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What is a Lawn Sweeper?

May 1, 2019 By YardSurfer Leave a Comment

Using a broom and dustpan to pick up yard debris is so old school. Using a lawn sweeper is so much easier than conventional methods.

How does a Lawn Sweeper work?

A lawn sweeper is a specialty yard tool which can either be pulled by a garden tractor or pushed by hand depending on the model.

Most use a cylindrical bristle brush which spins as the unit is pushed, picking up sticks, leaves, rocks and straw and flinging it into a bin.

‘When the job is complete, users remove the collection bin and pour it into the trash can. Companies like Craftsman and Agri-Fab make these machines.

Push models have an intake which ranges from 24 inches and up.

If you anticipate working on different surfaces such as the sidewalk and grassy lawn, an adjustable unit is essential. Adjustable lawn sweepers can change their height with a simple turn of a dial or lever. The bristles move closer or father away from the ground in an attempt to catch more debris.

A wide diameter wheel on either side of the unit turns the intake bristles when moving. Since they are human powered, they can venture to any part of the yard without cord limitations. Debris is funneled into a plastic or textile bag in the rear which can be removed for disposal. Some units even fold up for storage.

A pulling lawn sweeper functions a bit differently

Designed for heavier jobs, these bigger sweepers are pulled across a lawn using a garden lawnmower or tractor. The sweeper is attached to the tractor using a hitch pin.

Once connected, users can adjust the height and begin cleaning. Most are designed to stop picking up material when moving backward. Cutting widths range from 40 inches and up.

As with the push models, these lawn sweepers can pick up all sorts of materials including dead grass, fresh/dead leaves and even pebbles. They are the best choice for cleaning large areas with ease.

Hoover makes an interesting lawn sweeper which can be used on your sidewalks, patios and driveways.

It is a motorless hand-pushed machine which has two rotating brushed at the front. Rocks and other materials which have gathered on any hard surface are scooped up and stored in the debris chamber.

It is different from a conventional push lawn sweeper in that it is intended for use on flat surfaces and less for lawns. The Hoover unit glides across the ground on caster wheels.

Power Rake and Dethatcher

April 30, 2019 By YardSurfer 1 Comment

Powered rakes are often referred to as a dethatcher, which is simply a device that digs into the ground shallowly and removes dead grass, thatch and even soil.

A power rake takes the burden out of pulling this material out yourself, whether it be with a hand lawn rake or thatching tool. A hand pushed electric power rake / thatcher can be of great use.

These tools look much like a lawnmower except that they have bristles or tines instead of blades.

The cylinder of tines spins around rapidly once the button is pressed, making shallow cuts into the ground as it is pushed along.

The onboard electric motors never need gasoline or laborious care. Most have padded handles and can fold up between uses.

Install onto your Rotary Lawn Mower

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One of the more common ways to power rake a lawn is to install a special tool onto your rotary lawn mower. Consisting of a piece of metal that looks much like a lawnmower blade, these devices have a set of metal or nylon tines which spin around.

When the mower passes over the ground, the rake removes ground-in debris so that it can be blown or hand raked easily. The device temporarily replaces the blade on the mower.

Note: You will need a box-end and socket wrench to perform the switch.

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Large lawns are better power raked with a towable unit. Large power rakes attach to any garden tractor with a hitch.

Users pull the rake across the ground to perform dethatching. Full or partially pneumatic tires run across the ground smoothly while the tines dig into the lawn.

These tines are replaceable, as they tend to wear out over time.

These large power rakes are best suited for people with a substantial amount of grass to cover.

In fact they are rarely seen outside of commercial applications. Nonetheless, their sturdy powder coated metal casing and excellent coverage can make them a valuable asset to any homeowner’s tool collection.

Conclusion – Why Do We do power raking and thatching in our yard?

As the seasons change, grass dies and collects on the ground. It can form thick layers which do not allow oxygen and nutrients to pass through.

Highly trafficked areas are prone to having compacted ground from all the shoes pressing it down. This not only hinders grass growth but creates a haven for bugs and pests.

While not mainstream quite yet, powered rakes and dethatchers are quickly rising in the ranks. Powered rakes are often referred to as a dethatcher, which is simply a device that digs into the ground shallowly and removes dead grass, thatch and even soil. A power rake takes the burden out of pulling this material out yourself, whether it be with a hand rake or thatching tool. A hand pushed electric power rake / thatcher can be of great use. These tools look much like a lawnmower except that they have bristles or tines instead of blades.
The cylinder of tines spins around rapidly once the button is pressed, making shallow cuts into the ground as it is pushed along. The onboard electric motors never need gasoline or laborious care. Most have padded handles and can fold up between uses.
One of the more common ways to power rake a lawn is to install a special tool onto your rotary lawn mower. Consisting of a piece of metal that looks much like a lawnmower blade, these devices have a set of metal or nylon tines which spin around. When the mower passes over the ground, the rake removes ground-in debris so that it can be blown or hand raked easily. The device temporarily replaces the blade on the mower. You will need a box-end and socket wrench to perform the switch.
Large lawns are better power raked with a towable unit. Large power rakes attach to any garden tractor with a hitch. Users pull the rake across the ground to perform dethatching. Full or partially pneumatic tires run across the ground smoothly while the tines dig into the lawn. These tines are replaceable, as they tend to wear out over time. These large power rakes are best suited for people with a substantial amount of grass to cover. In fact they are rarely seen outside of commercial applications. Nonetheless, their sturdy powder coated metal casing and excellent coverage can make them a valuable asset to any homeowner’s tool collection.
Why do we rake and thatch our yard? As the seasons change, grass dies and collects on the ground. It can form thick layers which do not allow oxygen and nutrients to pass through. Highly trafficked areas are prone to having compacted ground from all the shoes pressing it down. This not only hinders grass growth but creates a haven for bugs and pests.While not mainstream quite yet, powered rakes and dethatchers are quickly rising in the ranks. Powered rakes are often referred to as a dethatcher, which is simply a device that digs into the ground shallowly and removes dead grass, thatch and even soil. A power rake takes the burden out of pulling this material out yourself, whether it be with a hand rake or thatching tool. A hand pushed electric power rake / thatcher can be of great use. These tools look much like a lawnmower except that they have bristles or tines instead of blades. The cylinder of tines spins around rapidly once the button is pressed, making shallow cuts into the ground as it is pushed along. The onboard electric motors never need gasoline or laborious care. Most have padded handles and can fold up between uses.One of the more common ways to power rake a lawn is to install a special tool onto your rotary lawn mower. Consisting of a piece of metal that looks much like a lawnmower blade, these devices have a set of metal or nylon tines which spin around. When the mower passes over the ground, the rake removes ground-in debris so that it can be blown or hand raked easily. The device temporarily replaces the blade on the mower. You will need a box-end and socket wrench to perform the switch.Large lawns are better power raked with a towable unit. Large power rakes attach to any garden tractor with a hitch. Users pull the rake across the ground to perform dethatching. Full or partially pneumatic tires run across the ground smoothly while the tines dig into the lawn. These tines are replaceable, as they tend to wear out over time. These large power rakes are best suited for people with a substantial amount of grass to cover. In fact they are rarely seen outside of commercial applications. Nonetheless, their sturdy powder coated metal casing and excellent coverage can make them a valuable asset to any homeowner’s tool collection.Why do we rake and thatch our yard? As the seasons change, grass dies and collects on the ground. It can form thick layers which do not allow oxygen and nutrients to pass through. Highly trafficked areas are prone to having compacted ground from all the shoes pressing it down. This not only hinders grass growth but creates a haven for bugs and pests.

Lawn Rake Types

March 21, 2010 By YardSurfer Leave a Comment

The lawn rake is an essential yard tool, picking up leaves and debris from lawns, dirt and rocks. Most people picture a lawn rake in its simplest form, but there are so many varieties of rakes on the market.

The basic lawn rake is made from a metal or plastic working end with a series of tines, and a long handle. The tines are designed to skim over surfaces while removing loose matter like leaves and dead grass.

Designs range from simple hand tools to electric lawn rakes. Let’s take a closer look at the many lawn rakes on the market today:

Clog-Free Lawn Rake

A clog-free rake looks quite similar to a standard one except for one difference. These rakes have special tines which prevent leaves from sticking to them.

The tines are sharper and wider at the openings, providing no place for leaves to stick. If you are tired of pulling leaves out of your rake between uses, then this type of rake is for you.

Other than the special tines, it operates just like a standard rake.

Adjustable Rake

A new twist on the classic yard rake, the adjustable rake allows user to fine-tune their raking experience. Different situations in the yard require different approaches.

You can adjust the tines on these rakes to different widths. For example, while raking in decorative gravel, you might want to set the tines to a thin width for delicate work. Raking in a grassy yard would require a larger tine width.

Adjustable rakes eliminate the need for owning a small and large rake. You can make the rake small and precise for working in gardens and flower beds, or larger to rake up lots of leaves in a large yard.

To adjust, simply pull or push the handle to retract the tines.

A locking handle keeps the rake in the same position while you work.

Leaf Rake

Leaf lawn rakes are designed with a specific purpose- to pick up leaves. You will notice that the tines are sharply angled at the end.

This is to form a scoop shape that gathers up leaves during each pull. Without this essential curvature, the rake would simply slide past the leaves, leaving them on the ground.

The tines are made from flexible steel or aluminum so that the rake will force itself into tiny grooves.

When pressure is applied against the ground, each tine finds the lowest point on the surface, grabbing leaves no matter where they reside.

Landscape Rake

The landscape lawn rake is designed for professionals and homeowners who demand the highest quality. Landscape rakes have a flat, razor-like working end that can be used on a variety of surfaces, including rock and green grass.

The tines are thin yet smooth to prevent gouging the ground.

Gouging can be a common issue with some types of rakes. A neck brace holds the working end in place and is usually bolted in. Landscape rakes help maintain yards with intricate decor and plants.

The flat surface make it great for leveling and smoothing rock.

Electric Lawn Rake

Perhaps the most elaborate lawn rake type on the market, electric lawn rakes are designed for the biggest jobs.

Electric lawn rakes are used similarly to a lawnmower, except that they pick up leaves and debris instead of cut grass. Special blades rotate to remove thatch and weeds to promote a healthy lawn.

They are more proactive than hand rakes, cutting into the lawn vertically to remove anything that isn’t grass.

The cutting action will generate thin lines across its path which will quickly grow back and are hardly noticeable.

Debris is collected in a rear bag which can be easily disposed of.

Power is provided by an electric cord.

Check out Aussie Green Thumb for more tips on buying a garden rake for your yard. Yard tools like the lawn rake, garden shears and lawnmowers are essential in yards of all sizes.

http://www.classic-lawns.co.uk/acatalog/scarifiers.html#aFLR340