Two of the worst aspects of leaf cleanup season are the time commitment and physical exertion that raking requires. The others should be considered good picks for their intended design, which, in collapsible rakes, means an occasional seasonal clearing of small areas. Any of the standard leaf rakes is a reliable pick for consistent, extended use. We reviewed the hand rake and leaf scoops as specialty tools with either a “yes, they worked,” or a “not worth the money” rating.Īll the rakes on this list performed according to our requirements. For the collapsible rakes, we gauged the tool’s effectiveness and perceived durability, since we viewed them as limited-use tools. In addition to speed and efficiency, we noted the number of passes each rake required to clear the space as well as any noticeable user discomfort, such as hand, arm, or shoulder fatigue. We spread 6 inches of leaves and debris evenly across the area, then used a leaf blower to push the pile under the hedge. The testing area included a wide open grassy lawn space and a hedge with low, spreading branches. We used them to assemble a test plot to try out each of the rakes. Our testers had access to a massive windrow of dried, matted, partially broken-down leaves from the prior fall, bales of pine straw, and a huge collection of southern magnolia leaves that naturally drop in spring. It may seem a bit of a stretch to test leaf rakes in the middle of spring, but that’s exactly what we did. Photo: Debbie Wolfe How We Tested the Best Leaf Rakes
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