Photo Of the Week: The Giving Tree
As long as we’re talking about trees, I figured it was about time to take a new photo of our giant cottonwood tree (you can see the first one here):
Our cottonwood tree at dusk. Taken 8/31/11 (click for full size)
This tree is easily the tallest in the neighborhood. It gives us some great shade over our house in the mid-afternoon, which has been great as we’ve been roofing. We anticipate, however, it giving us a lot of extra work this autumn when it drops all of those leaves. Since the previous owner didn’t rake last year, I’ve already raked this tree’s leaves once this year, after the snow melted this past spring. So, we’re thinking of buying a push lawn sweeper instead. Anyone ever used one?
Posted on September 4, 2011, in Photo of the Week, Property and tagged photos, tree. Bookmark the permalink. 5 Comments.
Twin Cities Farmhouse 
Never heard of a push lawn sweeper. Why do you want to sweep the leaves? I am so happy you like your cottonwood. I will come visit when they are through leafing out in the spring and their little cotton-like balls stop drifting all over. Sneezing, wheezing and watery eyes are not ‘one of my favorite things’. I used a push lawn mower when I was a kid – would never do it again.
Grandpa Zych used to have one, but the last time I saw it, the bag had rotted out. And now he moved to the condo, so I guess it is gone. I think your brother used it in Edgerton. It works slick! However, I saw somewhere that they cost around $200 or more.
Another option I’ve seen people use is to rake the leaves onto a tarp, which you have around from the summer’s roofing efforts. Then you sort of gather it up and pour into the back of a truck or leaf bags. You are lucky to have the yard waste facility that you have in your county! Fall is also the best time to start sawing down trees/limbs that need removing. Ditto on the county facility. So lucky! If you need help with this, let me know.
That’s also a good idea, and goodness knows we have tarps! I think Paul and I are going to go buy a lawn sweeper off of Craigslist this Tuesday, so we’ll see. Because of a couple of other projects, we’re actually going to do our tree/limb removal in the early spring (considered an equally good time to do it), but thanks for the offer of help. Meanwhile, I could use help painting the house over the course of the next couple weeks–and that goes for anyone who reads the blog. 🙂 Mom, I’ll email you.
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