Is there a good way to get rid of hellicopter?

[toddmd2]

Every damn tree on the street has been showering down tons of these things and they've taken over my yard. I really wanted to mulch this weekend but they're all through my beds and plants.

The lazy man in me wants to mulch over them, but I'll bet you guys will tell me not to. So, can I just put mulch over them, or will I have a million little maple trees poking up through it if I do?

The leaf blower can only get so many of them, is there a better way to get them out of my bushes and flower beds?

[Bill Schwab]

I always wondered what would happen if you mulched over them, and then dropped a bunch of Ronstar in the beds to stop the germination of the seeds.....

[HardDaysKnight]

Use a leaf rake. I swear, sometimes it's a thousand times faster
and more efficient than a blower. Even faster. Especially with
those maple boomerangs and acorns. Buy a plastic fan rake and you will be mulching in no time.
Something like this...http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tool-up.co.uk/tooldev/images/items/22351.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tool-up.co.uk/shop/diy/BUL7128.html&h=400&w=400&sz=16&tbnid=8Ux_Y7m8lOcJ:&tbnh=120&tbnw=120&hl=en&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dplastic%2Bleaf%2Brake%26hl%3Den%26lr% 3D%26sa%3DG

[toddmd2]

The only problem with raking is that my plants are very close to one another and I don't think a rake would fit in there too well. Plus a lot of the plants are delicate (ferns) and the extra time it takes to be extra careful doesn't seem worth it to me.

[Mark Oomkes]

A little late now, but some basal (sp?) pruning works great. :D They seem to be terrible this year, we have tons of them too, especially from my neighbor's lovely silver maples.

Seriously, I would think that mulching over the top shuold prevent germination without any chemicals. But it wouldn't hurt to put something down with the mulch.

[GLAN]

Just throw the mulch down.....

Not all will germinate........more like 95% - 99% of them won't

Any that do......whisk applicator of Roundup or pull them out.


Simple enough :)