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A garden rake is a tool with a long handle and a row of teeth or prongs used for gathering leaves, grass, hay, or other debris. It is commonly used in gardening, landscaping, and yard work to collect and remove loose material from the ground. 

Garden Rake Uses

A rake is useful for a variety of purposes including the following:

• Leaf and Debris Cleanup: Gardeners can use rakes for gathering leaves, grass clippings, and other debris from lawns and garden beds. 
• Soil Leveling: Garden rakes are suitable for levelling soil in preparation for planting.
• Loosening Soil: The tines are useful for breaking up and loosening compacted soil, making it more conducive for planting. 
• Spreading and Smoothing: Rakes are useful for spreading mulch, gravel, or other materials evenly over a surface.
• Composting: A garden rake can also aid in turning and mixing compost piles, ensuring aeration and promoting decomposition. 

Types of Rakes

Here are various types of rakes designed for specific tasks:

• Leaf Rakes: These variants typically have wide heads with flexible, fan-shaped tines that are ideal for gathering and raking leaves. They are often lightweight and can cover a large area.
• Thatch Rake: Thatch rakes have sharp, short tines that can cut through the thatch layer in lawns. 
• Landscape Rake: This version has a long, straight, and widely spaced tines. It is useful for tasks such as leveling soil, spreading gravel, or grading surfaces.
• Adjustable Rake: Some rakes come with adjustable tines, allowing you to change their width depending on the task at hand. This versatility makes them suitable for various gardening and landscaping applications.
• Hand Rake (Hand Cultivator): Smaller in size, hand rakes great for precise work in tight spaces, such as cultivating soil in flower beds or between plants.
• Garden Rake: These rakes bow rakes have sturdy, straight tines and that are suitable for leveling soil, spreading mulch, or breaking up clumps. They are more heavy-duty than leaf rakes.