- Fall is around the corner, and for many people, that means it's time to break out the trusty old garden rake to take care of all those falling leaves.
- The best rake for most people is the Fiskars Leaf Rake with its durable design and ability to grab lots of leaves in one swipe.
Autumn's coming and leaves will be falling, which means it's time to get that rake ready. I love raking. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that it is my all-time favorite household chore. The reasons why are simple: I get to be outdoors during my favorite season, I get a good workout because raking burns approximately 350-450 calories per hour, and it's a chore with an identifiable beginning and end. (For the very same reasons, I'm passionate about shoveling, too.)
But how do you choose the best rake to handle all those falling leaves and other garden tasks? We've done the research to find the best rakes you can buy for gardening tasks. Here are a few things to think about when you are deciding on which rake to buy, according to Morning Chores and other gardening experts:
- Durability: Cheap plastic rakes are meant to be disposable. It's common for them to break up at the end of the season. But a good rake should last decades. That's why you should look for a rake with a hardwood handle, as well as metal tines that are attached with a spring metal hinge.
- Handles: Hardwood handles are best because metal handles tend to bend or warp with heavy use, especially over time. Metal is also a valid second option as it will last a lifetime and has very little impact on the environment. However, if you live in a colder climate, you may opt to avoid metal rakes as they can be uncomfortable to handle in colder weather without gloves. I highly suggest avoiding plastic handles. They are typically not re-useable, can become brittle and break, and take thousands of years to decompose.
- Tines: Metal tines are important for many reasons. First, unless they become rusted from poor care or storage, they will last you a lifetime or longer. Second, they provide the appropriate amount of flex and strength necessary for leaves, small twigs, and debris. Plastic tines often break under the same pressure or fail to provide enough flexibility to be of use for the gardener.
- Comfort: Raking can be taxing on muscles. When it comes to rakes, bigger doesn't mean better. It's important for the rake's dimensions to be comfortable and have good ergonomics for the user. Ideally, each family member should have their own rake. If this isn't doable, finding a lightweight rake with an adjustable handle and perhaps even adjustable tines.
To save you some time and energy, we've rounded up the best rakes you can buy to pick up leaves and perform other garden tasks. Read on to see which rake is best for your needs.
Here are the best rakes you can buy:
- Best rake overall: Fiskars Leaf Rake
- Best adjustable rake: Gardenite 63-inch Adjustable Garden Leaf Rake
- Best leaf scoops: ReLeaf Leaf Scoops
- Best kid's rake: Toysmith 27-Inch Kid's Metal Leaf Rake with Hardwood Handle
- Best bow rake: Bully Tools Bow Rake
- Best small rake: Corona RK 62060 Fixed Shrub Rake
Updated on 08/16/2019 by Les Shu: Updated prices, links, and formatting.
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