Changer’s Handi-Scooper – So You Still Rake? No Need to Bend Down

This is a frame and handle attached to it for affixing to your leaf bags to make it easier to keep your bags stay in one place and be easily raked into with the other hand.  Although not readily available now, the manufacture expects this product to be available next year.  You can write them and ask for a quote to get it this year.  I don’t know if that means they are making them one at a time in a custom fashion for the moment or what.

The Handi-Scooper's price is not available on the web, but you can write and get a quote.

The Handi-Scooper's price is not available on the web, but you can write and get a quote.

Description from the site:

“Leaf collecting has never been this easy… SIMPLY RAKE LEAVES IN…
NO BENDING ! NO STOOPING !
No more touching of cold wet leaves !

* ADJUSTABLE BLADE !
HOLDS
- ANY SIZE PLASTIC GARBAGE BAG
- STANDARD PAPER YARD WASTE BAG
- HEAVY DUTY INDUSTRIAL LITTER BAG
* SIMPLE BAG INSTALLATION
Hook On – Clip – Go!
Easy on / Easy off “SMART CLIP” hold bag Beyond Secure.paper bag Leaf Bagger
* IT’S A GIANT GARBAGE PAN !
With Changer’s upright stands it can be used as an upright garbage bin.”

Changer’s Handi-Scooper video now in monotone audio :-) :





Leaf Reaper – Tarp with a Difference

Step on one of the poles to keep leaves fropm going under the tarp.

Step on one of the poles to keep leaves fropm going under the tarp and is only $21.95

This looks like a great tarp. It has metal rods on either side. It allows you to avoid raking leaves under the tarp and control more easily spilling the leaves into the bag and at the curb.

Here’s a description of the from the Leaf Reaper site:
“- Reduces lawn cleanup time by up to 50%
- Eliminates bagging frustrations
- Weatherproof – High Quality, Rip – Stop Nylon
- Only patented design on the market
- Holds and carries 5 bushels, or up to 35 pounds
- Easy to assemble, clean and store”

The Leaf Reaper video.

Using a Snowblower With Leaves

Right on brother. Hope you didn’t break your machine. Here’s a comment from anickode a friend of engineers: “I can’t imagine this could possibly? be good for the machine. Snow blower engines are jetted to run in sub freezing conditions and have no air filters because of the lack of dust in winter conditions.”

“Redneck leaf blower. We don’t need no stinkin leaf blower.”

More Presumeably DIY Leaf Plows

I’m not sure these are all DIY or not.

This one’s definitely DIY, but hey, it works. toddpossum’s Comment: “You should write ACME on the? back of that thing.”

This one might be commercial, but I don’t have the link yet.

Designed by the John Brackett & Co. Landscape, I think this is the biggest most heavy duty plow yet. They could sell these and compete with Ramos Rake and JRCO Inc.

Kind of lame, but here’s a Mini Cooper plowing leaves:

This gentleman uses a straight plow which could use work, but his control mechanism of the plow looks good. The ATV use is interesting too.

Man Makes His Own Leaf Plow – Doesn’t Seem Too Complicated

Finished front view.

Finished front view.

Wood frame of plow

Wood frame of plow

This man makes his own leaf plow out of wood.  It doesn’t seem too difficult or requiring a lot of skill.  Apparently he has attached it to a walk behind.

Turning a Lawn Mower into a Lawn Tractor – I’ll Vote for This Girl if She Ever Runs for President

This is a great hack.  There has to be some adult applicable way to do this but I can’t think of it at the moment…Safety maybe an issue of course :-( .

Update: the adult way to do this of course, is with an ATV.  The safe way is to use metal rods or wood to attach between the vehicle and the mower, although presumably they should be free to allow the mower to be flexible to move from side to side.

If you do this and someone calls you a redneck, it’s OK, rednecks may inherit the earth…at least the nice ones will.

Mowing 3- 4 Times With a Mulching Mower

The results of just one pass with a mower is on the right.  The original is in the left.

The results of just one pass with a mower is on the right. The original is in the left.

Mowing 3- 4 Times in different directions like mowing a baseball field – Run over the leaves 3-4 times and it will look like they were never there. This is best done with a mulching mower but can even be done with regular one. There is a Purdue scientific article which suggests this does not harm the grass.  The state of Virginia’s Cooperative Extension agrees

Using Lightweight Pond-Garden Net/Netting to Capture Leaves

Pond Net/Netting - Fish, Bird, Garden, Pool, Leaf (3/8" Mesh)

Pond Net/Netting - Fish, Bird, Garden, Pool, Leaf (3/8" Mesh)

The 28' X 45' 3/8" Pond Net/Netting is $82.45 with Free Shipping

The 28' X 45' 3/8" Pond Net/Netting is About $55 from Amazon or It's Marketplace Partners

I’ve done this myself.  I purchased the 28′ by 45′ net from Pond and Garden Wholesalers (Amazon is actually much cheaper – see the ad below), put it down on the lawn, and then after a good batch had fallen, I rolled up the net and dragged it to the curb.  The net I purchased for $82.45 includes free shipping.  It is very large.  I had success doubling it up on the first two runs.  Now it is deployed in the full size.  I’ll report back how successful I was.

The net is very easily ripped.  However, if you roll up the net with the leaves, it does not rip.  Also obviously it’s better if it’s been dry so the leaves were not too heavy for dragging.  I haven’t tried to see if this economy net tears when rolled up with wet leaves.

For depositing the leaves I then unrolled and rerolled the the net backwards at the curb.  The net did not particularly stick to the leaves, and didn’t really rip at all in my operations.

For deploying the net, I staked it down with simple fallen branch sticks, which worked fine to keep the net from blowing away, and again didn’t really seem to rip the net.

So all in all the net was strong enough to avoid ripping when but when you purposefully tried to rip it, it ripped easily.  I will post pictures here of before and after showing the green carpet left behind when you roll up the leaves.  The net is completely non-toxic plastic. Pond and Garden Wholesalers makes stronger and smaller nets, which are priced somewhat accordingly.

Postscript: Amazon actually has much cheaper prices for Gardeneer by Dalen nets:

Midwest Quality Glove 45TA Lawn Claws Leaf Scoops – Make Your Hands Into Giant Bear Claws

Midwest Quality Glove 45TA Lawn Claws Leaf Scoops – grab gobs of leaves with these inexpensive “leaf claws.”  This is probably the highest rated product I have ever seen on Amazon.  The consensus is 5 stars from an amazing 32 reviewers.

Midwest Quality Glove 45TA Lawn Claws Leaf Scoops Sell for $7.74 on Amazon and Qualify for Free Shipping If You Order $25Worth of Items

Midwest Quality Glove 45TA Lawn Claws Leaf Scoops Sell for $9.98 on Amazon and Qualify for Free Amazon Prime Shipping (Amazon Prime is $80 for free 2 Day Shipping for 1 Year on Amazon Prime Products - Possibly a Good Deal).

Site Description:

“Technical Details

  • Adjustable Elastic Handle Straps for Easy Grip
  • Non Rusting, Wipe Clean or Hose Off Surface
  • Easy Hang Storage, Long Lasting
  • Great for Picking up or Spreading
  • Great for the Every Day or Professional Gardener

From the Manufacturer

Lawn Claws – Adjustable handle straps with wipe clean surface. Easy hang storage. Leaf Claws measure 14-1/2-inches by 11-3/4-inches each, sold in pairs. A must have for all homeowners.

Product Description

Solid panels will not allow small items, such as acorns, to fall through scoops. Scoops fit either hand. Ideal for spreading mulch or peat moss. Adjustable hand straps. Wipe clean surface. Easy hang storage. Set of 2.”

Leaf Grabber Multi-Rake Model 560 – Strange but Seems to Work Well

Ramos Leaf Grabber Multi-rake Model 560 – a multiple of 6 backward conventional leaf rake heads on a rig, for attaching to a riding or walk behind mower. Weird but seemingly effective for detailed leaf raking. Has a rope which you can lift up the rig by.

Leaf Grabber Multi-rake Model 560 Has 6 Conventional Rake Heads Welded Onto a Mower Rig

Leaf Grabber Multi-rake Model 560 Has 6 Conventional Rake Heads Welded Onto a Mower Rig

Site Description:

“Leaf Grabber Multi-rake Model 560
The front-mounted multi-rake is available for 36, 48, 54 or 60-inch mowers.
It’s the ultimate spring clean-up tool. Use the rake for the first mowing of the spring. It stands up grass and removes all debris while thatching in one pass. The multi-rake lifts grass without damaging roots, giving the lawn a clean hand-raked appearance. The multi-rake quickly attaches to the same mounts as our plow. Recommended for hydraulic-drive commercial walk-behind or riding mowers.

SPECIFICATIONS:

  • Multi Rake Shipping weight: 30 lbs.
  • Hardware:        10 lbs
  • Width: 33 in.
  • Length: 42 in. (raking path 54″ )”

    The Leaf Grabber Multi-rake Model 560 Sells for $559

    The Leaf Grabber Multi-rake Model 560 Sells for $559