Leaf mulching

[rmunro]

I have a 44a deck on my 109. I mulch my leaves every year. It works not too bad, but requires many passes.

I intend to install a block in the mower outlet chute. Has anyone tried this?? Results??

[eastonct124]

The deck on my 124 is shot so I haven't used it.....not that I would anyways...too much acrege, I use the scag in top gear.
As far as the mulching, I block off the shute on the scag to mulch mountains of leaves.
And assumeing a cub has more torque than the vtwin briggs, I don't see why it wouldn't work well.
If the spindles weren't shot, and there wasn't so many holes in my cub's deck, I'd do it.

[punkid]

I personally don't like mulching leaves. Leaves seam to take longer to decompose then some other stuff, so I like to pick them all up with a sweeper, then put them in the compost pile.

[eastonct124]

If I don't mulch, I'd have a pile 10' high covering an acre. I find mulching, then I dust with lime between layers. To decompose properly, you need the right amount of watering, and sunlight.
I make about 12 yards of beautiful gardening soil each year between the bulk of leaves, and kitchen made compost.
I also dump the ashes (weekly cleaning) from two wood stoves that burn 24/7.
You just need to water the pile if it hasn't rained, and poke holes for ventilation with a pitch fork monthly.

[rmunro]

Well, I bolted on a block for the chute. Shortens mulching time aby likely 75 percent. The 10 HP doesn't even start to work real hard. Be better if I sharpened the blades once in a while. I have tons of leaves to mulch as well. 7 of my own trees, and our yard collects tons of the neighbors as well.

[ol'George]

I mulch all of my leaves, and it helps if you have what they call "gator" blades,and keep them sharp.
I also find it helpful if I go over the lawn as they fall, instead of waiting till they are all down.
I mulch maybe 3 times that way.
Also I raise the deck some, so I cut very little grass.
That way I can't even see the small leaf pieces left on the lawn.
way better than the back breaking old way of raking & burning.

[wshytle]

rmunro, I was going to suggest gator blades myself but I see another member beat me to it.
I guess I'm just old fashioned but I still do it all when it comes to leaves. I mulch and/or shred some for the garden, mulch some in the yard, burn some when it's needed, or, my favorite way is loading them in a 6x8 trailer with high sides. I then take them along with my backpack blower to the woods. I back up to a brush pile I started years ago and blow them off the trailer in about 30 seconds. I leave the blower in the woods and make several trips back and forth. I have found I can move quite a few leaves in just a short time this way and they're done and gone.
Gotta love them leaves.....

[dieselsnowmobile]

I am more for leaf mulching too. Leaves have nutrients that help fertilize your yard and keeping that nutrient cycle going for next year. Hauling them off or burning them, just takes all that nutrients away from your yard that will most likely need to be replaced.