You can argue about some of the advertised garden tools, but not about the rake. In the garden, the rake is as versatile as it is indispensable, because how else could you loosen the soil, break up crumbs of earth, work or spread compost into the soil or remove weeds and leaves? Read our guide to find out what is important when buying a good garden rake.
A garden rake made of steel can withstand a lot
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Fiskars 14 Prong Rake, Width: 36 cm, Hardened Carbon Steel Prongs/Aluminum Handle, Black/Orange, Solid, 1016036
42.01 EUR To the product| material | carbon steel |
|---|---|
| number of tines | 14 |
| working width | 36 centimeters |
| stalk | Yes |
| overall length | 154 centimeters |
| stem material | aluminum |
This garden rake from the brand manufacturer Fiskars is light and yet robust. It is sold as a complete set with handle and impresses with a total weight of only 700 grams. The tool is suitable for raking, smoothing and leveling soft and somewhat harder soils and for raking up plucked weeds, stones, grass or small twigs. Since the 14 pointed and sharp carbon steel prongs are only 2.5 centimeters apart, such materials do not slip through as easily. The total length of the rake is 154 centimetres, which enables gentle working with a straight back posture. The rake is described as particularly durable.
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 product| material | Steel, coated with Duroplast |
|---|---|
| number of tines | 16 tines |
| working width | 41 centimeters |
| stalk | no |
| overall length | k. A |
| stem material | k. A |
With this offer you only get the rake head, but no handle. If you already have a handle from the modular Gardena Combisystem, you can also use it for this rake - the attachment fits all CS handles, regardless of whether they are made of aluminum or wood. The rake head itself is made of high quality steel and is coated with Duroplast to better prevent corrosion. The stable, 41 cm wide garden tool is perfect for loosening and leveling the garden soil, removing weeds, spreading and working in compost and much more.
our recommendation
Polar aluminum rake lawn rake farmer's rake 60 cm 16 tines with 150 cm handle
43.99 EUR To the product| material | aluminum |
|---|---|
| number of tines | 16 |
| working width | 60 centimeters |
| stalk | Yes |
| stem length | 150 centimeters |
| stem material | wood |
Many a gardener likes to work with a wooden rake, after all this is considered to be particularly gentle on plants and soil. However, such a wooden rake does not last particularly long. If you are looking for a suitable alternative, this lightweight aluminum rake from Polar could be the right tool. It is very light with a weight of only approx. 715 grams. The attachment has 16 prongs made of aluminum, each about seven centimeters long and quite far apart. The working width is a full 60 centimetres. The handle holder is galvanized and powder-coated for greater stability. The device with the extra long wooden handle is ideal for leveling work.
Purchase Criteria
purpose of use
Basically, it is important to take a close look at the offer: garden rakes are often incorrectly referred to as "rakes", which is not correct. A real rake like the models presented here are perfect for rather rough gardening work, for example to loosen the soil or to work in compost and other fertilizers. In order for the tines to penetrate the soil, they often have a pointed shape and are very stable. In addition to the large rakes, there are also smaller hand rakes.
material
metal: Metal rake heads can be made of steel or aluminum. Steel rakes are particularly robust and durable, while aluminum models are significantly lighter but also more prone to breakage. Choose a metal rake that is protected against corrosion, such as a stainless steel model or one with a coating.
wood: In earlier times, rakes were often made entirely of wood. Not only the handle, but also the attachment including tines was made of wood. These wooden rakes still exist today, although they have become rare. You don't tend to work a bed with these rakes, but they are well suited for raking up lawns. our recommendation
KADAX rake, hay rake with long wooden handle, wide rake for garden, bed, lawn, comfortable garden rake, lawn rake, leaf rake, garden tool, garden tool (wood)
19.99 EUR To the productplastic: You should refrain from rake attachments made of plastic, as these are significantly less robust and stable compared to metal models - and this is important with a rake, since you will occasionally work hard soil with the device.
working width
The classic garden rake usually has a working width of between 30 and 40 centimetres, although there are also models with narrower and wider heads. Which width is optimal for you depends on the one hand on the size of the bed to be processed and on its planting. It's best to have rakes of various sizes in your tool shed anyway, to be prepared for any eventuality. A small hand rake up to ten centimeters wide, a "normal-sized" and a slightly wider one up to 60 centimeters wide are ideal.
stem and stem length
Not every garden rake comes with a matching handle: sometimes you have to buy one separately. The handles can be made of wood, metal (usually aluminium) or plastic and should do one thing above all: fit your height! With a handle that is the right length, you can work comfortably while standing upright without having to bend down. So-called telescopic handles, which can be adjusted in length to the user, are also practical.
Weight
The weight is also an important purchase criterion. The rake should have a total weight of less than one kilogram so that you can work well with the device. If it's too hard, you tire easily, have to take a lot of breaks and therefore need more time to work. When purchasing a rake attachment, add the weight of the handle, although wooden handles tend to be heavier than aluminum or plastic ones.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What is a garden rake?
The rake is a very simple gardening tool that consists of two parts: the attachment with horizontally protruding, usually pointed tines and a straight handle. The tines are parallel to each other, can be very short, but also comparatively long and are primarily intended to work the garden soil.
What different forms of garden rake are there?
In addition to the long form of rake described, which is used standing upright for tilling the soil, there are also so-called hand rakes. These only have up to five tines, have a maximum width of ten centimeters and also only have a very short handle. They are well suited for targeted tillage in the bed as well as for raised beds or for planters.
Why do I need a garden rake?
The garden rake is indispensable for coarse soil work in ornamental and useful plant beds. You use it to loosen up the soil and make it more permeable to water, crush coarse crumbs of soil, level the bed area, pull weeds out of the ground or work compost and other fertilizers into the soil.
Are rakes and rakes the same?
Even though rakes are often sold under the name "rakes", they are still two different gardening tools that are used for different purposes. The rake is primarily suitable for rough soil work, while you use the larger and more flexible rake mainly for raking up leaves, lawn clippings, etc. A real rake is not suitable for this.
Which manufacturers offer high-quality garden rakes?
The Gardena, Fiskars and Wolf-Garten brands are among the best-known manufacturers of rakes and other garden tools. Their products are considered to be high quality and durable, and they are also characterized by combination systems in which a single handle can be used for different attachments. But the British manufacturer Spear & Jackson also enjoys a good reputation, as does the German brand Freund-Victoria.
How much does a garden rake cost?
How much you spend on your new garden rake depends on the specific model as well as the brand. Basically, branded products are more expensive than "no-name" devices, but often also of higher quality and therefore longer lasting. The higher purchase price pays off after a few years of use. As a rule, rakes are available in the price range between around ten and up to 70 euros.