Is Your Rake Doing A Bad Job At Raking The Leaves In Your Yard? It Might Be The Wrong Type

Autumn leaves are beautiful, but they shouldn't be left on the ground for more than a few days. Wet, rotting leaves just don't have the same charm as those that are crisply fallen. Old leaf piles tend to block the sun, smothering grass until fungus eventually grows. If you only have a few smaller trees, then you can knock out the whole yard with a rake and a few trash bags. Whether this is a quick, fun task or a burden depends on the rake you use.

There are several types of rakes that are used for different situations. Most people haven't put much thought into the rake they own. Perhaps they paid a few bucks for it at a yard sale or got it as a gift from a parent. But every homeowner should assess whether or not their rake is working for them. Maybe the leaves are slipping through the claws, or the claws aren't sturdy enough to pull sticks. It's also possible that the handle is a little too heavy and tests your arm strength. 

Your best bet is the plastic leaf rake. It has a wide, plastic head that grabs bunches of leaves and pulls them in your direction. It is excellent for fall cleanup and can even grab acorns or bits of mulch that have drained into your yard from around your house. They usually have thin handles because they aren't intended for hard labor.

Sometimes the plastic tines can crack over years of use, making this one of the more fragile rake designs. However, there are plenty of more durable options if that's a priority for you. Steel leaf rakes have similar tines to the plastic leaf rake, except they are made of springy metal. These tines will not break, but they can bend if subjected to enough stress. This design is also ideal for clearing a yard of leaves and debris, as long as the sticks and stones are not too large or heavy. If you need to move soil or stone, garden bow rakes are preferable. They have sturdy handles, rigid metal teeth, and a flat side that you can use to push piles of leaves. Unless you're a professional landscaper, you may never have heard of thatch rakes. These rakes have double rows of heavy, curved blades will dig up dead grass to allow air and water to access the live roots. 

Aside from finding the right rake, there are several other tips you should keep in mind to make raking your yard a quick and easy job. You might also decide not to buy a rake, which is fine, because leaving the leaves on the ground can actually benefit organisms like bees and pest-eating reptiles.