14 Different Types of Rakes and Uses for Each

Plastic Leaf Rake

The standard leaf rake, commonly made of plastic, is also sometimes made of bamboo. The head is fan-shaped, which suits it for gathering small items spread across the ground. Even those with little experience in yard tasks or farm chores are familiar with this type of rake.

Lawn Rake

Also known as a "spring tine rake," this metal lawn rake is indeed springy. The key to its design is the flexibility of its tines, which make it great to use on uneven ground because it won't snag on clumps of dirt or stones. Like the leaf rake, its head is fan-shaped. It's a multi-purpose tool for raking leaves, removing refuse from lawns and gardens, and harmlessly extracting debris from under shrubs.

Wide Leaf Rake

Consider investing in a wide leaf rake if your lawn is large. It will cost a little more than a standard lawn rake, but the additional coverage will result in less work.

Garden Rake

You can rake leaves with a garden rake, but its forte is clearing rough ground. The steel construction of its head makes it a go-to tool for tough jobs that a leaf rake would be too weak for.

Compared to a leaf rake, the garden rake's sites are much smaller and run parallel to each other. You can dig into the ground with the tines to loosen soil, remove rocks, or do some light dethatching.

You can flip the rake over and use the smooth side of the head to level out soil or gravel while smoothing out a pea gravel patio, for example.

Mini-Garden Rake

The mini-garden rake is often used in conjunction with other garden tools that are held with one hand, garden trowels and hand-held cultivators, for example. This mini-garden rake is good for evening out soil in small garden beds. It is a miniature version of a garden rake with the same design on a smaller scale.

Tarmac Rake

The tarmac rake is a bigger and stronger variant of the garden rake. Its size and durability makes it suitable for professional jobs such as working with asphalt.

Thatch Rake

Also known as a "thatching" or "dethatching" rake, this tool is designed mainly for removing thatch from a lawn. Its head has rows of metal tines on both sides. On one side, the tines are straight, and on the other, they are curved. The straight ones are used for the actual dethatching, while the curved ones can be used to cultivate the soil for overseeding.

Power Rake

For bigger dethatching jobs, you may want to use a power rake. This is a tool that you push like a lawn mower. Since major dethatching is a not a job you have to do all the time, many homeowners rent a power rake from a nearby tool store instead of buying one.

Narrow Shrub Rake

Removing leaves from between shrubs can be laborious, especially shrubs with low-lying branches. For this, consider using a shrub rake, better suited for the job than lawn rakes and leaf rakes. If you own a lawn rake, supplement it with a narrow shrub rake. The latter can extract leaves from tight spaces and you can use your lawn rake in other spots.

Wide Shrub Rake

If you're looking for a rake that can be easily used both on your lawn and between shrubs, a wider shrub rake is a good compromise.

Japanese Zen Garden Rake

When creating or maintaining a zen garden, you will push around a lot of gravel. A Japanese zen garden rake is a specialized tool designed for that purpose. These rakes are made of metal or wood.

Hay Rake

The traditional, manual hay rake has a wide head and widely spaced teeth. It's made of wood so as to be lightweight. The teeth are rounded so that, as they pass through the grass, they won't become snagged in the undergrowth.

Berry Rake

Rakes are commonly used to harvest both cranberries and lowbush blueberries. A berry rake has three parts: a handle, comb-like tines, and a bucket.

With a scooping motion, the picker slices through the plants with the tool's tines, which pass through the branches similarly to how a comb passes through hair. In the process, the berries are jostled and fall into the bucket.

Snow Rake

Also called a "roof rake," this tool is designed for clearing snow off the roof. Many people use it to prevent ice dams on the roof. This rake features a long handle which makes it easy to reach up several feet and access accumulated roof snow.