The Garden Rake

The Garden Rake in your Garden

A garden rake is an indispensable tool for you as a gardener.

It is very versatile, in one form it can be used to move the top soil around for levelling purposes and in preparation for planting, seed sowing or laying turf.

It can be used to pull up rows of soil, when shoring up potatoes for instance and is also useful for pulling stones and the smaller rocks from your garden beds.

A good metal headed garden rake can do much of the work needed to create and maintain a garden.

There are a number of different types of Garden rakes.

Each one designed to do a specific task. Most are long handled. Some are wide, fan shaped and wispy while others are narrow and rigid with strong prongs.

Garden rakes can be made from a number of materials and in a range of sizes. They’re most commonly made with a wooden handle and metal head, although both handle and head can also be made from wood or plastic, Bamboo (both handle and head) rakes are quite common in Asia.

The rakes also comes in a variety of sizes. There are small ones (short handled) for working close to, at the base of delicate plants and long handled ones which provide greater reach.

Eagle Bow Rake With 53-Inch Fiberglass Handle 1888000 Some common gardening rakes include the fan shaped leaf rake, otherwise known as the springbok or spring tine rake, bow rake and soil rake (the same type, flat topped with normally strong prongs for strength), a lawn rake, also referred to as a de-thatching rake, used for de-thatching a lawn.

Also many speciality rakes have evolved that can be used for many tasks.

Modifying of gardening tools has a long history in gardening and the garden rake is no exception. There are a number of multi-head change rakes that can make gardening easier.

Many of these were developed by gardeners for their personal use.

For people who love gardening the garden rake is a trusty friend most cannot imagine being without.

It has so many uses it may be considered one of the most utilitarian of gardening tools.

Each type and style of rake plays an important role in helping gardeners create and maintain their beloved gardens and keep the plants in them giving their best.

Many gardeners have a favorite rake they would feel lost without.

The garden rake, if properly looked after will last for many years.

Clean after use and if any metalled parts, wipe over with an oily rag and place away in a dry area. For the uninitiated they may see a useless looking rusty headed rake with a bit of wood as a handle but the true gardener sees a gardening partner which has helped to create many a garden bed and help nurture the plants within them.

Image by: crume