Goodbye Landscaping Rakes: DIY A Cheaper And Sturdier Alternative Using Materials You Already Have

Landscaping rakes are simple tools. With their flat, reinforced metal heads, they're used to level out things like dirt, gravel, and other loose materials. However, their simplicity is belied by their price. A regular landscaping rake can cost around $60, with heftier models running hundreds of dollars. Despite the tag, these rakes often offer little in the way of convenience. Whether you're prepping a garden bed or smoothing out gravel, dragging a 3-foot-long rake back and forth by hand can be back-breaking. That's why some landscapers skip the rake in favor of a harrow — a flat, metal frame pulled behind a mower, ATV, or by hand — that covers more ground. All you need to make your own DIY harrow is a few pieces of scrap material, such as chain link fencing or a wooden pallet. Since it's do-it-yourself, you can make it as sturdy as you need it to be. Then save your old rake for a stylish repurposing project.

The easiest way to build a sturdy, budget-friendly harrow is to simply repurpose an old wooden pallet. All you have to do is attach a chain or strong rope to a few struts so it can be easily pulled, then drag it across whatever landscape you are trying to level out. If you find that the pallet is jumping and sticking to the ground as it's dragged, you can stuff some rocks or heavy pieces of timber between the slats to weigh it down. You could also build your own pallet using a few pieces of scrap wood: just arrange four planks horizontally, then attach four vertical support struts to ensure the bottom of the pallet is flat. This version of a DIY harrow is best for loose garden bed soil or mulch — it will have trouble leveling heavier material.

For tougher jobs, you can give your pallet harrow a bit of bite by adding a few metal spikes to better dig into the soil. Simply take your pallet and nail a few fence spikes through a couple of the slats so they form a row of metal teeth. With your new essential landscaping tool you'll always want on hand, you'll be able to break up larger clumps of dirt and encourage soil aeration. If you decide to repurpose a wooden pallet for yard work, there are a few warning signs to check first. Depending on the pallet, it may have been treated with harmful chemicals that can seep into your yard. While pallets marked "HT" were heat-treated and never came into contact with chemicals, pallets marked "MB" or "CP" should be avoided.

If you have the material, another effective alternative to landscaping rakes is a section of chain link fencing. You can find extra bits of chain link at metal scrap yards or by searching online marketplaces. Once you've secured the fencing, the only theoretical limit to your new DIY harrow's size is the strength of you or your lawnmower, but a 4-foot-by-4-foot section should serve you well. That way, you can use the excess to make a chain-link accessory wall. 

Ideally, you can use a repurposed chain-link gate with a reinforced frame; otherwise, you may need to do a bit more work with scrap wood to ensure the chain-link stays flat against the ground. Since it's made of metal, the chain-link harrow will be durable, but it's best for looser soil — though you can add a weight to help it sift through different material.