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Leaf Vacuums are Outdoors

1,171 Views | 11 Replies | Last: 22 hrs ago by Hullabaque
mosdefn14
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AG
Does anyone have the Billy Goat or another leaf vac they'd recommend (worth the money)?

I have 2 very large oak trees which cover my yard in leaves weekly for a couple of months each fall/winter. The leaves come down too densely to mulch, so I must bag or rake. Bagging with the lawnmower is easy enough, but it doesn't reduce them much (2 to 1 maybe). I've tried mulching and then bagging, but too many mulched leaves get stuck in the grass this way.

My constraint in this process is really volume for disposal (96 gal yard carts). I have 2, which will do my front yard or backyard, but not both with my current process. This means I do front one week, back the next, and repeat for a month or so. I tried an electric leaf shredder last year, which worked OK and supposedly reduced 8 to 1, but required replacing trimmer line every couple of minutes, which really got old.
aston158
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I live in OKC area in an older neighborhood with tons a mature post oaks and cottonwoods. Neighbor uses a billy goat, let me borrow it once last year, and that thing was awesome.
Mas89
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AG
We have a Stihl shredder/ vacuum which sucks up leaves and puts into a zippered bag. I bought it a few years ago to pick up leaves in the yard and around our pool. It works great but I don't like it as it's pretty heavy even with its shoulder strap and is dusty when using. Plenty of power though with the gas two stroke motor. You stop and dump the zipper bag when it gets full. When I dump the shredded leaves from the zippered bag into a trash bag, it's real dusty.
Weight wise it's similar to a Stihl commercial gas blower.
cupofjoe04
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I got mulching blades/kit for my zero turn, and I haven't raked a leaf since. They turn leaves into virtually nothing, and go back into enriching the soil. Way easier. Might look into a mulch kit for your mower.
mefoghorn
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AG
I got this two years ago and I've been very happy with it.
https://www.amazon.com/Toro-51621-UltraPlus-Variable-Speed-Impeller/dp/B00TNCJU3E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1ULDVFY6HO3EZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7MEXauydjR4AEf-TTkSfpI5CFh_2EPo-i-Xkp39Qwmup_PyDsCtRFXFsA2lDAscADIAWXJkAuvSdySA1BkbdXC12Cr__Nc4xyvTG1MbVe2izBAmsP3qy5PSmV0ikx4Eg-yerOjhbkwFzXcH6qp1ameTVT-DbQspZLgIFYWDFXavYrJer8J54ECo5EWMMRGoQJDlXLpzYiitfk3nB_YwpqQ.1dmdAXaI5IgsoApTCJbcAzpltPYeaPt4gIcW8sEScMM&dib_tag=se&keywords=toro+leaf+blower+vacuum&qid=1734916100&sprefix=toro+leaf%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1
TexDill15
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AG
Check to see if your local ACE rents one. Mine does here in the DFW area and you can give it a test drive to see if it's worth renting or buying one out right.
mosdefn14
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AG
Good idea. I haven't seen them at the Aces near me, but I'll ask. Might be better anyway not having to store or service it.
mosdefn14
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Mulching has worked at past houses, but in my OP I said they come down too densely to mulch. I have a Honda self-propelled that mulches pretty finely. I didn't take any turf science classes, but I don't need to be leaving 2" of leaf dust on/in the grass.
cupofjoe04
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AG
Sounds good! I thought I I remembered reading that you had tried a feeding mulcher, but didn't know if you had tried mulching with a mower. Just trying to suggest something that might save you from the bagging and hauling hassle. But if that's the best solution for this yard, then I think renting a unit might be a great option, as previously suggested.

As far as impact on soil, everything I've ever seen has said it is very beneficial to mulch leaves back into the soil. Provides natural organics to improve nutrients, stability, and drainage. The benefits really add up over time too. You think it's a lot of leaves when you look at them on top of the ground, but it's really not, and they are super helpful. Think of it this way- trees have been dumping leaves just like that for millions of years without people to remove any of them. Long before we started creating monocultured lawns, the soil has been utilizing those leaves.
rlb28
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AG
Agree with everything you stated.
Ag83
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cupofjoe04 said:

I got mulching blades/kit for my zero turn, and I haven't raked a leaf since. They turn leaves into virtually nothing, and go back into enriching the soil. Way easier. Might look into a mulch kit for your mower.
This is the way although my experience is with live oak leaves (small/dense) it doesn't work overly great - especially if there is any moisture at all.
Hullabaque
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mefoghorn said:

I got this two years ago and I've been very happy with it.
https://www.amazon.com/Toro-51621-UltraPlus-Variable-Speed-Impeller/dp/B00TNCJU3E/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=1ULDVFY6HO3EZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7MEXauydjR4AEf-TTkSfpI5CFh_2EPo-i-Xkp39Qwmup_PyDsCtRFXFsA2lDAscADIAWXJkAuvSdySA1BkbdXC12Cr__Nc4xyvTG1MbVe2izBAmsP3qy5PSmV0ikx4Eg-yerOjhbkwFzXcH6qp1ameTVT-DbQspZLgIFYWDFXavYrJer8J54ECo5EWMMRGoQJDlXLpzYiitfk3nB_YwpqQ.1dmdAXaI5IgsoApTCJbcAzpltPYeaPt4gIcW8sEScMM&dib_tag=se&keywords=toro+leaf+blower+vacuum&qid=1734916100&sprefix=toro+leaf%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

I have one of these and it works well. The metal impeller is nice to break up small twigs and acorns at times.
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