Leaf Rakes, Blowers/Vacuums and Shredders
Fall Leaf Clean-up Help
By Marie Iannotti, About.com Guide ...
Leaf Rake
Leaf rake heads are fan-shaped and often made of plastic, metal or bamboo.
Leaf rakes can frustrate gardeners, especially in the fall. Plastic rake heads can easily wiggle loose from the handle. Try hammering in an extra brad or two that will hold the handle securely. Hammer carefully so you don't split the handle.
Leaf rakes are for raking leaves, grass clippings, pine needles and other debris from your lawn and garden beds.
Thatching rakes have crescent-shaped blades that you push and pull through a lawn to remove dead and matted grass, also known as thatch.
In most cases, this is a leaf rake, something with a broad head and flexible points. A garden rake (the shorter, straighter, rigid metal sort) has many uses, but this isn't one of them.
One, Manually with a leaf rake (shown), garden rake, or thatching rake.
Two, with a Power Dethatcher (vertical cutter). Smaller to medium sized lawns can be manually dethatched, assuming that you have the time.
A leaf rake has thin, flexible tines for gathering leaves without damaging or pulling up the plants you put so much effort into planting. A bow or garden rake has shorter, stiffer tines, ideal for raking heavier materials.
The flexible tines on a leaf rake make gathering leaves easy without pulling up the grass.
Photo Credit: Megan Bame
These leaves were mulched and bagged by the lawn mower - and are piled near the garden to start a compost mound.
On a small lawn use a plastic leaf rake and a grabber but for a large lawn consider a wheeled sweeper or powered leaf blower. Rotary mowers with a collection box will remove most of the leaves as you cut the grass.
Having both a bow rake and leaf rake is beneficial as each one of them have their uses. The bow rake is particulary handy when the grass clippings are heavy. When breaking in a new plot the bow rake comes into it's own when breaking up dirt clods.
Some dethatching machines have flexible, leaf rake-type tines that are ineffective in removing thatch. Spring tines that attach to a rotary mower blade aren't good for dethatching and can damage your mower.
You can get the same results by bashing the branches with a leaf rake. It may sound odd, but it's an effective method of peach tree thinning. Remember to remove the whole bud and not just the flower petals.
Most gardeners can get away with ten basic tools: a sturdy hand trowel, a stirrup hoe, a square blade spade with a D-shaped handle, bypass hand pruners, a garden fork, a leaf rake, a bow rake, a hand cultivator, a wheelbarrow or garden cart, ...
There are several types of rakes available for your lawn or garden, and each one is used for a different purpose. Some of the most common types of rakes include a leaf rake, a bow rake, and a shrub rake. Watch this video to find out more.
You can also adjust the spread of the steel tines from 7 to 22 inches. The rake's lightweight construction, slim handle, and adjustable features make it very versatile but perhaps not as strong as a regular metal leaf rake. The price is $17.
 See also: Leaf, Plant, Compost, Gardening, Soil
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