With a rake you master various tasks in the garden. Depending on the type, the garden helper is suitable for sweeping up leaves, scarifying the lawn or harvesting vegetables. In our guide you can find out more about the different types and what you should look out for when buying a rake. We also present several recommended models based on customer reviews on Amazon.
There are many different types of rakes
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Fiskars Rake with 14 tines, width: 36 cm, hardened boron steel tines/aluminium handle, black/grey, Ergonomic, 1000652
38.95 EUR To the product| kind | rake broom |
|---|---|
| tine material | Hardened boron steel |
| stalk | yes (aluminum) |
| working width | 36 cm |
| Weight | 810g |
The rake from Fiskars convinces with the robust, stable material combination of aluminum for the handle and hardened boron steel for the 14 tines. Overall, this garden helper is 153 centimeters long - generally sufficient for people up to 185 centimeters tall. In our comparison, the model is the only rake that comes with a handle. Most Amazon reviewers are absolutely delighted. They praise the high-quality workmanship and good handling. In this context, they also emphasize the low weight of only 810 grams.
our recommendation
WOLF-Garten - Rake multi-star DR-M 35"NEW2018, red, 35x15x7 cm; 71AAA028650
13.59 EUR To the product| kind | rake broom |
|---|---|
| tine material | metal |
| stalk | no |
| working width | 35 cm |
| Weight | 700g |
With the multi-star(R) rake, the good price-performance ratio is particularly impressive. The attachment can be effortlessly connected to the matching, separately available handle from the multi-star(R) series from WOLF-Garten. The majority of buyers of the model on Amazon describe the sweeping brush as solid and stable as well as wonderfully functional.
our recommendation
Fiskars Fan Broom, Tool Head, With 20 Prongs, Width: 43 cm, Steel Prongs, Black/Orange, QuikFit, 1000644
22.96 EUR To the product| kind | leaf brush |
|---|---|
| tine material | steel |
| stalk | no |
| working width | 43 cm |
| Weight | 445g |
The fan rake from Fiskars is ideal for all hobby gardeners who are looking for a high-quality leaf rake. It is considered to be very stable and versatile. Reviewers at Amazon call it an "essential lawn tool." The handle must be ordered separately.
Purchase Criteria
kind
hay rake: Even the ancient Romans worked with hay rakes. This shows that this garden utensil has a long tradition. The rake was originally made of wood, but of course there are now versions made of other materials - whether metal, steel or plastic.
The hay rake consists of a handle and a rake bar attached to the lower end of the handle, which has several tines. The latter are regularly spaced, typically at relatively wide intervals, and bent at right angles to the stem.
While a wooden hay rake is primarily suitable for sweeping up dead grass and dry branches, you can use a metal or steel model to remove moss, thatch and small stones from the lawn.
Note that hay rakes can only be used on flat surfaces due to the very strong, inflexible tines. They cannot adapt to bumps. In addition, smaller garden waste literally falls by the wayside thanks to the wider tines.
leaf brush: The leaf rake does not have a classic calculation bar. Instead, it features a "head" with fan-shaped and closely spaced tines that are resilient and curved at the bottom. In use, the leaf rake behaves like a conventional broom - except that you sweep the lawn with the garden helper.
As the name suggests, the leaf rake is primarily used to collect and remove leaves. Without any pressure, with minimal effort, you guide the rake across the lawn at a flat angle. This procedure protects the green carpet. The noise level is also kept within limits.
In no time you have a pretty pile of leaves and small twigs piled up. Thanks to the relatively narrow tines, even finer garden waste does not escape.
Unlike the hay rake, the leaf rake is good at dealing with bumps in the ground. The elastic tines adapt to any bumps. As a result, however, they also bend from time to time, which increases or accelerates wear.
rake broom: The rake is a hybrid of a hay rake and a leaf rake. Like the hay rake, it has a rake bar with horizontally arranged tines. As with leaf rakes, these are arranged more closely and curved at their lower ends.
In this sense, in the case of a high-quality model, with a rake you can carry out more or less all the work that is possible with a hay rake and with a leaf rake.
rake: In principle, the rake is nothing more than a tightened hay rake. The structure and areas of application are largely identical. The slightly sharper tines make manual scarifying of the lawn easier with a rake than with a hay rake.
Material of the tines
wood: Wooden tines are traditional, definitely the most visually appealing and often strong. In more intensive use with harder objects such as stones, however, they reach their limits and can even break under certain circumstances.
metal: Metal tines are robust and durable and, in the case of aluminium, pleasantly light. Pay attention to corrosion protection!
steel: Steel tines are almost indestructible and therefore also suitable for tough jobs. There is usually no risk of rusting, as manufacturers either use stainless steel or coat the tines to make them corrosion-resistant.
plastic: Plastic tines are cheap and solid for a while. However, they generally wear out the fastest of all materials. They also have the highest risk of breakage. Apart from that, they are the most environmentally unfriendly option.
Note: The handle is also made from one of the four main materials. Basically, the same properties apply in terms of robustness or fragility. It is important that you can grip the handle well. Always pay attention to a pronounced grip (anti-slip features).
stem length
The handle of your chosen rake should be long enough for your height. If it is too short, back pain is inevitable. With a telescopic handle, you can adjust the length yourself, but it is not as stable as a permanently installed one.
Note: The handle is not always included in the scope of delivery. Many manufacturers offer you combination systems in which you can connect a handle with various attachments - including a rake.
our recommendation
Gardena combisystem rake: wide rake with 16 tines, ideal garden accessory for raking, removing weeds and tilling the soil, working width 41 cm, suitable for all cs handles (3179-20)
11.19 EUR To the productworking width
In large, straight gardens with no tight spots, a wider rake is beneficial to get the job done faster. On the other hand, it makes more sense to use a smaller working width in a rather winding green oasis. Generally, the rake width is between 20 and 80 centimetres.
frequently asked Questions
What is a rake?
A rake is a practical garden tool that can be used in a variety of ways, depending on the specific design:
- Sweep leaves and other garden debris
- Loosen thatch and remove weeds
- Rake small stones out of the ground
- scarify (loosen the soil)
- for harvesting vegetables (olives, cucumbers, corn)
A rake consists of a handle and a bar or head with several tines.
By the way: The so-called Franconian rake has nothing to do with the garden tool, but refers to the popular coat of arms of Franconia.
What is the difference between rake and rake?
That's not an easy question to answer. The terms rake and rake are often used synonymously. Ultimately, every gardener has their own definition of the two pieces of equipment. In our view, the rake is a specific form of rake (like the hay rake, leaf rake and rake) - one with particularly sharp and strong tines, suitable for scarifying (loosening the soil) and working in compost and topsoil. In contrast, the other types of rakes are intended more for above-ground sweeping work.
Which brands offer high-quality rakes?
The most popular brands for rakes include Gardena, Fiskars and WOLF-Garten.
Where is the best place to buy a rake?
Rakes are available in hardware stores (e.g. OBI, Hornbach, toom or Bauhaus) and seasonally sometimes also in discounters (Lidl, Aldi). However, you can enjoy the largest selection at Amazon.