Shredding Leaves

b54red · November 10, 2009

I have 3 large tulip poplars and each year the leaf problem has become more and more difficult. My lawnmower is a walk behind with a fairly small bag and when I try mulching with it I spend all day emptying the bag because where the leaves are thick I can only mow a few yds before the bag is full. I tried bagging them; but it took almost as long and way too many bags. A friend told me about something one of his co-workers told him so I tried it.
Rake or blow the leaves into piles then take a large wheeled garbage can and fill 3/4 full ( I just lay it on its side and scoop them in), then take your weedeater and rev it up high and just work it into the leaves. It works kinda like an old fashioned milk shake maker. In a few seconds it reduces the leaves to a fine mulch. Keep adding more leaves til the can is getting around half full then dump and start over. I found it works better to use a very big square can like our city uses and I also found a short step stool to be helpful so your face is not too near the top of the can because it can be quite dusty if the leaves are really dry. I found it faster to tap out more line each time so it cut them up faster. This works great for creating mulch or compost material and it is fairly quick and easy. Just thought I'd pass this along in case it helps anyone.

cottonpicker · November 10, 2009

Great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Worth1 · November 10, 2009

Can you make margaritas with this set up?

kygreg · November 10, 2009

I cut a piece of tin to fit over the where the leaves are thrown out; attach the tin and mow; it mulches them finely and I don't pick them up; have seen other people use good ole duct tape for the cover and works well. Your idea sounds like a good one for the leaves I want to put on the garden.

ContainerTed · November 11, 2009

I still use a Black & Decker electric leaf blower I bought some dozen years ago. It comes with a shoulder bag and an extra attachment that converts it from a 195 mph blower, to a mulcher for leaves and VERY small twigs. In the mulch configuration, the leaves are vacuumed up thru a tube that attaches to the place where the intake air normally goes in and the shoulder bag is attached to the normal output port.

It can be a VERY dusty task, but it does a great job on leaves. I add leaves to my potting mix each fall and this thing grinds them up "just right".

There are a few models out there now that have this dual capability.

Ted

barkeater · November 11, 2009

I'm lucky as we can still burn our leaves. I rake them onto a blue tarp, dump them on the garden, and light them up. Good fertilizer and it helps kill off weeds, and hopefully any bad pests. This year I put the dried spent tomato vines I pulled on top of the pile and they were completely incinerated.

Tomstrees · November 17, 2009

sounds great !!!

my neighbor has 2 big old oak trees and every year: I get their leaves

but I've turned a neg into a pos -

I rake up all those leaves into a big pile, mow them to shreds and put right on top of my mater patch. Those creepy crawling worms and other bugs break it down over winter (and it protects the soil from bitter old man winter) and come spring? Good to grow !

~ Tom

November 10, 2009	#1
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Shredding Leaves I have 3 large tulip poplars and each year the leaf problem has become more and more difficult. My lawnmower is a walk behind with a fairly small bag and when I try mulching with it I spend all day emptying the bag because where the leaves are thick I can only mow a few yds before the bag is full. I tried bagging them; but it took almost as long and way too many bags. A friend told me about something one of his co-workers told him so I tried it. Rake or blow the leaves into piles then take a large wheeled garbage can and fill 3/4 full ( I just lay it on its side and scoop them in), then take your weedeater and rev it up high and just work it into the leaves. It works kinda like an old fashioned milk shake maker. In a few seconds it reduces the leaves to a fine mulch. Keep adding more leaves til the can is getting around half full then dump and start over. I found it works better to use a very big square can like our city uses and I also found a short step stool to be helpful so your face is not too near the top of the can because it can be quite dusty if the leaves are really dry. I found it faster to tap out more line each time so it cut them up faster. This works great for creating mulch or compost material and it is fairly quick and easy. Just thought I'd pass this along in case it helps anyone.

November 10, 2009	#2
cottonpicker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SE PA..near Valley Forge Posts: 839	Great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!! __________________ "Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause". Victor Hugo

November 11, 2009	#5
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	I still use a Black & Decker electric leaf blower I bought some dozen years ago. It comes with a shoulder bag and an extra attachment that converts it from a 195 mph blower, to a mulcher for leaves and VERY small twigs. In the mulch configuration, the leaves are vacuumed up thru a tube that attaches to the place where the intake air normally goes in and the shoulder bag is attached to the normal output port. It can be a VERY dusty task, but it does a great job on leaves. I add leaves to my potting mix each fall and this thing grinds them up "just right". There are a few models out there now that have this dual capability. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

November 17, 2009	#7
Tomstrees Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NJ Bayshore Posts: 3,848	sounds great !!! my neighbor has 2 big old oak trees and every year: I get their leaves but I've turned a neg into a pos - I rake up all those leaves into a big pile, mow them to shreds and put right on top of my mater patch. Those creepy crawling worms and other bugs break it down over winter (and it protects the soil from bitter old man winter) and come spring? Good to grow ! ~ Tom __________________ My green thumb came only as a result of the mistakes I made while learning to see things from the plant's point of view. ~ H. Fred Ale

November 10, 2009	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Can you make margaritas with this set up?

November 10, 2009	#4
kygreg Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,019	I cut a piece of tin to fit over the where the leaves are thrown out; attach the tin and mow; it mulches them finely and I don't pick them up; have seen other people use good ole duct tape for the cover and works well. Your idea sounds like a good one for the leaves I want to put on the garden.

November 11, 2009	#6
barkeater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NE Kingdom, VT - Zone 3b Posts: 1,439	I'm lucky as we can still burn our leaves. I rake them onto a blue tarp, dump them on the garden, and light them up. Good fertilizer and it helps kill off weeds, and hopefully any bad pests. This year I put the dried spent tomato vines I pulled on top of the pile and they were completely incinerated.