17 Types of Rakes Every Homeowner Should Know
Standing in the garden tool section of a hardware store and trying to choose a rake can be overwhelming—there are so many different types and sizes from which to choose. The average gardener or DIY landscaper will likely need only two or three different types of rakes, at the most. The trick is knowing which yard rakes will speed garden and lawn tasks, and which won’t be of much help in your situation. Ahead, learn about rake parts and materials, and how to choose rakes you’ll actually use.
Parts of a Rake
As with any good tool, rakes are made up of a few key parts. Knowing these parts and the materials they might be made from can help a DIYer choose which rake is best for their particular needs and project.
- Handle: The handle of the rake is the part that the DIYer holds while using the tool. They may be long and intended for use with two hands, short for one-hand use, or even extendable for reaching long distances or heights.
- Head: The head is on the end of the handle; it’s essentially the business end of the rake. It can be triangular or rectangular in shape, depending on the model and type.
- Tines: The best way to explain tines is that they’re like the fingers that hang off the end of the rake head. They come in many shapes, sizes, and materials, and they often determine what the rake is best for.
Some rakes may have additional parts, like levers for adjusting the width of the tines, foam grips, and more, but these three are pretty standard.
How to Choose a Rake
There are many different types of rakes, and choosing the right one isn’t always straightforward. In addition to considering the job the rake must perform, take into account the following points when deciding which tool to add to your collection.
Rake Materials
Rake handles are available in a wide range of materials. Such choices include wood, fiberglass, aluminum, steel, and even plastic in some cases. The best combination of strength and weight will usually be fiberglass or aluminum, but wood and steel are also good choices (steel can be heavy).
Head and Tine Materials
When it comes to choosing a rake, knowing which tine materials are best for the task are important.
- For leaves, plastic is excellent as it’s lightweight and sturdy enough to move the piles, and doesn’t get as slippery as metal might in wet leaves.
- For rakes for grass and other general purposes, metal is the best as it can do just about anything.
- For stone and gravel, aluminum is best due to its strength-to-weight ratio—this is also true for heavy raking like snow and concrete.
- For delicate flowers, groundcover, and other similar plants, bamboo is a great choice as it’s very flexible and unlikely to harm the flowers.
Length
Handle length can be a consideration. For taller folks, longer handles like those in the 5- to 6-foot range are ideal. For average-height people, 4- to 5-feet will work. But, when it comes to snow rakes, shoppers will find extensions that snap together to reach higher. For rakes designed to reach into tight spaces, it’s certainly personal preference. Longer handles reach further, but shorter handles are easier to control.
3 Types of Rakes Everyone Should Have
There are three types of rakes that everyone with a yard really should own:
With these three rakes, DIYers can handle most outdoor projects. Specialty work like concrete or soil grading will require other rakes, but these projects are less common.