Raking: Do U Do It?

Trilby · 11-09-2010, 12:47 PM

I'm really torn. I don't want to rake or even leaf-blow my leaves around.

but I feel like I should. But I don't wanna.

My yard guy says 120.00 to 150.00 to do fall clean up and if I don't then my lawn won't grow come spring.

I say if the grass doesn't grow then I won't have to mow it next spring, right? And I've lived here 10 years and the grass always grows just fine come nice weather.

Do you rake up your leaves and do a "Fall Clean-Up"?

Pico and ME · 11-09-2010, 12:52 PM

Nope. We just give the lawn one last mow to mulch the leaves. I will do one little thing this year tho...Im gonna do major surgery on the smoke bush that grew like a crazy nut job this summer. Im gonna have to re-plant it somewhere else in the spring.

glatt · 11-09-2010, 12:56 PM

I'm trying to convince my son to do ours for $20. If he doesn't this weekend, then I will. I mow my leaves weekly while they are still not so heavy. Once they get really heavy, I just rake them to the curb. County sucks them up with a vacuum truck.

It really depends on how many trees you have.

Spexxvet · 11-09-2010, 12:57 PM

I do. But it sucks.

wolf · 11-09-2010, 01:05 PM

Apartment. A bunch of Mexicans show up ever week and do up the lawn like a golf green.

Lamplighter · 11-09-2010, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

I'm trying to convince my son to do ours for $20. If he doesn't this weekend, then I will. I mow my leaves weekly while they are still not so heavy. Once they get really heavy, I just rake them to the curb. County sucks them up with a vacuum truck.

It really depends on how many trees you have.

Beware, coming to a neighborhood near you...

Portland (OR) has just instituted a new fee for home owners to cover the city's leaf pickups.
Avoiding the fee may be possible via receipts for licensed landscapers, etc.
but it is making for a lot of angry homeowners.

bbro · 11-09-2010, 02:32 PM

We never did when I was growing up in PA and we didn't have problems with the grass not growing because of it. Of course he is going to say that, he wants you to pay him to clean.

Spexxvet · 11-09-2010, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Apartment. A bunch of Mexicans show up ever week and do up the lawn like a golf green.

I hope you're checking green cards

sexobon · 11-09-2010, 03:40 PM

It's true that clumped and matted down leaves; or, grass cuttings can keep sunlight from reaching the lawn in spots so the grass underneath won't grow. Simply breaking up the clumps with a rake will enable the wind to move leaves and grass cuttings around to avoid dead spots without having to pick up the debris and dispose of it.

I use the lawn mower to mulch leaves while cutting the grass. I first mow the perimeter of the yard, with the cuttings being blown towards the middle, and work towards the center. All the previous cuttings get chopped up a little finer each time I pass over them again while making new cuttings. I then use the mower to scatter the debris pile accumulated in the center of the yard out towards the perimeter until the material blends in with the grass.

I only rake up the leaves and grass cuttings that drift into piles against the house and edges of the driveway. I don't want decomposition piles forming against the house; or, making a mess when I later use the snow blower on the driveway.

xoxoxoBruce · 11-09-2010, 03:57 PM

The lord giveth, the lord taketh away.

footfootfoot · 11-09-2010, 10:02 PM

Bri, As soon as the leaves are dry just mow over them like Pico says. It will be good for the lawn.

monster · 11-09-2010, 10:12 PM

I mow/mulch early in the season, then I rake (I did it Monday). I love the raking -great workout, visible results and good for the bod (maintain core strength position -Kegel brace- and always bend knees when lifting, alternate raking sides....)

casimendocina · 11-10-2010, 07:35 AM

I had the dead branches of trees on my property lopped last week so that another one won't fall on my house anytime soon. Also I can feel virtuous about cleaning up in time for bushfire season. Got the invoice today-was expecting that the terms of payment would be 14 or 21 days, but no, the invoice says terms of payment: NOW.

glatt · 11-10-2010, 08:04 AM

In 21 days, it will still be NOW.

Trilby · 11-10-2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

In 21 days, it will still be NOW.

The Zen of Remittance.

11-09-2010, 12:47 PM	#1
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Raking: Do U Do It? I'm really torn. I don't want to rake or even leaf-blow my leaves around. but I feel like I should. But I don't wanna. My yard guy says 120.00 to 150.00 to do fall clean up and if I don't then my lawn won't grow come spring. I say if the grass doesn't grow then I won't have to mow it next spring, right? And I've lived here 10 years and the grass always grows just fine come nice weather. Do you rake up your leaves and do a "Fall Clean-Up"? __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

11-09-2010, 12:57 PM	#4
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	I do. But it sucks. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

11-09-2010, 01:05 PM	#5
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Apartment. A bunch of Mexicans show up ever week and do up the lawn like a golf green. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

11-09-2010, 03:57 PM	#10
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	The lord giveth, the lord taketh away. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-09-2010, 10:02 PM	#11
footfootfoot To shreds, you say? Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: in the house and on the street-how many, many feet we meet! Posts: 18,449	Bri, As soon as the leaves are dry just mow over them like Pico says. It will be good for the lawn. __________________ The internet is a hateful stew of vomit you can never take completely seriously. - Her Fobs

11-09-2010, 12:52 PM	#2
Pico and ME Are you knock-kneed? Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Middle Hoosierland Posts: 3,549	Nope. We just give the lawn one last mow to mulch the leaves. I will do one little thing this year tho...Im gonna do major surgery on the smoke bush that grew like a crazy nut job this summer. Im gonna have to re-plant it somewhere else in the spring.

11-09-2010, 12:56 PM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I'm trying to convince my son to do ours for $20. If he doesn't this weekend, then I will. I mow my leaves weekly while they are still not so heavy. Once they get really heavy, I just rake them to the curb. County sucks them up with a vacuum truck. It really depends on how many trees you have.

11-09-2010, 02:32 PM	#7
bbro Insert witty comment here Join Date: May 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 2,182	We never did when I was growing up in PA and we didn't have problems with the grass not growing because of it. Of course he is going to say that, he wants you to pay him to clean.

11-09-2010, 03:40 PM	#9
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	It's true that clumped and matted down leaves; or, grass cuttings can keep sunlight from reaching the lawn in spots so the grass underneath won't grow. Simply breaking up the clumps with a rake will enable the wind to move leaves and grass cuttings around to avoid dead spots without having to pick up the debris and dispose of it. I use the lawn mower to mulch leaves while cutting the grass. I first mow the perimeter of the yard, with the cuttings being blown towards the middle, and work towards the center. All the previous cuttings get chopped up a little finer each time I pass over them again while making new cuttings. I then use the mower to scatter the debris pile accumulated in the center of the yard out towards the perimeter until the material blends in with the grass. I only rake up the leaves and grass cuttings that drift into piles against the house and edges of the driveway. I don't want decomposition piles forming against the house; or, making a mess when I later use the snow blower on the driveway.

11-09-2010, 10:12 PM	#12
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I mow/mulch early in the season, then I rake (I did it Monday). I love the raking -great workout, visible results and good for the bod (maintain core strength position -Kegel brace- and always bend knees when lifting, alternate raking sides....) __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

11-10-2010, 07:35 AM	#13
casimendocina Professor Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,622	I had the dead branches of trees on my property lopped last week so that another one won't fall on my house anytime soon. Also I can feel virtuous about cleaning up in time for bushfire season. Got the invoice today-was expecting that the terms of payment would be 14 or 21 days, but no, the invoice says terms of payment: NOW.

11-10-2010, 08:04 AM	#14
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	In 21 days, it will still be NOW.

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