Common Types of Rakes
What kinds of garden rakes are there, what are they designed for and what should be taken into account when choosing a tool? Let’s try to figure it out.
Garden Rake
- raking of fallen leaves, debris;
- loosening beds;
- soil tillage;
- breaking down the lumps of land that have remained after the digging of the plot;
- extracting the remaining plant roots from the ground.
Landscape Rake
Thatch Rake
Distinctive features:
- Endurance;
- Versatility;
- Low cost;
- Availability;
- Ease of repair;
- Anticorrosion;
- Ease of use.
Lawn Rake
Smooth surface of the area, as well as the corners and edges of fences, beds more effectively “scrubbed” fan rake triangular design.
Many fan rakes have the ability to adjust the working width. This is very convenient and allows you to control the pressure force and size of the working surface as needed.
The standard width of the fan rake is 50 cm (adjustment allows narrowing down to 30 cm), the height of the handle is 130 cm. Longer handles (up to 180 cm) are available, which can be attached to the working base – this option is suitable for tall people. As an alternative, you can buy a fan rake with a telescopic handle, the length of which can be changed by yourself.
Lawn rakes are not suitable for soil cultivation. It is mainly used for the following garden works:
- small debris removal (it is convenient to use plastic rakes, as their tines are more elastic – this allows you to clean uneven surfaces faster);
- raking out leaves, including from under bushes;
- scrubbing the lawn before mowing it;
- shallow aeration of the lawn;
- thinning the lawn (metal fan rakes can do this work).
Leaf Rake
Selection Criteria
Lightweight, comfortable and easy to use leaf rakes, however, require careful selection. A correctly chosen tool will serve for many decades, being an indispensable assistant in cleaning the territory.
To ensure that the cleaning equipment meets the requirements of convenience and practicality, the following criteria are used in its selection:
- the nature of the area (overgrown garden, garden, park);
- type of garbage (fallen leaves, household garbage);
- scope of work and level of load (often, daily, seasonally).
Simple plastic models are indispensable for simple garden works, for medium-weight garbage and regular cleaning, models with metal teeth and reliable cuttings will be more reliable.
Shrub Rake
Stone Rake
When choosing rakes for stones, consider the material they are made of. The best choice is the head made of aluminum. Carbon steel or powder-coated steel is a good anticorrosion choice. Strong metal teeth or teeth are necessary, so you will not have problems with bending, breaking or wear.
The handle you need will depend on your height, so make sure that the handle you choose is comfortable to use. Make sure the head is securely attached to the handle so that it does not loosen.
Hand Rake
Lake Rake
Roof Rake
Rake for snow removal from the roofs often have a telescopic handle. The handle can be extended up to a height of 6.3 meters.
Rake is designed for snow removal from roofs to protect the roof from leaks and destruction. Durable cloth rake is made of plastic, reinforced with additional ribs of stiffness. The lightweight telescopic handle is made of aluminum. It is more convenient to remove snow from the roof of the rake than using a shovel. Rake for snow removal from the roof, in winter is indispensable.
How to choose a rake?
There are usually no problems with its choice, however, a few simple tips will help you choose a rake that will last you long and well.
Steel and galvanized tools are considered the strongest, while plastic and wooden models are considered the most durable.
For the collection of large debris, it is better to buy a tool with large, powerful teeth, and for the small one with densely planted small teeth.
For work on a large area it is more effective to use wide models, and for flower beds, the advantage of a narrow grip.
The telescopic handle allows you to set the optimal length of the tool for the growth of each member of the family.
It is believed that the optimal length is for models which, if placed vertically, the stem reaches just under the armpits.
A wooden stalk should not have any visible damage such as chips, twigs, burrs.
The handle should have a solid fit, and the tool itself, even when assembled from individual parts, feel monolithic.
