Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Clearing Beech Tree Nuts from Lawn

jrstreeter1jrstreeter1 Posts: 1
in Problem solving

Hello,

My wife and I have a garden for the first time. Our neighbours large beech tree drops nuts over most of our lawn and I'd be very grateful for any tips on how best to clear them up. They drop a fresh layer everyday and our lawn mover does not do much of a job at picking them up. At the moment I am sweeping them into piles but this is very time consuming. After some research I have seen the following options but would value people's advice first before I jump to a solution.

- Garden blower / vac

- Wet and dry vac

- Manual lawn sweepers

- Electric scarifier

I've also seen this particular product which looks good and wondered if anyone had any feedback. https//www.amazon.co.uk/Agri-Fab-45-0218-PUSH-LAWN-SWEEPER/dp/B00004RANC

Many thanks

  

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    A rake is really all that's needed. The plastic, 'fan' kind that you use for leaves, so that you don't damage your lawn. The vacuums might lift them too. You can collect them and use them as a mulch. You could do it every few days - that won't harm the grass if they're left fr a short length of time. The squirrels round here normally see them off.  :)

    A scarifier isn't necessary, and will do more harm than good if your lawn is dry and the gorund's hard. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    If they're seed-bearing pods then leave them for the animals. They're a great food source and will attract all kinds of interesting wildlife to your garden. The trees only fruit heavily every few years so it might just be a good year right now. Like FG said a leaf rake is the best tool for the job if you want to keep things neat (although I'd recommend a metal and wood one rather than plastic). ;)
    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • Dave HumbyDave Humby Posts: 1,145
    We have three huge beech trees which are TPO'd. All three are taller than the house. Mine fruit heavily virtually every year. The only exception being last year. Our large garden waste bin will be full every week when they start to drop in earnest. 

    The husks are incredibly hard so avoid using a lawn mower to pick them up or you'll have no blade left. Same goes for the vacuum systems which have an internal mulch system. These are normally made from plastic and will be wrecked in a short period of time.

    I have found the large plastic fan-like lawn rakes being the best for gathering them up. We also use some as a mulch or to put it more correctly in our case - swept into the flower beds when we can't be bothered to pick any more up. This year is certainly a bountiful year it would seem.
  • Mark56Mark56 Posts: 1,653
    The squirrels ravage mine in no time, sometimes they don’t get a chance to drop to the floor
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    We don't have a lot of oaks round here either - so that probably means less of an issue.
    Wild edges - do you mean a gravel rake? That would wreck my grass!  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 10,497
    Fairygirl said:
    Wild edges - do you mean a gravel rake? That would wreck my grass!  :D
    No there's loads of grass friendly metal rakes. No need for that landfill-fodder plastic nonsense. 

    Leaf rake

    A different sort of leaf rake that skims the grass. You run the curved edge along the soil and the tines are held nice and high. Good for getting grass clippings up too.

    Or even a scarrifying rake would do the job and you can use it for getting rid of moss if that's your thing too. I use a similar one to get gravel out of the grass. It's like a nit comb for your lawn.




    If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  • glasgowdanglasgowdan Posts: 632
    A chelwood 48p will do the job in no time
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I have one of those wild edges- but as my front 'lawn' is mostly moss, I think it may look pretty rough if I used it!  :D
    I like my plastic rake - had it for at least twnty years, man and boy.... ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Sign In or Register to comment.