Lawn mower and bagger recommendations

[Sonsie]

Our new house has at least 2 acres of lawn and a lot of live oak trees on it. After 3 weekends filled with raking and bagging and trying to mow with a push mower we have decided to bite the bullet and get a riding mower with the bagger attachment.

The live oaks here have the smaller leathery leaves and drop tons of acorns, this is really hard to pick up with a rake or even a mulching push mower. Any recommendations for a mower that has enough suction to get up this kind of thing? I was looking at a big 3 compartment bagger attachment and the sweeper attachment too. Any experience with something like this?

Craftsman Mower

 

[kom526]

Mulch your clippings, it's better for your yard. Just remember to not cut it too short (3-4 inches blade height) and this will help keep the weeds in check also. If you bag 2 acres worth of clippings you're going to have to dump them somewhere. But I would definitely invest in the sweeper but go bigger with your mower.

Select Series™ John Deere X700 Ultimate™ Tractors

I'd start by looking at this model but you may be better off with a small utility tractor as opposed to a riding mower on steroids.

 

[toppick08]

Mulch your clippings, it's better for your yard. Just remember to not cut it too short (3-4 inches blade height) and this will help keep the weeds in check also. If you bag 2 acres worth of clippings you're going to have to dump them somewhere. But I would definitely invest in the sweeper but go bigger with your mower.

Select Series™ JohnÂ#Deere X700 Ultimate™ Tractors

I'd start by looking at this model but you may be better off with a small utility tractor as opposed to a riding mower on steroids.

.....

 

[Vince]

Yeah, what KOM said. Invest the money in a good size John Deere. Expensive tractor, but it will last a long time. Don't know anything that will suck up the acorns except a vacuum. I've got the same problem and end up raking them. 10 wheel barrow loads under just one tree.

 

[toppick08]

Yeah, what KOM said. Invest the money in a good size John Deere. Expensive tractor, but it will last a long time. Don't know anything that will suck up the acorns except a vacuum. I've got the same problem and end up raking them. 10 wheel barrow loads under just one tree.

Ditto. But buy one from a dealer, NOT a box store...Different tractors, less quality.

 

[huntr1]

Ditto. But buy one from a dealer, NOT a box store...Different tractors, less quality.

Take it from me, current Craftsman mowers aren't worth a damn. They are the exact same mowers as at Lowes, Home Depot, WalMart, KMart etc. It may cost you 2x as much to get a REAL JD from somewhere like Carrol's Equipment, but it'll last a LOT longer.

Get the gator style mulching blades and mulch your clippings for general cutting and then get a lawn sweeper to pull behind the mower when cutting in the fall when there are lots of leaves and build a compost pile.

 

[Vince]

Take it from me, current Craftsman mowers aren't worth a damn. They are the exact same mowers as at Lowes, Home Depot, WalMart, KMart etc. It may cost you 2x as much to get a REAL JD from somewhere like Carrol's Equipment, but it'll last a LOT longer.

Get the gator style mulching blades and mulch your clippings for general cutting and then get a lawn sweeper to pull behind the mower when cutting in the fall when there are lots of leaves and build a compost pile.

Carroll's Equipment!

 

[desertrat]

Our new house has at least 2 acres of lawn and a lot of live oak trees on it. After 3 weekends filled with raking and bagging and trying to mow with a push mower we have decided to bite the bullet and get a riding mower with the bagger attachment.

The live oaks here have the smaller leathery leaves and drop tons of acorns, this is really hard to pick up with a rake or even a mulching push mower. Any recommendations for a mower that has enough suction to get up this kind of thing? I was looking at a big 3 compartment bagger attachment and the sweeper attachment too. Any experience with something like this?

Craftsman Mower

Chain saw.

 

[desertrat]

Yeah, what KOM said. Invest the money in a good size John Deere. Expensive tractor, but it will last a long time. Don't know anything that will suck up the acorns except a vacuum. I've got the same problem and end up raking them. 10 wheel barrow loads under just one tree.

Will one of those lawn vacs/shredders pick up acorns? I know the sweeper I tried wouldn't. I would think about buying a vac if it would pick them up and turn them into acorn flour.

 

[Vince]

Will one of those lawn vacs/shredders pick up acorns? I know the sweeper I tried wouldn't. I would think about buying a vac if it would pick them up and turn them into acorn flour.

I've seen them, but never in operation. :shrug:

 

[itsbob]

Mulch your clippings, it's better for your yard. Just remember to not cut it too short (3-4 inches blade height) and this will help keep the weeds in check also. If you bag 2 acres worth of clippings you're going to have to dump them somewhere. But I would definitely invest in the sweeper but go bigger with your mower.

Select Series™ JohnÂ#Deere X700 Ultimate™ Tractors

I'd start by looking at this model but you may be better off with a small utility tractor as opposed to a riding mower on steroids.

We went with the 2305 utility tractor with the 62" convertible mowing deck.. It kicks ass.. and can cut the 2 acres in less than 2 hours. A diesel John Deere, i think it will have to be willed to one of my kids..

That and all the farkle you can buy for it!

 

[itsbob]

Carroll's Equipment!

I really hate that I have to drive by that place EVERY day....


It's like Christmas every morning...


"Oh, look.. new doodads for the tractor!!"

 

[OldHillcrestGuy]

Cub Cadet, and it was already mentioned earlier buy from a dealer like Carrolls or Hugh Gardiner, if something should go wrong with it you get much better service from the dealer who sold it to you then from going through whoever Lowes or Home Depot has working on their mowers.

I dont know if a yard blower like a Little Wonder will move acorns , but it sure works great on the gum balls.

 

[desertrat]

I really hate that I have to drive by that place EVERY day....


It's like Christmas every morning...


"Oh, look.. new doodads for the tractor!!"

You have those doodads hanging from your tractor?

Cub Cadet, and it was already mentioned earlier buy from a dealer like Carrolls or Hugh Gardiner, if something should go wrong with it you get much better service from the dealer who sold it to you then from going through whoever Lowes or Home Depot has working on their mowers.

I dont know if a yard blower like a Little Wonder will move acorns , but it sure works great on the gum balls.

My mid range blower does a good job of getting the acorns concentrated in several areas where it's not too much trouble to rake/ shovel them up.

 

[Sonsie]

Thanks guys, I'll check out a real dealership. I had NO idea how much work a yard this size was going to be. I also have another 5 acres of pasture with some trees but a lot of vegitation that needs to be kept under control and leveled some in a few places before I can put ponies or horses on it. I guess going for a little tractor that can use a lot of attachments is the best idea even if it sends me into sticker shock.

 

[itsbob]

Thanks guys, I'll check out a real dealership. I had NO idea how much work a yard this size was going to be. I also have another 5 acres of pasture with some trees but a lot of vegitation that needs to be kept under control and leveled some in a few places before I can put ponies or horses on it. I guess going for a little tractor that can use a lot of attachments is the best idea even if it sends me into sticker shock.

Check out the 2305 at Carroll's.. It's a small frame 24 HP utitlity tractor, you can get it with a front Loader and a backhoe if you want it (Not having any luck trying to convince BG into the backhoe, but do have the front loader). 2WD and 4WD selectable with a locking rear differential.. Mid and rear PTO drive.. Not cheap, but from what you describe you can use it on your yard and your pasture..

It's not a huge farm tractor, and for us it was the PERFECT size... and it's ALL metal.. no plastic hood.. (the fenders over the back wheels might be plastic..

 

[kom526]

If you're going to be working pastures then you'll need at least a 2305. You can get a smallish bush hog to pull behind it for the other 5 acres.

 

[itsbob]

If you're going to be working pastures then you'll need at least a 2305. You can get a smallish bush hog to pull behind it for the other 5 acres.

More farkle..

How much does a bush hog cost??

Wonder if I can invent a need for one...

 

[awpitt]

Take it from me, current Craftsman mowers aren't worth a damn. They are the exact same mowers as at Lowes, Home Depot, WalMart, KMart etc. It may cost you 2x as much to get a REAL JD from somewhere like Carrol's Equipment, but it'll last a LOT longer.

Get the gator style mulching blades and mulch your clippings for general cutting and then get a lawn sweeper to pull behind the mower when cutting in the fall when there are lots of leaves and build a compost pile.

When I looked at some of the Deers, they had the same motor as my Craftsman and the hoods were plastic. Wasn't that impressed.

 

[awpitt]

Our new house has at least 2 acres of lawn and a lot of live oak trees on it. After 3 weekends filled with raking and bagging and trying to mow with a push mower we have decided to bite the bullet and get a riding mower with the bagger attachment.

The live oaks here have the smaller leathery leaves and drop tons of acorns, this is really hard to pick up with a rake or even a mulching push mower. Any recommendations for a mower that has enough suction to get up this kind of thing? I was looking at a big 3 compartment bagger attachment and the sweeper attachment too. Any experience with something like this?

Craftsman Mower

I have a Craftsman very similar to the one shown, 46in cut, etc. I also have the leaf sweeper. I really like it. I'm not sure if it would be the best for you though. My yard is just under an acre. You might want to go for something bigger. Maybe a 48 in cut or higher with more HP.