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Rakes
Rakes come in two varieties for use in the yard: lawn rakes and garden rakes. Each has a particular purpose. |
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| Lawn or leaf rakes have two basic designs: straight edge or sweep. Straight edge rakes pull the debris toward you, gathering the leaves and twigs. Sweep rakes are used like a broom and pull the debris past you as you sweep. Good quality rakes are fan-shaped with gradual length of teeth for a straight leading edge. Bamboo rakes are inexpensive and lightweight. They are best used for gathering leaves and other small debris. The teeth should all be evenly bent for best raking results. Usually the thicker and wider the teeth are apart, the better the rake. |
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| Garden rakes are used to break up and smooth over the soil after it has been cultivated and spaded. One side of the head has sharp, curved teeth of high carbon steel to break up the dirt; the other side has a straight back to smooth over the soil for level planting. The head of a bow rake is attached to the handle and has long, curved bows extending from each end of the head down to the tines. The spring action of this rake makes it a favorite of many gardeners. Good quality rakes are typically 60" long total and have handles made from fiberglass or hardwood. There are usually between 14 or 16 tines on a rake depending on the size. |
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