Lawn sweeper

[dirtydrew420]

Ok going out on a limb here, but does anyone own a lawn sweeper. I've been thinking about picking one up recently to collect the clippings left behind from my tractor that are a nusience. I see many for sale on CL or letgo, which leads me to believe they're not good at what they're intended for. Input?

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[Leaflessshadetree]

I have one of the pull behind type with brushes. It picks up fine as long as the height is adjusted correctly. What I don't like is with 3 acres it fills up quick, especially if the grass was tall. 1 or 2 trips across the lawn and back. I also have never tried pulling it while I mow. That would require an off-set hitch.
I also pieced together a vacuum type that connects to the chute on the mower and collects grass on a large trailer. It works on the large open areas. The trailer I use is too big for going around trees.

 

[dirtydrew420]

Great info! I have a small yard so it sounds like it would do the trick!

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[soloz2]

I use a bagger for my lawn. The grass grows too quickly this time of year to mulch so I bag clippings. I'll do the same in the fall instead of sweeping the leaves. I think if you have easy to maneuver lawn go for it, but if you have to back up at all get a bagger as it'll be easier than backing up a trailer around obstacles.


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[dirtydrew420]

That's a good point, I used to have a bagger on an old tractor, worked well. I guess it'll come down to whichever I can find used cheaper. But you're certainly right about growing too fast to mulch.

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[kenners]

I have a pull behind sweeper and at times have used it with the pull behind lawn thatcher. Only draw back is the need to empty after about 2 to 3 lengths of the yard. Very handy when the lawn has gotten to long or there are lots of leaves.

 

[CraigStu]

I had one of these at our last house. Not cheap but it is absolutely superb.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/agri-fab-mow-n-vac?cm_vc=-10015
A year ago we sold that house and it went w/ it as part of the sales deal. Last fall I tried to get away w/ some home made stuff and muddled through the fall. I am now going to buy this slightly less expensive model.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/agri-fab-soft-top-mow-n-vac?cm_vc=-10015
One advantage the hard top one had was it will compact the stuff in there. I just keep going until I see that the ground isn't completely clear as I go over it which means it's full. I used it mostly for leaves. It is really nice to drive over leaves 6 inches deep and look back and see a 48 inch wide track where there are no leaves any more.

 

[Loose Nut Buster]

They're fine if U only have a load or two, otherwise you have a grass or leaf berm across your yard since you cannot pile them and they don't mulch so U have a pile of loose ? waiting for the wind to redistribute,...mine was for leaf pickup, Other than that they're fine.
Sold mine on the following year it was a tow behind, vacuum is the way to go if U can afford it.
My 2$$ for what its worth!

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[Loose Nut Buster]

Re: the tow behind vac, I purchased one similar and I can say that they "definitely are good" and U can pack alot of leaves wet or dry.
BUT!! when its packed n comes time to emptying U had better have had your Wheaties cause that trailer doesn't always want to just dump them out without alot of coaxing. I'm still trying to learn that lesson, it really packs them in, the metal sided version may be different, One load from the vac would probably equal10 sweeper loads.
Mine is 10 yrs old n I replaced the impeller housing n hopper bag last fall. Lots of acorns leaves n sand. One mower, vac, and a handheld blower, job done! A little sweat too [emoji3062]

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[jeep63]

I have used one with decent results, just a lot of trips to empty.

I helped by BIL move from the country to the burbs and as a thank you he gave me his mow-n-vac! I just needed to purchase a deck adapter for my tractor and I was in business. This thing is amazing! I sold my lawn sweeper; it worked well, but filled up fast with pine straw in the late fall and grass in the spring.

 

[burleyfarm]

I sold my one year old sweeper and put a bagger on my Toro ZTR. Easier to use, store and dump. Sweepers are not easy to back up and you have to go over the lawn twice, once to mow and again to sweep=wasted time. Dumping is a PITA. Sweepers are large and take up a lot of space.


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[rustyzman]

I have a very vintage Billy Goat Vacuum walk behind type. It works quite well, is very loud (vac noise) and the bag can be challenging to empty. Mulches nicely, so not as many bags on the curb. Was worth the $50 I paid.

If ever I decide to spend a bit more on it, I think the hose attachment would be worth getting.

 

[Black300zx]

I have one which came with our house. In the spring I'll use it once or twice when I accidentally let the grass get too long to mulch. In the fall I'll use it a couple times for leaves. It works well as long as the height is adjusted correctly and the grass isn't damp (wheels will just slide instead of turning the brush). It's useful enough that I won't get rid of it as long as it's working well, but I don't think I'd buy one unless I found a cheap used one.

During most of the year I find it easier just to mow the grass a bit more frequently to keep the clippings small than it is to worry about picking large clipping up via sweeper, vac, or bagger.

 

[Bretny]

If your going over the lawn a second time just to sweep why not mulch when cutting them mulch again? I bet you will find alot less clippings on the second cut.

If your not mulching now I would try that first. It's going to really cut back on what you actually sweep up.

 

[marinusdees]

I sold my one year old sweeper and put a bagger on my Toro ZTR. Easier to use, store and dump. Sweepers are not easy to back up and you have to go over the lawn twice, once to mow and again to sweep=wasted time. Dumping is a PITA. Sweepers are large and take up a lot of space.


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Amen. Sold my sweeper years ago for $100 and use a vacuum pickup on my mower. I'm 82, and emptying the bags when the grass is wet can be challenging.

 

[58Yeoman]

My wife mows the lawn and uses a sweeper on the second go-round. We had a TroyBilt tractor before, but now use a Toro ZT. This year, I installed a mulcher attachment, so she only had to use the sweeper the last time, as it kept raining and we couldn't cut the grass. It's a pull behind, and she couldn't back it up with the tractor, but does great with the ZT.

 

[46MGTC]

I have the brush type pull behind but only use it in the fall. Normally I just use the mulching blades and just leave the clippings. In the fall we use it to pick up leafs after running over them with the mower. With the leafs cut up fairly fine we can get quite a few passes before dumping.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Sweepers work well, but a good bagging setup is faster and almost as good. Dad had a Parker push sweeper before he got the Little Wonder blower I have now. When I was a kid I used to sit in the hopper while Dad swept the lawn. I kind of wish I had the sweeper too. It would be great for acorns.




Tommy

 

[James-W]

I have used one with decent results, just a lot of trips to empty.

I helped by BIL move from the country to the burbs and as a thank you he gave me his mow-n-vac! I just needed to purchase a deck adapter for my tractor and I was in business. This thing is amazing! I sold my lawn sweeper; it worked well, but filled up fast with pine straw in the late fall and grass in the spring.

A friend of mine has a pull behind vac just like that. He loves it, but unless you have a really large lawn it is pretty much of an overkill.

 

[Bessy]

Great info! I have a small yard so it sounds like it would do the trick!

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Small yard, I'd suggest a bagger over a sweeper, turning around is a PITA with a pull behind.

You'll be far happier with a bagger paired with the proper high lift blades.

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[dirtydrew420]

Sounds good, I stopped by the lawnmower graveyard in the next town over, should be able to rig one up on my Scott's tractor.

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