Best Rakes for Cleaning Up Loose Leaves
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Corona Clipper 54-inch Aluminum Handle With 19-inch Shrub Rake -
The AMES Companies, Inc. Pan Rake -
Radius Garden 400 Ground Hog Circular Rake -
Bond 7-Inch to 25-Inch Adjustable Steel Rake -
Flexrake with Long Reach Handle Hand Rake -
Buyer's Guide
The rake was essentially invented as the poor person's version of the harrow in medieval times. A harrow was pulled along the hay fields, with a horse or an oxen, to gather hay. These were simple wooden frames with nails or tines attached that would collect the hay as it was dragged through the field. For those people that could not afford an animal, hand rakes were invented and used for the same task.
Modern rakes are used for essentially the same reason. The main difference is that, instead of gathering up the hay in fields, people use them to gather grass clippings from lawns, fallen leaves from trees, and as a gardening implement for moving soil and weeding.
In that sense, there are different rakes for different purposes, and no one specific rake will be perfect for everyone's needs. However, some rakes are better than others for the tasks at hand, some will be more ergonomically designed and some will perform better than the others.
For more information on what to look at in selecting the best rakes in 2022, We have listed below the different rakes were chosen because they are easy to use and effective, versatility and a competitive price also were considered.
Comparing the Best Rakes for 2022
Corona Clipper 54-inch Aluminum Handle With 19-inch Shrub Rake - Best Rake Overall
The Corona Clipper RK 62061 19-Inch 25-Tine Steel Head Shrub Rake with 54-Inch Aluminum Handle comes in at the top on this list. For raking grass and leaves from your lawn, none will serve you better than this one. Styled like the classic rakes of old, this rake is made with extra wide spaced spring steel tines for leaf removal in any circumstance. You can even safely and effectively remove leaves and debris from around newly planted shrubs and bushes without harming the feeder roots. A long 54-inch aluminum handle with a vinyl grip will allow you to place this bad boy anywhere it needs to go, yet it will always remain light, comfortable and maneuverable every time you use it.
The AMES Companies, Inc. Pan Rake - Runner Up
For a true lightweight powerhouse lawn and leaf rake, the Ames True Temper Greensweeper Poly Rake With 48-Inch Wood Handle 1920000s is hard to beat. Constructed of high-density polyethylene, this rake has a full 10-year limited warranty. It may look like plastic, but it is truly durable. Because of the poly construction, you'll never have to worry about rusting steel times, or nuts and bolts that may loosen up. This rake is a workhorse and will get into and under shrubs and bushes, as well as clean up the yard after lawn mowing or fall leaves. The lightweight design ensures that anyone can use it, and the 48-inch handle gives this rake a good reach for any raking situation. If a lighter weight poly head rake that costs about half the price of the top rated steel tined rake, suits your needs, then the Ames True Temper Greensweeper is your rake of choice.
Radius Garden 400 Ground Hog Circular Rake - Honorable Mention
The Radius Garden 400 Ground Hog Circular Rake is the most uniquely designed rake here. Its unique design makes it one of the most efficient rakes available so you can do twice the work with half of the effort. The curved head is what makes this rake distinctive, and it is one of the best rakes made for raking up sloppy wet leaves. Add to that the fact that once a pile of leaves has been raked, just flip it over and use it as a pitchfork to shovel leaves into a garbage bag or any other container. It features a fiberglass handle, padded grip and an extra long 65-inch reach to get into the hardest places. Because the head is curved, you can even rake sideways to remove leaves and other debris from around plants and clippings, which makes this the best designed rake available.
Bond 7-Inch to 25-Inch Adjustable Steel Rake - Consider
Versatility is the middle name of this rake, and if you want an adjustable handle that extends from 7 inches to 25 inches, your only choice is the Bond 2060 7-inch to 25-inch Adjustable Steel Rake. Although it is a bit heavier than most rakes, the steel handle and tines are extremely durable. The relatively thin shaped head makes getting into smaller places easy, and the steel construction makes for short work when raking wet leaves. The extendable handle will fit virtually anyone, and that makes this rake the perfect tool for the entire family.
Flexrake with Long Reach Handle Hand Rake - Best Rake
For the traditionalist in all of us, nothing beats a bamboo rake, and the Flexrake CFP18 18-Inch Bamboo Rake with 48-Inch Wood Handle is worthy of every task you throw at it. This is one of the original styles of lawn and garden rakes, and they have been used for decades. It features genuine bamboo tines on an 18-inch head, a heavy duty rust proof spreader bar for added strength, and a long 48-inch handle to get you into and under bushes and shrubs with ease. Bamboo is biodegradable, so at the end of its useful life, it can just be thrown away. Nothing fancy here, just a darn good rake designed out of bamboo that works for all of your raking needs.
Buyer's Guide
If you are the type who likes to have a clean and organized lawn, then a rake will suit you best. Buying rakes might sound simple but there’s a lot that goes into them. If you are unaware of the factors then the seller might fool you into buying a low-quality rake at a higher price. We’re sure you don’t want to fall into such a situation, and that’s why this buying guide exists.
Factors To Know
In old times people had simple lives and they didn’t mind scraping through debris all day with their dandy rake. But now, times are tougher and what we need is a high-quality rake that does its job perfectly in the least amount of time. Keep a few things in mind if you’re setting out to buy the best rake.
Types of Rakes
Are you unsure about the type of rake that will suit you best? You can choose from the following options:
First comes the shrub rake. This rake is light since it has a plastic head and usually an aluminum handle. It’s quite easy to move it around and that’s why people call shrub rakes handy. Since the head of the rake is quite narrow, you can conveniently reach into difficult spaces that were previously unexplorable. You can get rid of unwanted leaves, dirt, and debris quite easily with this one.
Next up, we have the thatch rake. These rakes are either one-sided or two-sided. What you will commonly find in a thatch rake are crescent-shaped blades that are recommended for tough spaces. With this by your side, you can easily loosen your soil and make way for seeds.
Then comes the plastic leaf rake. People who rely on plastic leaf rakes are doing so because they’re short of time. Truly, plastic leaf rakes can save a lot of time. Because of their size, they’re quite useful in covering a large ground.
After this, we have the metal leaf rake. You can find a variety of sizes with metal leaf rakes. Moreover, if you’re looking for an adjustable rake then some metal leaf rakes are designed with that feature. Just make sure your metal rake has an enamel-coated head. This will avoid rust from ruining the quality of your rake.
Last is the garden rake. These rakes are perfect for shifting soil from one place to another. Or if you’re looking to break up large chunks of soil you will find this rake to be the best. Garden rakes are known to be stable because of their unique design.
Durability
When looking for a rake out there, you don’t want to compromise on one thing, and that’s durability. You can go for a pricey rake but we don’t recommend buying a low-quality rake that has poor durability to offer.
Cheap plastic rakes are quite common. But, their use is mostly short-term. You won’t get to use it the second or the third time. Then we have a rake that costs a little more, preferably made of metal or a different material. These types of rakes can live for several years in your house, provided they’re kept properly. Rakes with hardwood handles are quite popular these days because they offer high durability. Once you buy one, you don’t need to buy another for a couple of years.
Handle Quality
Speaking of quality, the handle is equally, if not more important than the head of the rake. As mentioned above rakes with hardwood handles are quite helpful. They do not lose their durability over time and are known to be efficient.
If you are concerned about the environment, then never go for plastic rakes. Not only do they break apart quite easily, but they’re also bad for the environment as well.
Effort
Raking your lawn or garden can take a toll on your body. Let’s be real, it’s all about comfort versus price here. What comes as a surprise to most people is that if the rake is bigger that doesn’t mean it's better. Sometimes, bigger rakes take more energy and effort because of their humongous size and weight.
What should you look out for, then? Consider buying a rake that is lightweight. So that when you’re raking your garden or lawn you don’t have to take panadol at night. Going for a rake with adjustable tines is a good option as well.
Tines
Speaking of tines, let’s talk about them for a bit. Metal tines are the best when it comes to convenience and durability. Their strong design will prevent the rake from breaking into your hands. Plus, metal helps in moving any debris that you want.
Plastic is fine if you’re doing it for one time, but make sure you don’t apply a lot of pressure otherwise it’ll snap faster than you can say rake.
How To Use Rakes?
Raking is important if you want your place to remain clean. There’s no rocket science when using a rake, but if you have a few helpful tips up your sleeve then you’ll end up saving time and effort.
First, use a rake that’s new, or at least somewhat new. Second, make sure you stand and position yourself appropriately before you begin raking your lawn. Bend a little towards the rake and position your legs and knees in the most comfortable way possible. Then try moving the rake forwards and backward. Don’t apply too much pressure or you’ll wear out quickly.
Best Rakes FAQs
Q. Is it good to rake soil?
Ans. Yes, it is. When you rake your lawn or garden you ensure that the soil does not become too hard. This promotes air circulation and enriches the soil further.
Q. What happens if I don’t rake soil?
Ans. If you leave your soil as it is, your seeds may not germinate that well. Plant roots need oxygen just like us, so if the soil is too compact for them they will show poor growth. At worst, your plants may die.
Q. How often should I use a rake on my lawn?
Ans. Studies suggest that raking a lawn at least once a year shows promising results. If you’re short on time and energy then consider raking your lawn once every two years. This will promote new and better growth in your soil.
