Because this rake’s head is adjustable, customers were able to use it for both small and large raking tasks, saving them money and storage space. However, several customers said that the rake was flimsy and that both the pole and tines bent under a slight amount of pressure. Our Experience

Leaves, pine straw, and other materials shouldn’t collect on the tines while you use the rake. Having to stop and clear your tines of materials can slow down your task and increase the time you spend in your yard. Ergonomics Shrub rakes are similar to lawn rakes, but they have a narrower head that can fit in tighter spaces, such as around bushes and along fences. Bow Even though this product is designed as a lightweight rake for easy handling, it has a sturdy construction and a stainless steel handle. Customers liked how lightweight this rake was, as it didn’t tire out their arms during use. They also said that the adjustable pole was easy to use, making it possible for several family members to use the same rake. However, its lightweight nature was also an indicator of its quality. Several customers said that it broke when used for medium- or heavy-duty tasks. Our ExperienceFlooding: A layer of leaves can prevent excess water from draining, which can cause your grass to become waterlogged and cause flooding in your home. Task efficiency—We gave each rake a rating on a scale of 1-5 based on how efficiently it performed its designated task. If you’re looking for a versatile rake, consider one that weighs 2 or 3 pounds. Not only does this allow you to complete a variety of tasks, but it also prevents your arms from getting tired during use. Yard Size

Our range of garden trowels are ideal for smaller digging and planting, such as moving potted plants or digging out weeds. For more heavy duty digging, we have a number of shovels and spades that come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials, so you can find just what you need, no matter the size of your project, budget or expertise.For clearing away the autumn leaves and drawing lines in your soil to plant vegetables and vibrant flowers for the summer, our wide selection of garden rakes will help you keep your garden looking neat and tidy. Each rake performed the task it was designed for. We included leaf, shrub, and bow rakes in this review, so the leaf rakes raked leaves, the shrub rakes collected pine straw, and the bow rakes raked dirt. Tine Buildup

The rake was also easy to use. We liked that the rubber gripping went several inches down the handle because that allowed it to accommodate larger hands. However, our arms felt slightly tired after using the rake because of its heavy metal head. Our Score Most tines are made of metal or plastic. Metal tines are more durable, but they’re heavier and tend to make garden rakes more expensive. Rakes with plastic tines aren’t as durable as metal rakes, but they’re more affordable and lightweight. Occasionally, you’ll find tines made of resin that give you the durability of metal and the flexibility of plastic. Head Width Five common types of rakes exist: lawn/leaf rakes, shrub rakes, bow rakes, thatch rakes, and hand rakes. Lawn/Leaf The rake head in this product from Docamor expands from 7.5 to 23.2” in width. This extension feature will help when you will have to deal with big piles of leaves or when you will have to reach small spaces like between shrubs.Rakes are typically made of metal, plastic, wood, or fiberglass. The materials used for the rake handle and tines can be the same or different. Handle Lawn rakes are typically used to clear your yard of leaves, but they can also be used for clearing other debris like pine straw. They have a long handle for a wide reach, and their metal or plastic tines fan out in a triangular shape. Shrub The handle on this rake has grooves for better gripping and a rim to prevent your hands from slipping down the pole. We were also able to extend and shorten the pole’s length depending on our height and how far we wanted to reach. Our Score