Grass clippings, what does everyone do?

[Tooonz 4]

I ditched my crapsman ride on this summer and picked up a 1971 Charger 12, with a 48” deck. Side Chute. I really love being on a wheel horse again but I am missing the clean lawn I had with the the crapsman. I can deal with the grass clippings mostly, as a kid we had a 1967 workhorse 700 that had a rear chute, followed by a lawn sweeper. Not going to work as well with a side chute. I don’t think they made a bagger back in 71.

 

So what does everyone do? The leaves are starting to fall and that does bug me to have chopped up leaves, and I don’t want to rake after each mow.

[ebinmaine 67,397]

We don't pick up our clippings here but my parents and grandparents both used a tow behind sweeper.  

 

[Beap52 809]

Most of the time my grass clippings lay were the fall.  This junk summer grass just lays on top and so I'll sweep if it starts building up.  The swept grass goes on compost pile.   My neighbor, who has never owned a home before, has a hard time keeping up with his grass.  I usually sweep his yard a couple time a season and dump it under the trees by the fence row.  I do this unannounced and he usually texts and thanks me.  

[ri702bill 8,311]

Here, "Yard Waste" is picked up twice a month by the Town  if is in paper bags or open 30 gallon trash cans. Then it goes to a central compost site.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,525]

I mulch them in... mow more frequently to avoid thick build up. Same with leaves until too thick, then blown to piles, put in cans / bags for curbside pickup by city contractor.

[rmaynard 15,434]

I leave them where they fall. I cut my grass often enough that it does not leave a lot of clippings. Those that do remain quickly dry out and become compost. I live on a wooded lot and leaves are always an issue. In about a month, I will be hooking up the cyclone rake to mulch the leaves and then they are dumped in the woods where they turn into beautiful black top soil in about two years.

[953 nut 55,163]

11 hours ago, Tooonz said:

we had a 1967 workhorse 700 that had a rear chute, followed by a lawn sweeper.

A 42" rear discharge mower deck with a 42" lawn sweeper is the answer for me. I have a composting area at the rear of our property where grass clippings, leaves, shredded paper, and kitchen waste all keep the worms happy.

In 1971 they didn't offer a 42" RD deck but the 36"" model 5-600 or 5-601 decks were offered for the Charger. You could place a free "Wanted" ad on this site  https://www.wheelhorseforum.com/classifieds/wanted/  or call Lincoln at A-Z Tractor to see if he has one for sale.   https://www.a-ztractor.com/

 

[Handy Don 12,204]

Mulching mower during heavy growth times and light leaves.

During slow growth, a 36” RD taking off about an inch or so and letting it sit.

During heavy leaves, I blow into piles, mulch with repeated drive-overs, and add to composte bin.

Note that I’m mowing only about ¼ acre.

[elcamino/wheelhorse 9,297]

Leave the clipping where they fall. Leaves I cut by backing over them with a 36 inch RD , then push into piles which ends up at the back of the property. More seta time.

[ri702bill 8,311]

I once worked with a Design Engineer where she and 2 of her 3 daughters were Vegans. I asked her if they fought over the clippings when they cut the lawn....  

[Darb1964 1,042]

Best to leave the Clipping on the ground to feed the lawn. If it's heavy I bag it and put in with my wife's chickens.