A garden rake is a tool with a horizontal crossbar fitted with tines and attached to a long handle, used for soil leveling, debris removal, and general garden maintenance. Multiple designs serve different purposes.
The bow rake (also called a garden rake) has steel tines attached to a metal frame set between two arms that connect to the handle. The bow shape provides strength and a slight spring.
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Uses include leveling soil before planting, breaking up soil clods, removing stones and debris from beds, spreading mulch and compost, and grading garden paths.
A leaf rake has a fan-shaped arrangement of tines made from bamboo, plastic, or spring steel.
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Leaf rakes are not suitable for soil work; the flexible tines do not penetrate hard ground.
A thatching rake has sharp, curved tines designed to remove dead grass (thatch) from lawns.
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Thatching rakes are more aggressive than garden rakes and can damage healthy grass if used too aggressively.
A hand rake (or cultivator rake) is a small, short-handled rake with 3–5 curved tines. It is used in flower beds, containers, and tight spaces where a full-size rake is impractical.
Beyond the specific uses listed above, garden rakes are used for fire prevention (clearing dry vegetation), reinstalling gravel on paths, smoothing sand in children's play areas, and spreading top dressing on lawns.
Ash and hickory are traditional choices for rake handles. Fiberglass handles are common on modern rakes. The handle should be long enough to allow the user to work without stooping — typically 1.5–2 m for garden rakes.