Every year in autumn, the leaves make a mess in the garden. But also grass clippings, fallen fruit and other garden waste must be disposed of as quickly and easily as possible. A leaf rake - also known as a leaf brush or fan rake - is the right tool for this purpose. You can find out which models are available and what you should look out for when buying one by reading this article.
A leaf rake allows leaves to be raked without damaging the lawn underneath
Our recommendations
our recommendation
GARDENA combisystem Plastic Adjustable Rake: Leaf rake with adjustable elastic plastic tines, working width 35 to 52 cm, wobble-free work (3099-20)
16.21 EUR To the product| material | steel coated with duroplast |
|---|---|
| size | 35 to 52 cm wide |
| stalk | is not included, all handles of the Gardena CombiSystem fit |
| extras | Tines adjustable in width and spacing |
The advantage of this Gardena leaf rake is its flexibility: Depending on the project and needs, the plastic-coated steel tines can be individually adjusted to a distance between 35 and 52 centimetres. The garden tool is therefore suitable for both finer (such as raking up grass clippings and leaves) and coarser (such as fallen fruit or wood cuttings) work. The adjustable leaf rake comes without a handle, which was noted negatively by some Amazon reviews. However, all handle variants of the Gardena CombiSystem plug-in system fit here, so that you can choose the one that suits you in terms of length and material.
our recommendation
Fiskars leaf rake, tool head, 25 tines, width: 50 cm, plastic tines, black/orange, QuikFit, 1000642
16.65 EUR To the product| material | plastic |
|---|---|
| size | Width 52cm |
| stalk | not included, but all QuikFit handles will fit |
| extras | light weight of 290 grams |
The wide Fiskars leaf rake has 25 soft plastic tines that are ideal for sweeping up and raking grass clippings, leaves, flowers and other plant parts on lawns, beds and paths. Various Amazon reviewers praised the good performance of this leaf rake, which gives very good and clean results on different surfaces. However, it has sometimes been noted that the model can break off at the transition between the head and the handle. Here you can provide reinforcement to avoid this weak point. The leaf rake does not come with a handle, so you can choose one that suits you from the QuikFit system.
our recommendation
WOLF-Garten multi-star plastic broom UI-M; 3554000
10.49 EUR To the product| material | hardened spring steel |
|---|---|
| size | Width between 36 and 58 centimeters |
| stalk | is not included, but all handles of the Multistar plug-in system fit |
| extras | Tool head adjustable in width |
The leaf rake from Wolf-Garten's Multistar range is also supplied without a handle, but you also have a large selection of suitable handles here. In the Amazon reviews, the hardness and flexibility of the adjustable tines are particularly praised, with which leaves and even moss can be easily combed out of the grass. The leaf rake is made of flexible, but nevertheless hard and robust spring steel. The width of the tool head can also be changed thanks to the adjustment function - this also affects the hardness of the leaf rake. The device is suitable for both large and narrow areas, for lawns, beds and paths.
Purchase Criteria
purpose of use
When it comes to the term "leaf rake" (or leaf rake, fan rake and whatever other names this garden tool is called), many people think that it can only be used to rake leaves. Depending on what material the tines are made of and how wide or narrow they can be adjusted, you can also use the leaf rake to rake off grass clippings and even moss on lawns, to remove (previously plucked) weeds from beds and for paths. Even clippings, e.g. B. of trees and shrubs, as well as fallen fruit can be removed with it.
material
Leaf rakes are usually made of plastic or metal - the latter is usually steel. Both materials have their specific advantages and disadvantages, which is why it primarily depends on the purpose for which you want to use the device primarily. Plastic is more flexible and less rigid and is therefore also suitable for finer work, but also breaks more quickly. Metal tines are harder and therefore more stable.
tines
Do you need a leaf rake more to work the lawn with it or do you want to use it primarily in the garden bed? For the lawn, you should prefer models with rigid, hard tines - these literally comb through the grass and thus also remove thatch and even moss. Soft, more flexible ("springy") tines, on the other hand, are used where the subsoil is only to be cleaned and not tilled: for example in herb beds or on (gravel) paths.
width and size
Leaf rakes are available in different widths, and they also differ in terms of the distance between the tines. A wide leaf rake is well suited to cleaning larger areas - for example the lawn - of plant clippings and leaves; narrow devices, on the other hand, are perfect for beds and borders as well as for (narrow) paths. The smaller the distance between the tines, the finer the material that can be raked up with the leaf rake. For coarser things, on the other hand, a larger distance is advantageous.
adjustability
With many a leaf rake, both the width and the tine spacing can be individually adjusted within certain frame dimensions. This means that you do not need several rakes for different activities, but can carry out all the work to be done with just one device. These models often adjust with an easy-to-use slide mechanism, allowing you to choose the width and spacing you find most convenient while you work.
system or not?
The leaf rakes from Gardena, Fiskars and Wolf-Garten presented here are all part of a plug-in system series and are therefore always supplied without a handle. This has several advantages for you:
- You can buy a suitable handle yourself according to your needs.
- This then fits optimally in length and other properties.
- In addition, such a handle can also be used for other garden tools of the same system.
- That means you only need one handle for different devices.
You can of course also buy leaf rakes with fixed handles made of wood, plastic or aluminium.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
Are rakes and leaf rakes the same?
The garden tool presented here as a leaf rake actually has many names. You will also find it under names such as leaf broom, fan broom, fan rake or rake. Many manufacturers also have their own names, such as "adjustable brooms" for adjustable models, "plastic brooms" for leaf rakes made of this material, etc. It's best to look out for a rake-like broom with the characteristic fanning - then you have the right gardening tool in your hand visor.
Where can you buy leaf rakes?
You can get leaf rakes - like any other common garden tool - both in stationary hardware and garden stores and in online shops. With the former, you have the opportunity to pick up the intended model and try it out if necessary. Online you have more choice and a better opportunity to compare prices and qualities.
How much does a good leaf rake cost?
Depending on the manufacturer, material and quality, you should budget between around ten and up to 30 euros for a good leaf rake. In the case of the system models supplied without a handle, there are also the costs for a handle, which amount to around EUR 20. Adjustable leaf rakes are also more expensive than non-adjustable ones.
Which well-known manufacturers produce leaf rakes?
In addition to Gardena, Fiskars and Wolf Garten, you will find leaf rakes from almost every well-known and unknown manufacturer of garden tools, and many hardware and garden stores have their own brands. You will find high-quality products - adjustable as well as with and without a handle - also from well-known suppliers such as Toom and Obi.
equipment
leaf shovel
our recommendation
Novatool leaf picker pair XL green leaf collector leaf shovel leaf gripper leaf claw leaf broom leaf hands snow shovel (1, green)
To the productWhen the leaves have been swept up with the leaf rake, you can collect and dispose of them directly with a practical leaf shovel. These devices, also known as leaf pickers or leaf claws, are also suitable for branches, grass and other plant clippings, manure and all other types of garden waste - you can even use them as snow shovels.
leaf bag
our recommendation
WHT 125L Heavy Duty Garden Garbage Bags with Handles, Green Leaf Bag with Military Canvas (H45.7cm, D55.8cm)
17.99 EUR To the productAfter sweeping up and collecting, it is best to dispose of leaves and clippings in a special leaf bag. Most models are made of plastic, the self-standing pop-up variants are particularly practical. However, the product recommended here made of robust canvas (canvas material) is more sustainable and significantly more durable.
cutting rake
our recommendation
GARDENA combisystem cutting rake: rake for removing moss and lawn thatch, 35 cm working width, made of high quality steel, also suitable for raking rubbish and stones (3392-20)
24.45 EUR To the productYou can use this practical 2-in-1 garden tool to rake leaves and other garden waste as well as to remove thatch and moss. Use the sharp tines to aerate the lawn and then sweep up the plant debris with the other side of the tool.