Why do you need a Stone Rake?
By raking stones, you can not only collect small stones from a plot, but also break large lumps of dirt or remove the remains of roots from the soil.
Racking stones can be an effective tool for removing stones because their tines act like sieves. The tines pass through smooth soil with small particles, but they catch large stones that need to be removed.
Where to start
- Till the soil with a rotary cultivator cutter to the desired depth.
- Distribute the cultivated soil into a uniform layer no deeper than the height of the curved part of the rake tines, allowing the implement to break through to the bottom of the soil layer in one pass and accelerate the work.
- Pull the heavy iron rake through the soil; the tines will sift the soil, capturing large stones.
- Pull the stones aside and repeat pulling the rakes in parallel lines through the soil until you pull out the stones.
How to choose the right rake: tips and practical recommendations
When choosing a rock rake, you should consider the functionality, convenience, and durability of the rake.
Here are the main criteria for choosing a quality rake:
- The material of manufacture largely determines the weight and strength of the rake.
- Metal rake is indispensable for soil cultivation, and plastic and wooden rake is more effective in cleaning dry leaves and grass.
- If it is planned that the rake will be used by more than one person, it is necessary to give preference to models with a sliding handle – it will allow to adjust the length of the cut.
- The strongest rakes for stones are made of steel.
- The choice of width depends on the area of the garden area and the distance between plants.
- The stone rake is made with rare teeth for larger stones.
- The cutter should be firmly attached to the working part of the rake. The material of the cuttings determines to a great extent the weight of the rake.
- The handle should be comfortable, not too thin, and not too thick. Optimal width – about 3 mm.
What kind of rakes are there?
There are many different kinds of rakes. This tool is used for loosening the soil, removing leaves and debris, picking up hay, and much more.
Straight rakes
The kind we’re all used to. They can be found in almost any household. Usually, these rakes are used to loosen the ground or gather hay.
Twisted Tine Rake
This is a slightly improved version of the previous straight rake. It does pretty much the same thing, but it is easier to break up even dried-out chunks of earth with this type of tool.
Aerator Rake
Such rakes are hard to find in the homes of ordinary everyday people. Despite their rarity, they are very convenient to use. They not only remove all kinds of debris from the lawn but also brush moss off the grass. Another useful feature is that this tool makes cuts in the lawn, due to which water, air, and useful substances get to the roots better.
Fan Rake
Designed to clean up small debris and leaves. Such devices are usually made of lightweight plastic or thin metal, and the shape of the working surface itself is in the form of the letter “V”. On tall grass, it is better to use a plastic version, and on short-grass – an iron one (so-called wire rake).
Lawn Rakes
The very name of this rake already tells about the scope of their application. They are great for picking up hay or leaves from the lawn.
Mini Rake
This is a hand rake that is used for jewel-like work in the garden. You can use it to clear leaves from under bushes or loosen small seedbeds.
Milling rakes
This rake is pretty rare in our economy, but very convenient and can be said to be universal. They consist of two tines, which are turned in opposite directions from each other. They can be used in two different ways. The side where the tines are more densely arranged can be used to remove trash, stones, or even out the mulch on the paths. The other side can be used as a normal aerator rake and cleans the lawn.
How to choose a rake for yourself
The tool is simple enough, but the unskillful selection of a rake can affect the productivity of the work. We want to share a few tips to help you get the job done:
- The rake should reach the height of your armpits – this is the optimal length of the handle;
- The working surface should be made of steel with an anti-corrosion coating;
- models made of painted iron should be avoided (they are not durable);
- There are different handles, but the most practical are wooden ones with rubber treads.
Metal rake
If you are going to loosen the ground and remove the stones, you will need a not very wide steel rake with very hard straight teeth. And if the ground is very hard and the lumps after digging are very large, you will need an all-metal rake with teeth deployed parallel to the handle. These tines are much easier to cut into the ground, removing plant roots, loosening the ground and breaking up lumps.
