Landscape Rakes

About Landscape Rakes

Landscape rakes are specialist wide-headed tools designed for levelling and grading large areas of soil, gravel, sand, and other loose materials with maximum efficiency. Unlike standard garden rakes, these professional tools feature extra-wide heads typically ranging from 600mm (24 inches) to 900mm (36 inches), allowing groundworkers and landscapers to cover substantially more ground with each stroke. MyToolShed.co.uk stocks quality landscape rakes from trusted brands including Roughneck, Draper Expert, and Faithfull, built to withstand demanding site work whilst remaining accessible for DIY enthusiasts tackling larger garden projects.

Most professional landscape rakes feature lightweight aluminium heads that provide excellent durability and rust resistance without causing excessive fatigue during extended use. Paired with either FSC-certified wooden handles or fibreglass alternatives, these tools deliver the perfect balance of strength, comfort, and manoeuvrability. The wide, straight-edged design enables you to achieve consistently level finishes quickly, making them invaluable for site preparation, lawn installation, driveway surfacing, and general landscaping work where speed and quality matter.

Applications

• Professional Landscapers: Site preparation, lawn installation, spreading topsoil, and creating level surfaces for garden features
• Groundworkers: Preparing and grading sites before construction work, levelling aggregate bases, and drainage preparation
• Sports Ground Maintenance: Maintaining playing surfaces, preparing pitches, and golf course bunker work
• Garden Maintenance Contractors: Creating perfect lawn bases, levelling flower beds, and general ground preparation
• Highway Maintenance: Spreading and levelling gravel on paths, driveways, and public access areas
• DIY Enthusiasts: Garden renovation projects, driveway installation, patio base preparation, and lawn laying
• Agricultural Workers: Levelling areas around farm buildings, preparing paddock surfaces, and yard maintenance
• Local Authority Grounds Teams: Maintaining public parks, verges, recreational areas, and pathways

Choosing The Right Landscape Rakes

Working Width: Consider the typical size of areas you work on. A 600mm (24-inch) rake offers better manoeuvrability around obstacles and in confined spaces, whilst 900mm (36-inch) models maximise efficiency on large open areas like lawns and driveways. For general professional landscaping work, the 36-inch width provides the best balance of coverage and control.

Head Material: Aluminium heads are the professional standard available at MyToolShed.co.uk, offering excellent durability without excessive weight. They resist corrosion from damp soil and aggregates, essential for tools regularly exposed to harsh site conditions.

Handle Type and Length: FSC-certified wooden handles provide traditional comfort and shock absorption, whilst fibreglass alternatives offer enhanced weather resistance. Standard handle lengths range from 1500mm to 1800mm—choose based on your height to minimise back strain during extended use.

Build Quality: Check the head-to-handle connection, as this is the primary stress point. Quality landscape rakes from brands like Roughneck, Draper, and Faithfull feature secure socket connections with rivets or through-bolts that withstand professional site demands.

Tine Spacing: Consider your primary materials. Finer spacing works better for finishing with topsoil and sand, whilst wider spacing prevents clogging when moving gravel and larger aggregates.

Safety Information

Maintain a comfortable, balanced stance with feet shoulder-width apart to prevent back strain during extended raking. When working on slopes, position yourself uphill of the rake to maintain control. Wear sturdy work boots with steel toe caps to protect against dropped tools or hidden debris, and use quality work gloves to prevent blisters and improve grip, particularly with wooden handles.

Always check for underground services before beginning work on new sites. Store landscape rakes with heads down or hung on wall brackets to prevent trip hazards, and regularly inspect handles for cracks or splits that could compromise safety during use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a landscape rake and a standard garden rake?

Landscape rakes feature much wider heads (600-900mm) compared to standard garden rakes (300-400mm), allowing you to level large areas far more efficiently. They're specifically designed for moving and levelling loose materials like soil, gravel, and sand, whilst garden rakes are better suited to gathering leaves and general garden debris.

Which width landscape rake should I choose?

For large open areas like lawns, driveways, or playing fields, a 900mm (36-inch) rake maximises efficiency. If you work in smaller gardens with obstacles like flower beds and pathways, a 600mm (24-inch) rake offers better manoeuvrability. Many professional landscapers keep both sizes available for different applications.

Can landscape rakes be used for spreading driveway gravel?

Absolutely—spreading and levelling gravel is one of the primary uses for landscape rakes. The wide head creates even surfaces with proper drainage efficiently. For best results, spread gravel in approximately 50mm layers, raking level between each layer. A 36-inch landscape rake significantly reduces the time required compared to using standard garden tools.