His & her rakes

Lawn rakes:

Yardworks bowhead

The specially designed comfort grip on the shaft will be much appreciated by gardeners with arthritic or weary joints. The 14 tines are securely soldered to the bowhead, making the business end of the rake extraordinarily light. It takes time to get used to operating this model since, at first, the handle seems disproportionately heavy compared to the base. But once you’ve mastered the balancing act, you’ll wonder what you ever did without it. $25

Garden rakes:

Rittenhouse deluxe grounds (flat-tined)

This rake is designed primarily for removing thatch from turf rather than cleaning up fallen leaves. When used for its intended purpose, it’s an impressive tool. Lightweight construction makes it easy to wield and minimizes potential damage to new growth. Highly effective, it will reveal, then remove, the pernicious patches of thatch you likely never knew you had. $35

Yardworks bamboo 

In addition to being a highly renewable resource, bamboo is also lightweight and durable. Bamboo tines are less likely to spear leaves, so having to stop raking in order to remove leaf litter is rarely an issue. A well-constructed bamboo rake such as this will last for years; it will never rust, and when it’s finally time to remove it from active service, you can chop it up and throw it on your compost pile! $17

Prices and availability current as of publication, October/November 2003. Prices and availability may vary.

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