Hello Skeeter,
I'm Shark... aka Steve Burch. Did you get the leave problem solved yet? I'm no pro... but ran a small mowing business in Oklahoma (mowed lots and vacant properties for Bank of Oklahoma and other home owners and also ran a small mowing business in Georgia too - until someone stole my mower while I waited to repair it).
Anyway.... I have a new in the box poulan blower / vac that I've wanted to use. I'd be willing to come help you out if you want. I have a technique using a riding mower for getting rid of the pesty leaves.
Just need a bungie cord about 3 ft long. I hook the cord on the guard and then hook the other end to the mower holding the guard up out of the way. I then mow with the deck set half way between lowest and highest setting (can go one lower if mower has powerful motor 17.5 hp or bigger).
Make sure no one is standing around the area that can get hit by something that might be in the leaves as it discharges from the deck!!!!!
I then mow in circular pattern from outside edge. mow in a clockwise position working towards the middle, and the leaves will be thrown out farther and wider. This prevents large build-up at the deck discharge. The trick is to keep blowing the discharge into the middle and go over them re cutting the leaves. Once you get in towards the middle; you'll be blowing the leaves out past the next line to be cut. That's ok. You'll just go over it a few times to mulch everything anyway.
I've done this in several yards with grass and weeds 6 ft and higher as well as a house I rented that had leaves and pinecones from 2 yrs without mowing.
The end result was a good looking yard that a person would never know it had that much on it before mowing.
If you don't want to spend the time to do this, PM me and I'll do it or help you. You can supply the mower and gas needed to get the job done. I'll bring my blower and oil and may already have the gas too boot to mix in the oil.
OK... I know you are wondering what will this cost me????? not much! Hopefully you don't live 40 miles away, lol I live in Cleveland
We can work out the pain you'll suffer for me helping or doing it all myself. just kidding. enough to cover my gas to get there and some for my time to do it, not hourly rate in case it takes too long. or trade labor for a fishing trip. whatever is ok with you. I have nothing but time. (retired military)
The main thing is - I'm willing to help out a fellow CFF member and not take advantage of someone. Plus I'll be meeting more folks as I'm kind of new here.
Once again........ PM me if you're interested and I'll give you my home phone number and cell # so we can talk / get directions to yard.
