Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg

On Oct 19, 5:59*am, "HeyBub" wrote:
Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TNty8QNITpg

very good idea, low cost, using whats available. too bad he didnt show
off the impeller, wonder what it looks like?

"HeyBub" wrote:

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg


Nicely done- mulches, collects, and helps unload.

See the accompanying website for the impeller details-
http://woodgears.ca/misc/leaf_vacuum.html

Jim

On 10/19/2011 4:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg


I've always wondered - why collect them? Two passes with the lawn
tractor and they're finely chopped and disappear into the lawn. It's a
lot faster and easier than vacuuming or raking them up.

"HellT" wrote in message
...
On 10/19/2011 4:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg


I've always wondered - why collect them? Two passes with the lawn tractor
and they're finely chopped and disappear into the lawn. It's a lot faster
and easier than vacuuming or raking them up.

If you want to have a lawn the next year and have a lot of trees, you have
to rake them. My lawn gets so deep, when you drive the lawn mower over the
lawn, it picks up the front wheels because they are so thick.

R

On Oct 19, 7:42 am, "Roanin" wrote:

If you want to have a lawn the next year and have a lot of trees, you have
to rake them. My lawn gets so deep, when you drive the lawn mower over the
lawn, it picks up the front wheels because they are so thick.

R

Andy comments:

I understand what you mean. However, the trick may be to mow
more often, before the leaves build up to that level, rather than wait
and try to do it all at once....

I my back yard is heavily populated with oak, and I get LOTS of
leaves. However, my lawn tractor mulches them effectively,
especially if they are dry, and they just disappear in a couple
days.... The technique may not work everywhere, but it works
well in North Texas in an oak forest .....

Andy in Eureka,

"Andy" wrote in message
...
On Oct 19, 7:42 am, "Roanin" wrote:

If you want to have a lawn the next year and have a lot of trees, you
have
to rake them. My lawn gets so deep, when you drive the lawn mower over
the
lawn, it picks up the front wheels because they are so thick.

R

Andy comments:

I understand what you mean. However, the trick may be to mow
more often, before the leaves build up to that level, rather than wait
and try to do it all at once....

I my back yard is heavily populated with oak, and I get LOTS of
leaves. However, my lawn tractor mulches them effectively,
especially if they are dry, and they just disappear in a couple
days.... The technique may not work everywhere, but it works
well in North Texas in an oak forest .....

Andy in Eureka,

Most of my trees are sycamore and all the leaves fall at once. These leaves
are so bit that the mower gets overwhelmed.

R

HeyBub wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg

Close-up pictures of the impeller are he

http://woodgears.ca/misc/leaf_vacuum.html

===========
There's an impeller made from six half-inch nylon blades bolted to an
aluminium hub. The blades are bolted from the back using three 2" long
1/4" bolts threaded straight into the nylon.

The vanes have a profile milled into them to make them lighter. Michael
cut that profile with his CNC mill.

The original sides of the blower were made from aluminium soffit
material. But with the occasional pine cone, pebble, or walnut in the
mix, that became quite dented.

Before starting the leaves this year, Michael replaced the sides with
18-gauge galvanized steel. That should be able to take much more abuse
than the aluminium.

Michael used a Bill Penz blower design to base his blower on.

http://billpentz.com/woodworking/cyc...ngInstructions

http://woodgears.ca/misc/penz_blower.png

I asked Bill Penz for permission to use this image. Bill Penz added:

"Please warn then that if they don’t use a material handling impeller
(meaning plastic or aluminum) or if they hit a branch or rock they could
get seriously hurt. I’d also recommend making the blower with a double
wall."

With the engine running at 3500 RPM, the tips of the fan blades travel
at about 65 meters per second, or about 234km/h (146 MPH). That's fast,
but not bullet fast, so a reasonably sturdy enclosure should be able to
contain a catastrophic impeller failure.

Michael Grant does custom electronic designs: NoMi Designs
and other stuff: Krazatchu Design Systems
===============

On Oct 19, 5:36*am, HellT wrote:
On 10/19/2011 4:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg

I've always wondered - why collect them? Two passes with the lawn
tractor and they're finely chopped and disappear into the lawn. It's a
lot faster and easier than vacuuming or raking them up.

Exactly. Until I did away with a couple red maples I used my walk
behind Honda without the bag. Leaves so deep that on the first pass
the mower was sorta tunneling through them. 2-3 passes later the lawn
looked like salt/pepper and in a couple days - nothing.

I still have a couple red maples left so it gives me 'seat time' on
the rider now.

Besides being much more energy efficient to "mulch in place" they are
good for the lawn.

I haven't 'bagged or raked' since late 70s.
Harry K

On Oct 19, 5:42*am, "Roanin" wrote:
"HellT" wrote in message

...

On 10/19/2011 4:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg

I've always wondered - why collect them? Two passes with the lawn tractor
and they're finely chopped and disappear into the lawn. It's a lot faster
and easier than vacuuming or raking them up.

If you want to have a lawn the next year and have a lot of trees, you have
to rake them. My lawn gets so deep, when you drive the lawn mower over the
lawn, it picks up the front wheels because they are so thick.

R

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn. I suppose if there were
a huge amount of them like you describe it might be a problem mulching
them but "harm"? I doubt that.

Harry K

Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall.

Leaf material left on lawns can promote powdery mildew and other fungi
turf diseases. Leaves can also prevent the lawn from drying out if you
have a lot of rain in the fall, again not a good thing for turf.

On 10/19/2011 5:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg


With many acres of woods surrounding my house I still have never had the
need to vacuum leaves, just mow/mulch them. They are good for the soil
and the trees. Nature intended for the leaves to lay under the trees,
why move them?

On 10/19/2011 10:17 AM, Home Guy wrote:
Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall.

Only if they are present, and have been a problem in the recent past.
Otherwise, no problem. Typically, there is no problem.


Leaf material left on lawns can promote powdery mildew and other fungi
turf diseases.

Shade and lack of air circulation are the primary factors for
promoting powdery mildew. And so? Powdery mildew isn't even as serious
to turfgrass as pimples are to teenagers. It's unsightly, but almost
never causes significant harm.

Leaves can also prevent the lawn from drying out if you
have a lot of rain in the fall, again not a good thing for turf.

That scenario would require a hell of a lot of leaves and a hell of a
lot of rain. Most of the time, that's not the situation.

Thanks to the points raised by a couple of other posters, I can
understand the utility of vacuuming when there's a deep accumulation
of leaves. But I expect the typical homeowner would frequently, if not
usually, find that a riding mower or lawn tractor could neatly mulch
leaves into the turf, if he wants to deal with them in that manner. I
raised the issue because I've had neighbors who bagged grass clippings
and leaves _only_ because they assumed that's how they're supposed to
be handled. The first time I used my Snapper walk-behind with a Ninja
mulching blade on the leaves, several of them came over for a closer
look. They were pretty impressed that a good blade/mower could make
the leaves virtually disappear. It's simpler yet with a lawn tractor.

On 10/19/2011 11:17 AM, Home Guy wrote:
Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall.

Wow! It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". How did they
ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

On 10/19/2011 10:17 AM, Home Guy wrote:
Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall. (snipped)

There is a State Forest that borders our small community so it looks
like we need to organize everyone and go rake it so it will be there in
the years to come. It is over 8,000 acres and we only have a population
of 600+ so it will be quite a job but obviously well worth the effort!

Don

On 10/19/2011 5:15 PM, IGot2P wrote:
On 10/19/2011 10:17 AM, Home Guy wrote:
Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall. (snipped)

There is a State Forest that borders our small community so it looks
like we need to organize everyone and go rake it so it will be there in
the years to come. It is over 8,000 acres and we only have a population
of 600+ so it will be quite a job but obviously well worth the effort!

Don

I think you need to call in the National Guard! Save the forest from
the leaves!

On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:36:41 -0500, HellT wrote:

On 10/19/2011 4:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg


I've always wondered - why collect them? Two passes with the lawn
tractor and they're finely chopped and disappear into the lawn. It's a
lot faster and easier than vacuuming or raking them up.

That's what I do. When I had a mower without a "mulching
attachment" I taped a heavy business size envelope over the output
chute and it worked just as well. I only need it for about 1 or 2
mows in the late fall. (They've just started to fall this week.)

When I had a half acre I never even considered raking the leaves, so I
never have.

On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:40:52 -0400, Tony Miklos
wrote:

On 10/19/2011 11:17 AM, Home Guy wrote:
Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall.

Wow! It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". How did they
ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

What makes you think there *were* forests before there were people to
gather the leaves. Most of the world was desert before that.

Sherwood Forest, for example, was just a half-acre children's park
that became very successful and expanded.

The Black Forest was a style of chocolate cake sold in supermarkets
across the country, and the owners used some of their profits to plant
a forest in Europe.

Right now, the owners of Sahara Ice Cream have pledged to plant a
forest in what is still known as the Sahara Desert their sales go
above 10 million a year.

On Oct 19, 7:00*am, bob haller wrote:
On Oct 19, 5:59*am, "HeyBub" wrote:

Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TNty8QNITpg

very good idea, low cost, using whats available. too bad he didnt show
off the impeller, wonder what it looks like?

I like the idea of the direct drive, my father in law made something
similar using a blower with belt drive. With exposed belts his was
a "fool killer". His sides were made of EMT conduit and poultry
curtain material. To unload you just folded the sides down and
shoveled it off with a grain shovel.

Jimmie

On Oct 19, 7:57*pm, micky wrote:
On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:36:41 -0500, HellT wrote:
On 10/19/2011 4:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg

I've always wondered - why collect them? Two passes with the lawn
tractor and they're finely chopped and disappear into the lawn. It's a
lot faster and easier than vacuuming or raking them up.

That's what I do. * *When I had a mower without a "mulching
attachment" I taped a heavy *business size envelope over the output
chute and it worked just as well. * I only need it for about 1 or 2
mows in the late fall. (They've just started to fall this week.)

When I had a half acre I never even considered raking the leaves, so I
never have.

I used to live on a 3 arce lot with lots of trees, mostly pin oaks. It
got to be a loosing battle to keep them raked so I let it go simi
natural except for about half an acre the house was on. Maintenace of
the natural area was reduced to occasionally walking around with an
eye hoe and chopping down briars and various seedlings. One of my
buddies wanted me to collect some seedlings for him.....cant imagine
someone wanting pin oaks in their yard that wasnt already stuck with
them.

Jimmie

On 10/19/2011 12:15 PM, Tony Miklos wrote:
On 10/19/2011 5:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg


With many acres of woods surrounding my house I still have never had the
need to vacuum leaves, just mow/mulch them. They are good for the soil
and the trees. Nature intended for the leaves to lay under the trees,
why move them?

In principle I agree with you, but I still have to go to work, and I
don't want the neighbors to torch my place while I am gone. I don't get
anal about it like they do, but I relocate most of the leaves, if
weather and first snowfall permit. Thankfully, I have a tree line in
back to dump them in, so I don't have to mess with bagging/burning/hauling.

--
aem sends...

On Oct 19, 1:40*pm, Tony Miklos wrote:
On 10/19/2011 11:17 AM, Home Guy wrote:

Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall.

Wow! *It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". *How did they
ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

Well, they didn't have internet experts to tell them the "facts"

Harry K

On Oct 19, 7:36*pm, aemeijers wrote:
On 10/19/2011 12:15 PM, Tony Miklos wrote:

On 10/19/2011 5:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg

With many acres of woods surrounding my house I still have never had the
need to vacuum leaves, just mow/mulch them. They are good for the soil
and the trees. Nature intended for the leaves to lay under the trees,
why move them?

In principle I agree with you, but I still have to go to work, and I
don't want the neighbors to torch my place while I am gone. I don't get
anal about it like they do, but I relocate most of the leaves, if
weather and first snowfall permit. Thankfully, I have a tree line in
back to dump them in, so I don't have to mess with bagging/burning/hauling.

--
aem sends...

But why not 'mulch in place'? Faster, easier and good for the lawn.

Harry K

On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:46:08 -0700 (PDT), Harry K
wrote:

On Oct 19, 1:40Â*pm, Tony Miklos wrote:
On 10/19/2011 11:17 AM, Home Guy wrote:

Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall.

Wow! Â*It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". Â*How did they
ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

Well, they didn't have internet experts to tell them the "facts"


I never saw a forest with a lawn anyway.
Tried running over leaves with my mulching mower a few days ago.
Most of the leaves either blew away or piled up in front of the mower,
falling off to the sides as I moved forward.
Tried levering up the mower and putting it down on piles of leaves.
About 90% of them blew away from the mower.
When I saw I would have to go over the lawn about 18 times I decided
to give up on that, and just rake them up into piles like always, and
dump them on the street by the curb.
Town comes by and removes them.

--Vic

On Oct 19, 11:03*pm, Vic Smith
wrote:
On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:46:08 -0700 (PDT), Harry K





wrote:
On Oct 19, 1:40*pm, Tony Miklos wrote:
On 10/19/2011 11:17 AM, Home Guy wrote:

Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall.

Wow! *It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". *How did they
ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

Well, they didn't have internet experts to tell them the "facts"

I never saw a forest with a lawn anyway.
Tried running over leaves with my mulching mower a few days ago.
Most of the leaves either blew away or piled up in front of the mower,
falling off to the sides as I moved forward.
Tried levering up the mower and putting it down on piles of leaves.
About 90% of them blew away from the mower.
When I saw I would have to go over the lawn about 18 times I decided
to give up on that, and just rake them up into piles like always, and
dump them on the street by the curb.
Town comes by and removes them.

--Vic- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

If they are blowing out that much, maybe your blade is too low. Most
mowers, I believe, have the blade up inside the deck skirt so that
things don't get propelled out the sides of the mower, but are
trapped. A mulching blade with the extra lift keeps the grass
suspended until it is finely chopped.

"HellT" wrote in message
...
On 10/19/2011 4:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg


I've always wondered - why collect them? Two passes with the lawn tractor
and they're finely chopped and disappear into the lawn. It's a lot faster
and easier than vacuuming or raking them up.


Right, and it is good for the trees. That's the way mother nature does it.
(I don't mean with a mower, she just leaves the leaves whole).
Bob-tx

Tony Miklos wrote:

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on
leaves and these tree diseases will return year after year if you
don't remove the leaves in the fall.

Wow! It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". How did
they ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

You people are bone-heads.

Go and look at a natural, preserved forest area. Something at least 100
acres in size, and has been left in a natural state (no human activity)
for at least 80 years. You'll find at least a foot of organic loam on
the ground before you hit dirt / soil. You won't find a spec of grass.
In that foot of loam is a functioning ecosystem that you won't have in
your back yard. An ecosystem that deals with leaf-borne tree fungi in a
way that doesn't happen on your urban property.

If you want to imagine the natural state of a functioning ecosystem,
that's what you have to compare to. With no more than 10 feet
separation between trees.

And even in that situation, you'll find lots of trees in bad shape.
Lots of tree stumps and trees that have fallen over, lots of insect and
bird dammage to trunks, broken limbs opening up the heartwood to rot.

Bottom line is that sure, don't rake the leaves of your urban back-yard,
and your trees will get more black-spot and other diseases regularly.
It won't kill the tree, but the tree won't grow as fast or as evenly vs
removing those pathogens from it's environment by removing the leaves in
the fall.

==========
http://gerberink.hubpages.com/hub/Maple-Tree-Problems

Maple Tree Tar Spot

The fungus winters-over on leaves that have dropped to the ground. If
the leaves are not raked up in the fall, the spores will reappear in the
spring on the old leaves and spread to any nearby tree. Treating the
trees is usually not effective since the spores can travel from a
neighbor's tree onto your trees.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is commonly mistaken for tar spot. However, the damage is
much more extensive as it affects not only the leaves but the branches
as well. The spots on the leaves are many, and are usually much smaller
than the 1/8 inch tar spots.

This condition commonly occurs when there are long periods of cold and
wet weather. The areas affected may include the dark small spots and
irregularly shaped dead and brown areas on leaves. The leaves usually
fall off in the early spring, followed by a second set of leaves which
will also die off. The branches may develop cankers which can girdle the
branches and kill them.

The disease is perpetuated because the fungal spores over-winter in dead
leaves. When there is a prolonged wet spring, the spores have a perfect
breeding ground. The spores are carried by the wind to other trees. Once
infected, the disease can over-winter in the host plant in the infected
branches and twigs.

The disease can be controlled by removing dead leaves in the fall from
the base of your trees. Fungicide can also be applied, but due to the
size and number of trees that may be affected, commercial applications
are usually required. You can call your local Cooperative Extension
office to find out what fungicides are legal in your state.
==========

See also:

=========
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distrib...re/dg6659.html

Horsechestnut/ Ohio buck-eye Aesculus spp.
- Leaf blight, Guignardia aesculi
- Rake up and destroy infected leaves.

Maple Acer spp.
- Anthracnose, Discula species and others
- Rake up and destroy or compost fallen leaves.

- Leaf spot, Phyllosticta minima
- Rake up and destroy fallen leaves.

- Tar spot, Rhytisma acerinum
- Infected leaves can be raked up and destroyed or composted.

Oak Quercus spp.
- Anthracnose, Apiognomonia quercinia
- Rake and destroy fallen leaves.

Poplar Populus spp.
- Shoot blight, Venturia tremulae on Populus sp. and hybrids; V.
populina on black cottonwood and balsam poplar
- Rake and remove leaves in the fall.

Walnut Juglans spp.
- Anthracnose, Gnomonia leptostyla (Marssoniella juglandis)
- Rake and destroy fallen leaves and nuts.

Willow Salix spp.
- Willow scab/Twig blight, Venturia saliciperda and
Glomerella miyabeana
- Rake and destroy fallen leaves and twigs prior to spring growth

Crabapple, Ornamental
- Frog-eye leaf spot, Botryosphaeria obtusa
- Rake up infected leaves.
=====================

Any more wise cracks from you bone-heads?

On Oct 19, 5:15*pm, IGot2P wrote:
On 10/19/2011 10:17 AM, Home Guy wrote:

Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall. (snipped)

There is a State Forest that borders our small community so it looks
like we need to organize everyone and go rake it so it will be there in
the years to come. It is over 8,000 acres and we only have a population
of 600+ so it will be quite a job but obviously well worth the effort!

Don

As usual, things are not always black and white. In this case, you are
both right.

Due to the dry spring that we had this year, most of the maple trees
in our area are suffering from fungus called Tar Spot. I have a huge
Maple on my lot and I've been raking leaves since early August. Per
the site accessible via the link below "the most effective management
strategy is to rake and destroy infected leaves in the fall, thus
reducing the amount of overwintering fungi."

http://umaine.edu/homeowner-ipm/2011...r-spot-fungus/

Since destroying the leaves on-site is not always possible, the
gardening shows on the radio recommend bagging and removing the leaves
from the area.

My issue now is that I have so many fewer leaves to stuff my Halloween
scarecrows that I might have to go off-site and gather leaves.
Typically the maple will begin to lose it's leaves in time from me to
use them but the maple is just about empty due to the Tar Spot.

On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 17:46:00 -0700, JIMMIE wrote:

On Oct 19, 7:00Â*am, bob haller wrote:
On Oct 19, 5:59Â*am, "HeyBub" wrote:

Videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=TNty8QNITpg

very good idea, low cost, using whats available. too bad he didnt show
off the impeller, wonder what it looks like?

I like the idea of the direct drive, my father in law made something
similar using a blower with belt drive. With exposed belts his was a
"fool killer". His sides were made of EMT conduit and poultry curtain
material. To unload you just folded the sides down and shoveled it off
with a grain shovel.

I'm not sure about having the impeller so high up where it'd likely get
me right in the back if it underwent catastrophic failure, though - I've
seen commercial baggers where they're lower down, by the hitch, which
puts a lot more metal inbetween them and me. :-)

I've got a couple of acres of lawn here, and the same again for trees -
most of the leaves just blow away, and I've always just left the ones
that remain - they've usually gone by the first mow of the next season.
Still, I do have a spare trailer and a spare 3.5HP mower engine - I'm
resisting the urge to start another "project"

cheers

Jules

On Oct 19, 9:03*pm, Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:46:08 -0700 (PDT), Harry K





wrote:
On Oct 19, 1:40*pm, Tony Miklos wrote:
On 10/19/2011 11:17 AM, Home Guy wrote:

Harry K wrote:

Mulching the leaves should not harm the lawn.

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on leaves
and these tree diseases will return year after year if you don't remove
the leaves in the fall.

Wow! *It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". *How did they
ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

Well, they didn't have internet experts to tell them the "facts"

I never saw a forest with a lawn anyway.
Tried running over leaves with my mulching mower a few days ago.
Most of the leaves either blew away or piled up in front of the mower,
falling off to the sides as I moved forward.
Tried levering up the mower and putting it down on piles of leaves.
About 90% of them blew away from the mower.
When I saw I would have to go over the lawn about 18 times I decided
to give up on that, and just rake them up into piles like always, and
dump them on the street by the curb.
Town comes by and removes them.

--Vic- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I haven't had that problem. First pass = deck high as it will go.
Some leaves go under, other over/around. Second pass = lower deck and
very few leaves will be missed. Rarely except in spots do I need a
3rd pass. and that is with leaves deep enoug that the mower won't be
above them on the first pass.

Harry K

On 10/20/2011 9:07 AM, Home Guy wrote:
Tony Miklos wrote:

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on
leaves and these tree diseases will return year after year if you
don't remove the leaves in the fall.

Wow! It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". How did
they ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

You people are bone-heads.

Go and look at a natural, preserved forest area. Something at least 100
acres in size, and has been left in a natural state (no human activity)
for at least 80 years. You'll find at least a foot of organic loam on
the ground before you hit dirt / soil. You won't find a spec of grass.

So who want's grass anyway? Way too much maintenance. I do have a
little around the house but not much. Just enough to get around without
getting muddy. Green pastures just aren't my thing, I like the woods
much better.

On 10/19/2011 8:58 PM, JIMMIE wrote:
On Oct 19, 7:57 pm, wrote:
On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 07:36:41 -0500, wrote:
On 10/19/2011 4:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg

I've always wondered - why collect them? Two passes with the lawn
tractor and they're finely chopped and disappear into the lawn. It's a
lot faster and easier than vacuuming or raking them up.

That's what I do. When I had a mower without a "mulching
attachment" I taped a heavy business size envelope over the output
chute and it worked just as well. I only need it for about 1 or 2
mows in the late fall. (They've just started to fall this week.)

When I had a half acre I never even considered raking the leaves, so I
never have.

I used to live on a 3 arce lot with lots of trees, mostly pin oaks. It
got to be a loosing battle to keep them raked so I let it go simi
natural except for about half an acre the house was on. Maintenace of
the natural area was reduced to occasionally walking around with an
eye hoe and chopping down briars and various seedlings. One of my
buddies wanted me to collect some seedlings for him.....cant imagine
someone wanting pin oaks in their yard that wasnt already stuck with
them.

Jimmie

I like my pin oaks, and the red and white oaks also, along with the 20
or so other tree types growing wild around the little grass border
surrounding my house. I just think it's crazy when people have an acre
or two or ten that they actually mow all summer long. I do have one big
grassy area but not by choice, it's the leach field for the septic.

On 10/19/2011 10:36 PM, aemeijers wrote:
On 10/19/2011 12:15 PM, Tony Miklos wrote:
On 10/19/2011 5:59 AM, HeyBub wrote:
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=TNty8QNITpg


With many acres of woods surrounding my house I still have never had the
need to vacuum leaves, just mow/mulch them. They are good for the soil
and the trees. Nature intended for the leaves to lay under the trees,
why move them?

In principle I agree with you, but I still have to go to work, and I
don't want the neighbors to torch my place while I am gone. I don't get
anal about it like they do, but I relocate most of the leaves, if
weather and first snowfall permit. Thankfully, I have a tree line in
back to dump them in, so I don't have to mess with bagging/burning/hauling.


You must have nasty uptight neighbors. They can't see the woods for the
trees.

On Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:50:57 -0400, Tony Miklos wrote:

On 10/20/2011 9:07 AM, Home Guy wrote:
Tony Miklos wrote:

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on
leaves and these tree diseases will return year after year if you
don't remove the leaves in the fall.

Wow! It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". How did
they ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

You people are bone-heads.

Go and look at a natural, preserved forest area. Something at least 100
acres in size, and has been left in a natural state (no human activity)
for at least 80 years. You'll find at least a foot of organic loam on
the ground before you hit dirt / soil. You won't find a spec of grass.

So who want's grass anyway? Way too much maintenance. I do have a
little around the house but not much. Just enough to get around without
getting muddy. Green pastures just aren't my thing, I like the woods
much better.

I like grass around the house. Woods don't let the house dry out. A quarter
acre of grass, around the house, is good. Lush grass is easier to take care
of than sparse weeds.

On Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:50:46 -0700 (PDT), Harry K
wrote:

On Oct 19, 9:03Â*pm, Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:46:08 -0700 (PDT), Harry K



I haven't had that problem. First pass = deck high as it will go.
Some leaves go under, other over/around. Second pass = lower deck and
very few leaves will be missed. Rarely except in spots do I need a
3rd pass. and that is with leaves deep enoug that the mower won't be
above them on the first pass.


Thanks.
I give it another try, with deck high this time.
It's been raining here, so I'll get at it before they get too dry.
Might not blow away so easily.
They were bone dry when I tried it.

--Vic

On Oct 20, 12:04*pm, Vic Smith
wrote:
On Thu, 20 Oct 2011 07:50:46 -0700 (PDT), Harry K

wrote:
On Oct 19, 9:03*pm, Vic Smith wrote:
On Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:46:08 -0700 (PDT), Harry K

I haven't had that problem. *First pass = deck high as it will go.
Some leaves go under, other over/around. *Second pass = lower deck and
very few leaves will be missed. *Rarely except in spots do I need a
3rd pass. * and that is with leaves deep enoug that the mower won't be
above them on the first pass.

Thanks.
I give it another try, with deck high this time.
It's been raining here, so I'll get at it before they get too dry.
Might not blow away so easily.
They were bone dry when I tried it.

--Vic

I use a walk behind mower, so maybe this won't apply, but...

I would never try to mow wet leaves. They get stuck everywhere,
clogged things up and just a make a mess.

If I can't wait for them to dry out, I rake them, otherwise I mow.

On 10/20/2011 8:07 AM, Home Guy wrote:
Tony Miklos wrote:

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on
leaves and these tree diseases will return year after year if you
don't remove the leaves in the fall.

Wow! It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". How did
they ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

You people are bone-heads.

Go and look at a natural, preserved forest area. Something at least 100
acres in size, and has been left in a natural state (no human activity)
for at least 80 years. You'll find at least a foot of organic loam on
the ground before you hit dirt / soil. You won't find a spec of grass.
In that foot of loam is a functioning ecosystem that you won't have in
your back yard. An ecosystem that deals with leaf-borne tree fungi in a
way that doesn't happen on your urban property.

If you want to imagine the natural state of a functioning ecosystem,
that's what you have to compare to. With no more than 10 feet
separation between trees.

And even in that situation, you'll find lots of trees in bad shape.
Lots of tree stumps and trees that have fallen over, lots of insect and
bird dammage to trunks, broken limbs opening up the heartwood to rot.

Bottom line is that sure, don't rake the leaves of your urban back-yard,
and your trees will get more black-spot and other diseases regularly.
It won't kill the tree, but the tree won't grow as fast or as evenly vs
removing those pathogens from it's environment by removing the leaves in
the fall.

==========
http://gerberink.hubpages.com/hub/Maple-Tree-Problems

Maple Tree Tar Spot

The fungus winters-over on leaves that have dropped to the ground. If
the leaves are not raked up in the fall, the spores will reappear in the
spring on the old leaves and spread to any nearby tree. Treating the
trees is usually not effective since the spores can travel from a
neighbor's tree onto your trees.

Anthracnose

Anthracnose is commonly mistaken for tar spot. However, the damage is
much more extensive as it affects not only the leaves but the branches
as well. The spots on the leaves are many, and are usually much smaller
than the 1/8 inch tar spots.

This condition commonly occurs when there are long periods of cold and
wet weather. The areas affected may include the dark small spots and
irregularly shaped dead and brown areas on leaves. The leaves usually
fall off in the early spring, followed by a second set of leaves which
will also die off. The branches may develop cankers which can girdle the
branches and kill them.

The disease is perpetuated because the fungal spores over-winter in dead
leaves. When there is a prolonged wet spring, the spores have a perfect
breeding ground. The spores are carried by the wind to other trees. Once
infected, the disease can over-winter in the host plant in the infected
branches and twigs.

The disease can be controlled by removing dead leaves in the fall from
the base of your trees. Fungicide can also be applied, but due to the
size and number of trees that may be affected, commercial applications
are usually required. You can call your local Cooperative Extension
office to find out what fungicides are legal in your state.
==========

See also:

=========
http://www.extension.umn.edu/distrib...re/dg6659.html

Horsechestnut/ Ohio buck-eye Aesculus spp.
- Leaf blight, Guignardia aesculi
- Rake up and destroy infected leaves.

Maple Acer spp.
- Anthracnose, Discula species and others
- Rake up and destroy or compost fallen leaves.

- Leaf spot, Phyllosticta minima
- Rake up and destroy fallen leaves.

- Tar spot, Rhytisma acerinum
- Infected leaves can be raked up and destroyed or composted.

Oak Quercus spp.
- Anthracnose, Apiognomonia quercinia
- Rake and destroy fallen leaves.

Poplar Populus spp.
- Shoot blight, Venturia tremulae on Populus sp. and hybrids; V.
populina on black cottonwood and balsam poplar
- Rake and remove leaves in the fall.

Walnut Juglans spp.
- Anthracnose, Gnomonia leptostyla (Marssoniella juglandis)
- Rake and destroy fallen leaves and nuts.

Willow Salix spp.
- Willow scab/Twig blight, Venturia saliciperda and
Glomerella miyabeana
- Rake and destroy fallen leaves and twigs prior to spring growth

Crabapple, Ornamental
- Frog-eye leaf spot, Botryosphaeria obtusa
- Rake up infected leaves.
=====================

Any more wise cracks from you bone-heads?

Yeah. You either don't get it, or you're just being stubborn. Fungal
leaf infections are not routine, are almost always not a serious
problem, and almost never persist into successive years. Conditions
have to be right for them to become an issue, and that's an exception,
not the rule.

Fungi are part of nature. Like everything else, they have their
cycles. You deal with them when and if they become enough of a problem
to require some maintenance. For the average homeowner, that will be
seldom to never.

I was in the trade for years. We rarely advised people to treat for
fungal issues, _because_ it is almost always an occasional and minor
issue. Frankly, in those cases where it is a major issue, _effective_
control is difficult and/or expensive. Examples: oak wilt, dutch elm
disease, verticillium wilt, and cytospora canker. You got these, you
got yourself a problem that will take some effort and expense to
treat, assuming you choose to treat it at all. Raking leaves won't
make a tinker's damn of difference with these, either.

To sum up: most of the time, mulching leaves into the turf will be
fine. As will grass clippings. As long as the clippings aren't so
thick as to form windrows, they'll decompose quickly, and they do not
contribute to thatch accumulation, contrary to your assertion.

HellT wrote:

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on
leaves and these tree diseases will return year after year if
you don't remove the leaves in the fall.

Any more wise cracks from you bone-heads?

Yeah. You either don't get it, or you're just being stubborn.

I get it, and for you it goes right over your head.

Fungal leaf infections are not routine,

A general statement that you simply can't make here.

are almost always not a serious problem,

And I even said that they won't kill a tree.

and almost never persist into successive years.

That's debatable. Certainly depends on geography and climate.

Fungi are part of nature. Like everything else, they have their
cycles. You deal with them when and if they become enough of a
problem to require some maintenance. For the average homeowner,
that will be seldom to never.

The average home owner is busy cutting down their trees. I see it
happening far too often, for trivial reasons.

I was in the trade for years. We rarely advised people to treat
for fungal issues,

I'm not talking about treating for fungus after the fact.

And for every 1 owner that actually picks up the phone and calls you
about leaf spot, there are 99 others that simply don't pay attention,
don't notice or don't care. So don't think that the number of calls you
get is indicative of the true prevelance of fungal problems.

_because_ it is almost always an occasional and minor
issue. Frankly, in those cases where it is a major issue,
_effective_ control is difficult and/or expensive.

Examples:
- oak wilt

Spores not spread via airborne winds. Leaf raking is not an issue with
the spread of oak wilt.

dutch elm disease

Spores spread by bark beetles. Leaf raking is not an issue with the
spread of dutch elm disease.

verticillium wilt

Verticillium is spread mainly in soil via root-to-root contact, but
several versions can overwinter in live vegetation or plant debris, and
clearing this debris can reduce the spread to other plants. It can
survive cold weather and even sub-freezing conditions.

and cytospora canker.

A fungal bark infection, usually in "stoney" fruit trees. Leaves and
leaf debris are not vectors for spreading.

You got these, you got yourself a problem ...
Raking leaves won't make a tinker's damn of difference
with these, either.

The accuracy of your statement is debatible when it comes to
verticillium wilt.

But yes, you did list fungal diseases that don't involve leaf litter as
a spreading or exposure mechanism.

And I did give you a longer list in my previous post of fungal diseases
that ARE combated by leaf raking and removal.

And the best time to combat such fungal diseases is before they become a
problem, which means you don't wait until the year you have the fungal
disease to start raking and removing the visibly-infected leaves in the
fall. You rake the leaves all the time.

On 10/20/2011 11:54 AM, zzzzzzzzzz wrote:
On Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:50:57 -0400, Tony wrote:

On 10/20/2011 9:07 AM, Home Guy wrote:
Tony Miklos wrote:

Viruses, fungii and other nasty pathogens to trees are found on
leaves and these tree diseases will return year after year if you
don't remove the leaves in the fall.

Wow! It's a miracle there are such things as "forests". How did
they ever survive without people gathering the leaves?

You people are bone-heads.

Go and look at a natural, preserved forest area. Something at least 100
acres in size, and has been left in a natural state (no human activity)
for at least 80 years. You'll find at least a foot of organic loam on
the ground before you hit dirt / soil. You won't find a spec of grass.

So who want's grass anyway? Way too much maintenance. I do have a
little around the house but not much. Just enough to get around without
getting muddy. Green pastures just aren't my thing, I like the woods
much better.

I like grass around the house. Woods don't let the house dry out. A quarter
acre of grass, around the house, is good. Lush grass is easier to take care
of than sparse weeds.


True dat. When I was house shopping, I looked at a couple otherwise nice
houses that were fully sheltered by high canopy trees. Picturesque as
hell, but they both stunk like cabins do when you first open them up in
the spring. Realtor had all the windows open, and fans running, and it
didn't even take the edge off the smell. House needs enough sunlight to
keep the siding, roof decking, and structure from being damp all the time.

--
aem sends..,

On 10/20/2011 8:29 PM, aemeijers wrote:


True dat. When I was house shopping, I looked at a couple otherwise nice
houses that were fully sheltered by high canopy trees. Picturesque as
hell, but they both stunk like cabins do when you first open them up in
the spring. Realtor had all the windows open, and fans running, and it
didn't even take the edge off the smell. House needs enough sunlight to
keep the siding, roof decking, and structure from being damp all the time.


Not to mention the increased cost of homeowners insurance for a house
that is under a canopy of trees. I've heard rumors of some insurance
companies that are refusing to renew (at any cost) if you have tree
branches over your roof.