Leafblower-proof mulch?

perpetual98 · 04-16-2008, 04:36 PM

We just bought our house last October. When we took ownership, there was already a county's worth of leaves in our yard, so I attacked them with a leafblower (sometimes two, one in each hand, muaahaahaa)

What I noticed is that most, if not all of our flowerbeds have no mulch or anything in them.

I would like to put something decorative in our flowerbeds, but I'd like something that is heavy enough that next fall when I'm blasting with the leafblower(s) that I"m not just blowing mulch all over the place too.

About the only thing I could think of would be gravel or river rock. Any other suggestions?

Randell Tarin · 04-17-2008, 08:59 AM

Good luck with this problem. I had a similar one at a previous home. I tried the rocks, but the leaves managed to infiltrate those as well.

What seemed to work the best was shredded cypress mulch. It has a stringy consistency to it and allows for leaf blowing, especially when it's wet. The only problem is finding it. It may be available only regionally. If you go with bark mulch, stay away from the large redwood chunks. Their larger surface area only serves to catch the air from the blower.

sestivers · 04-17-2008, 01:14 PM

Why don't you just use a rake instead of the blower?

Randell Tarin · 04-17-2008, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sestivers

Why don't you just use a rake instead of the blower?

Some people have a lot of trees and large yards. Sometimes raking isn't practical, especially if you're older.

perpetual98 · 04-17-2008, 02:24 PM

I do a combination of raking and blowing, but our yard is close to an acre and has probably 50 maple trees that are 50 to 75 feet tall, and all of my neighbors on all sides have similar yards. It goes without saying that we have a lot of leaves in our neighborhood.

Randell Tarin · 04-17-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perpetual98

I do a combination of raking and blowing, but our yard is close to an acre and has probably 50 maple trees that are 50 to 75 feet tall, and all of my neighbors on all sides have similar yards. It goes without saying that we have a lot of leaves in our neighborhood.

I now live in the woods....I gave up on leaves a long time ago.

Kap · 06-25-2008, 01:04 AM

Trade in one of those leaf blowers for a leaf vac/mulcher for use in and around the beds. I have a Ryobi that's powerful enough to suck up the leaves, but too weak to suk up mulch/bark/gravel.

04-16-2008, 04:36 PM	#1
perpetual98 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 264	Leafblower-proof mulch? We just bought our house last October. When we took ownership, there was already a county's worth of leaves in our yard, so I attacked them with a leafblower (sometimes two, one in each hand, muaahaahaa) What I noticed is that most, if not all of our flowerbeds have no mulch or anything in them. I would like to put something decorative in our flowerbeds, but I'd like something that is heavy enough that next fall when I'm blasting with the leafblower(s) that I"m not just blowing mulch all over the place too. About the only thing I could think of would be gravel or river rock. Any other suggestions?

04-17-2008, 08:59 AM	#2
Randell Tarin Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 309	Leafblower-proof mulch? Good luck with this problem. I had a similar one at a previous home. I tried the rocks, but the leaves managed to infiltrate those as well. What seemed to work the best was shredded cypress mulch. It has a stringy consistency to it and allows for leaf blowing, especially when it's wet. The only problem is finding it. It may be available only regionally. If you go with bark mulch, stay away from the large redwood chunks. Their larger surface area only serves to catch the air from the blower.

04-17-2008, 01:14 PM	#3
sestivers Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 64	Leafblower-proof mulch? Why don't you just use a rake instead of the blower? __________________ Steve

04-17-2008, 02:24 PM	#5
perpetual98 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 264	Leafblower-proof mulch? I do a combination of raking and blowing, but our yard is close to an acre and has probably 50 maple trees that are 50 to 75 feet tall, and all of my neighbors on all sides have similar yards. It goes without saying that we have a lot of leaves in our neighborhood.

06-25-2008, 01:04 AM	#7
Kap Mowing my life away. Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Hawaii Posts: 298	Leafblower-proof mulch? Trade in one of those leaf blowers for a leaf vac/mulcher for use in and around the beds. I have a Ryobi that's powerful enough to suck up the leaves, but too weak to suk up mulch/bark/gravel.

Leafblower-proof mulch?