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The Best Way to Rake Leaves and Rakes to Make the Job Easier
While many people dread raking leaves, it’s really because they don’t know the best way to rake leaves. In addition, buying the best rake for leaves before you start the project improves efficiency and eliminates back and muscle strain.
Start With The Right Tools
Falling leaves are one of the most beautiful parts of fall, as long as those leaves are in someone else’s yard. If the leaves are in your yard, then it’s time to think about raking them up.
The right garden tools can make gardening and yard work so much easier, and lawn rakes are no different. So what is the best rake for leaves? Lawn rakes come in both metal and plastic tines.
The truth is that it doesn’t really matter what material the rake is made of since they both do a good job of collecting leaves.
Metal tine rakes may damage surrounding shrubs or plants, so choose plastic if you are raking near landscaped areas or flower beds.
On the other hand, if you are raking near a gravel pathway or driveway choose the metal tines which can withstand the gravel much better than plastic.
The most important aspect of a leaf rake to consider is the width of the bottom. The larger the width of the actual tines, the more lawn surface the rake covers with each swipe. That means that it takes less time to rake a lawn than if you used a rake with a smaller width span.
Whether you buy a metal or plastic tined rake, choose one that has a rubberized grip which makes the process less tiring on your hands.
For those with bad backs, opt for a rake with a curved shaft, which positions the rake at the proper angle for raking without having to bend over. In addition, look for clog-free rakes, which have specialized designs that prevent the leaves from getting stuck in the rake.
One problem that some homeowners face is raking up leaves that fall in between shrubs and in flower beds. In this case, the best rake for leaves would be a shrub rake.
A shrub rake looks exactly like a regular leaf rake, except that the bottom tined section is smaller. This makes it easy to fit it in between bushes and other tight spaces that a standard-sized rake may destroy.
What Is The Best Method to Rake Leaves?
Using the proper method is one of the most important parts of raking leaves, and most people do it incorrectly, resulting in sore muscles and aching backs.
The proper way to rake is to stretch the rake out in front of you and move the leaves toward your feet. Take a step or two backward, and repeat the process, working on only two to three feet of space at a time.
Using this technique, you don’t ever have to reach out or bend over to move the leaves into a pile.
To pick up the leaves, invest in a good leaf scoop, which looks like a large dust pan used for sweeping. You can rake the leaves into the scoop, but most of the time you can simply insert them into the pile.
Some leaf scoops come with two curved scoops that strap onto your hands. Once scooped, dump the leaves directly into a trash bag for disposal.
While raking leaves is not one of the more pleasant fall tasks, making sure that you know the best way to rake leaves, with the best rake to use, the job is made quicker and easier.
References
- The Best Ways to Clean Up Fall Leaves – https://www.thespruce.com/leaf-rakes-blowers-vacuums-1403265
- How to Rake Leaves – https://www.wikihow.com/Rake-Leaves
