Methods and apparatus for improved yard and garden maintenance are disclosed. The yard and garden maintenance include manual and powered leaf and debris cleaning systems some incorporating specialized fork and teeth designs. In some examples, the powered leaf and debris cleaning systems may include processors, navigation and communications capability.

The agricultural raking machine comprises a frame configured to be towed by a towing vehicle; at least a raking group assembled on the frame and provided with rotating comb-like elements apt to move material mowed onto the ground to form a windrow; a control device operatively connected to the raking group and configured to adjust the rotation speed of the comb-like elements.

The agricultural raking machine comprises a frame configured to be towed by a towing vehicle; at least a raking group assembled on the frame and provided with rotating comb-like elements apt to move material mowed onto the ground to form a windrow; a control device operatively connected to the raking group and configured to adjust the rotation speed of the comb-like elements.

A paddle tine for use over a pickup tine previously fixed with a harvester reel tube of a harvesting header comprises an elongated body having a central cavity therethrough and is adapted to slide over the pickup tine of the harvester reel tube. An attachment mechanism, such as one or more resilient clips with a fastening clip, is fixed with the proximal end of the elongated body to secure the paddle tine to the harvester reel tube over the pickup tine. Two opposing paddle webs project laterally away from the elongated body proximate the distal end.

A wheeled trailer to be moved across a lawn having integral structural frame and wheels for carrying said frame, a screen removeably affixed to an interior of the frame, a retractable deck with a plurality of tines extending from an underside of the deck, the tines configured to engage a ground surface, a lift assembly affixed to the frame to raise and lower/dynamically move the plurality of tines extending from an underside of the deck therethrough the screen, and a power system mounted on the frame with control to power the lift assembly, and, thus, functions to provide for automated collection and removal of yard debris such as leaves, pine straw, and other decomposing debris collected on the tines while raking and dethatching especially if the debris contains pine needles and depositing the debris where the operator chooses.

A wheeled trailer to be moved across a lawn having integral structural frame and wheels for carrying said frame, a screen removeably affixed to an interior of the frame, a retractable deck with a plurality of tines extending from an underside of the deck, the tines configured to engage a ground surface, a lift assembly affixed to the frame to raise and lower/dynamically move the plurality of tines extending from an underside of the deck therethrough the screen, and a power system mounted on the frame with control to power the lift assembly, and, thus, functions to provide for automated collection and removal of yard debris such as leaves, pine straw, and other decomposing debris collected on the tines while raking and dethatching especially if the debris contains pine needles and depositing the debris where the operator chooses.

An apparatus, system, and method of securing attachments to a utility vehicle, particularly to a stand-on, zero-turn mower. The disclosure further relates to a method and apparatus for raising and lowering a mower deck on the mower. A mounting apparatus is provided to selectively engage landscaping attachments to the mower. A deck hanging assembly secures the mower deck to the mower frame. The same connectors secure a part of the deck hanging assembly and a part of the mounting apparatus to the mower frame. An adjustment assembly is operable to move the deck hanging assembly and thereby to raise or lower the mower deck. A hydraulic cylinder is actuated to pivot the mounting apparatus in order to raise or lower the landscaping attachment. The mounting apparatus pivots relative to the mower frame about the same connectors that secure the deck hanging assembly to the frame.

An apparatus, system, and method of securing attachments to a utility vehicle, particularly to a stand-on, zero-turn mower. The disclosure further relates to a method and apparatus for raising and lowering a mower deck on the mower. A mounting apparatus is provided to selectively engage landscaping attachments to the mower. A deck hanging assembly secures the mower deck to the mower frame. The same connectors secure a part of the deck hanging assembly and a part of the mounting apparatus to the mower frame. An adjustment assembly is operable to move the deck hanging assembly and thereby to raise or lower the mower deck. A hydraulic cylinder is actuated to pivot the mounting apparatus in order to raise or lower the landscaping attachment. The mounting apparatus pivots relative to the mower frame about the same connectors that secure the deck hanging assembly to the frame.

A harvesting system for harvesting stalky plants is mountable on a power unit such as an agricultural or construction tractor having hydraulic power and/or a power takeoff (PTO). The system includes at least a reel-based harvesting head configured to cut off at least the tops of the plants and to transport the cut plants laterally of the harvesting system without threshing or otherwise processing the plants. The harvesting head may be mounted on, for example, an upper lift arm assembly or a three-point hitch mechanism of the power unit. If the harvesting head is mounted on the upper lift arm assembly of an agricultural tractor, a second harvesting head may be mountable on the tractor's three-point hitch mechanism beneath the first harvesting head for cutting stalks near their base, gathering the cut stalks, and windrowing the cut stalks behind the second harvesting head.

The subject application provides a windrow pickup header including an improved windrow hold down device. The windrow hold down device includes a channel member extending across a width of a windrow pickup header chassis, a unitary retention plate carried by the channel member, a first plurality of tines secured to the channel member by the unitary retention plate, and a second plurality of tines pivotably secured to the channel member and selectively engageable with the unitary retention plate to place the second plurality of tines in a non-pivoting stowed position. The unitary retention plate combines multiple tine retention functions into a single part thereby reducing materials costs as well as the labor required to assemble the windrow hold down device.