Clearing leaves with ease
AS much as we love having shady trees in our yard, there are certain things that we need to think about when having big leafy trees.
One thing for sure, it needs to be maintained - it will need to get a good trim or cut once in awhile.
You will need to also be mindful that continuous raking is necessary when you have a lot of leafy trees around.
If you happen to have leafy trees in your yard, investing in a good garden rake goes a long way in keeping your yard well-maintained and clean.
Here we look at some important things to consider when purchasing a garden rake as listed by eHow (www.ehow.com).
What to consider when purchasing a garden rake:
Type of rake
There is a vast selection of rakes, but when it comes to gardening, several choices come in handy.
Your typical leaf rake, also known as a lawn rake, has heads of various widths and tines fanning out in a triangle with a long handle.
They are suitable for gathering large areas of leaves or other landscape debris.
Shrub rakes have narrower heads so they can easily fit in tight spaces typically found between multiple shrubs and plants in flower beds.
Bow rakes are built for heavy-duty jobs like moving dirt, stones or mulch and cultivating the soil.
They have metal tines that are thicker and shorter than those found on leaf rakes.
Handle type
When it comes to the material of rake handles, you have choices of wooden handles, fiberglass handles, aluminum or steel handles.
You can also find rakes with long and short handles, as well as those that are adjustable.
Wooden handles are heavy, not weatherresistant and prone to breaking if you use them for heavy-duty tasks.
Steel and aluminum handles are more durable and resistant to rusting, with aluminum cheaper than steel and lighter.
Fiberglass handles are durable and lighter than aluminum—but can be a bit pricey.
Extra features
You will find rakes with additional features that might come in handy if you use your rake regularly.
Some rakes have ergonomic padded handles, making it easy on your hands.
Others have adjustable handles, also called telescopic handles, where you can adjust their height to better suit your height.
Rakes with adjustable heads allow you to adjust the width of the tines depending on the particular job.
Rake heads with grabbers allow you to clean up clippings without having to bend down.