in 478 Posts	Leaf me alone! Our first home had a yard that was a 125 bagger! It was torture watching my wife rake and bag all those leaves. We have a small lot now so it's not so bad but we do write a check to get them done these days. One must conserve one's body capital for fun activities.

The Following User Says Thank You to 8gv For This Useful Post:
trfour (11-04-2021)

11-04-2021, 09:14 PM	#4
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,351 Thanks: 1,342 Thanked 1,623 Times in 1,055 Posts	I'm confused. Doesn't your landscaper pick them up?

11-05-2021, 06:19 AM	#8
thinkxingu Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 6,229 Thanks: 1,171 Thanked 2,055 Times in 1,275 Posts	I think the mow method depends on the amount of trees you have. In my front yard, I can mow once or twice and the leaves will crumble. In my back, however, it gets gross with giant piles of crumbles. Also, there are almost always little sticks and twigs in those piles, so the mower's blades get chewed up. We tend to rake onto a tarp and put it on a trailer to bring to the recycle center. Lighter areas, I mow with a bagger. I was just gifted a Ryobi backpack blower that seems to work well for pulling leaves away from the house, trailer, etc. Not sure there's one best system other than 8gv's writing a check! Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

11-05-2021, 11:12 AM	#10
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,351 Thanks: 1,342 Thanked 1,623 Times in 1,055 Posts	Oaks Oaks are a nuisance because they drop their leaves late and only a partial drop. In the spring, new growth pushes the remaining leaves off and you have to rake all over again.

11-05-2021, 11:56 AM	#11
LakeTimes Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: NA Posts: 148 Thanks: 63 Thanked 40 Times in 19 Posts	I'll say this much - we get a lot of leaves and having to do multiple properties (between family members, inlaws, rentals etc.) this Backpack Blower I just got a few months back is amazing! Had the BR600 previously before it was stolen. With the 800, I can literally can do several yards in one day easy and will blow logs, sticks, pine needles and any other debris across the yard if needed. Also use it to blow the moss right off the top of the soil in some areas when I focus it a bit more. https://www.stihlusa.com/products/bl...owers/br800ce/ Hard to find these days - but if you are looking for a solid leaf blower, would suggest taking a serious look at Stihl's 800 CE Magnum. Best part is you can stop and start it back up without having to take it off your back. Most will think I'm crazy. The ones that won't are clearly the ones who use a backpack blower Nonetheless - I'm still left with the job of having to remove the leaves. For a few of the properties, I just pay a small and worthwhile fee for our landscaper to bring over his vacuum and suck away the piles while the other properties get 'tarped away' into the woods. I'm still eyeing and mulling over buying a 'leaf vacuum' (actually called a debris loader - https://www.billygoat.com/na/en_us/p...html):liplick: to put on a dump trailer - just trying to make the financial justification in my head...

11-05-2021, 04:59 PM	#13
pondguy Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 259 Thanks: 574 Thanked 200 Times in 127 Posts	I find if I mow the grass real short the last mowing of the season most of the leaves blow into the neighbors yards. Then I deal with what's left in the spring.