I’ll admit, I used to think the big magnets were overkill too, but after finding a nail buried in my lawn months after a siding job, I changed my tune. Still, I wonder if it’s just certain types of yards that make cleanup so much harder. My neighbor has this thick zoysia grass and he swears he’s still finding nails from a project two years ago. Is it the mulch, the grass type, or just bad luck?
I’ve noticed the same thing with thicker turf—zoysia especially seems to swallow up anything that drops. Last summer, I helped on a reroof where Bermuda grass made it easy to spot nails, but the neighbor’s fescue was a nightmare. Mulch beds can be tricky too since nails just disappear into the bark. I think it’s a mix of grass density and how much debris is already on the ground. Even with a big rolling magnet, you’ll never get every last one...
That’s been my experience too—zoysia and fescue just eat up anything that hits the ground. I’ve done a few post-construction inspections where the homeowners swore the crew cleaned up, but I still found nails hiding in the thick stuff. Even with those rolling magnets, you’re right, there’s always a few that slip through. Sometimes I wonder if it’s partly because the soil’s a bit softer under those dense lawns, so the nails just sink in deeper. Mulch beds are even worse—half the time, you can’t tell if you’re picking up a nail or just a chunk of bark.
Has anyone tried using leaf blowers before running the magnet? I’ve heard mixed things—some folks say it helps bring stuff to the surface, others think it just makes a mess. Curious if that actually works or just adds another step to the scavenger hunt...
Yeah, I’ve run a leaf blower over the grass before dragging the magnet, but honestly, it’s hit or miss. Sometimes it’ll push a few nails up if they’re just under the surface, but if they’re buried or wedged down in thick zoysia, it doesn’t do much except scatter leaves and make a mess. I feel like it helps more in mulch beds, though—at least there you can blow off the loose bark and maybe spot the shiny stuff. Still, I always end up finding a stray nail with my foot a week later...
I hear you on the mulch beds—at least you can see what you’re dealing with. I’ve tried the leaf blower trick too, but half the time I just end up chasing nails deeper into the grass. Ever tried watering the area first? I read somewhere that damp grass can help the magnet pick up more, but I’m not sure if that’s just wishful thinking.
