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Well, I'm still in Florida and between the magnolias dropping their leaves 2 - 3 times a year, and the 36" Sycamore, I'm probably cleaning up as big a mess annually as my more northern brethren.
The sycamore is not so bad as the leaves are like big paper plates and they only fall once. I wait until they're in drifts against the house, then get 'em all at once. The magnolia's are more of an on-going maintenance issue.
Unfortunately, I've discovered that the best ways are the old ways... ...a rake and a bunch of aspercreme. I have a B&D Leafhog blower/vac which work great for after-mowing cleanup, but the sycamore leaves are too big and the magnolias leaves are too heavy and randomly mined with seedpods/grenades which batter the impeller.
Occasionally, I'll rake up several piles and vac 'em up. The vacuum mulches and reduces the number of bags I need. I use a mulching mower also, but if I bag, I'm emptying it every 2 or 3 passes (push mower on 1/3 acre), and if I don't it smothers the grass (lots of leaves).
If I want to just get out there and get it done, I glove up and got to town with a rake. I can get it done better and faster, I just need a few days to recuperate.
~g
The sycamore is not so bad as the leaves are like big paper plates and they only fall once. I wait until they're in drifts against the house, then get 'em all at once. The magnolia's are more of an on-going maintenance issue.
Unfortunately, I've discovered that the best ways are the old ways... ...a rake and a bunch of aspercreme. I have a B&D Leafhog blower/vac which work great for after-mowing cleanup, but the sycamore leaves are too big and the magnolias leaves are too heavy and randomly mined with seedpods/grenades which batter the impeller.
Occasionally, I'll rake up several piles and vac 'em up. The vacuum mulches and reduces the number of bags I need. I use a mulching mower also, but if I bag, I'm emptying it every 2 or 3 passes (push mower on 1/3 acre), and if I don't it smothers the grass (lots of leaves).
If I want to just get out there and get it done, I glove up and got to town with a rake. I can get it done better and faster, I just need a few days to recuperate.
~g
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