His & her rakes

From left:

Gardena adjustable plastic

Stephen: Adjustable rakes provide increased flexibility when it comes to tidying up the garden: at their widest, they’re perfect for large sections of turf and, at their most compact, they’re able to access the nooks and crannies that ordinary rakes could never penetrate. This rake’s plastic head is easy to adjust from 35 to 50 centimetres wide. $23

Gardena handles
Aluminum straight: $20
Aluminum ergonoline: $37

Gardena adjustable metal (spring-tined)

I loved this adjustable metal rake, which ranges in width from 28 to 45 centimetres. Well made and sturdy, its tough metal tines are effective leaf-grabbers, and it’s also useful for de-thatching turf and aerating surface soil. In its closed position, it proved an excellent choice for hard-to-reach spots, especially under and around mature shrubs. $22

Gardena large plastic

This rake has quite a wide sweep, and, of course, its plastic tines will never rust. Because of its ultra lightweight construction, it’s easy to use and quite effective for clearing small- to medium-sized dry leaves. When tested on wet leaves, however, it often just scuffed over the surface; the smooth, plastic tines seemed reluc-tant to grab their slippery quarry. $46