Before you rush out and buy the first, or cheapest, rake you can find you should be aware that their are three basic types of rake available and only one of them is specifically designed for leaves.

Garden Rake

A standard garden rake is for moving and leveling soil. Most garden rakes have a flat backed head to achieve a perfectly level surface for seeding or turfing. They are generally the toughest and heaviest of the rakes with the head made of a solid metal such as steel. Larger versions are sometimes known as landscaping rakes.

Metal Lawn Rake

Metal lawn spring tine rakes are most commonly used for scarifying the lawn, a process whereby you remove the layer of dead grass on the top of the soil. They are also commonly used for removing moss and other debris from deep within the grass. Lawn rakes can be either expandable or fixed tine. For debris on the surface of the grass, a plastic leaf rake (below) is a better and lighter choice.

Plastic Leaf Rake

These are the best type of rakes for clearing leaves, grass clippings and hedge cuttings from the surface of the lawn. The plastic tines are designed to clear debris without damaging the lawn, but will wear out quickly if used on hard surfaces such as paving or concrete.

They are also the lightest of all the different types of rake and won’t wear you out as much as using a metal headed rake for clearing leaves.