Garden Tools

A rake looks like the simplest tool in the shed. A long handle and a fan of tines. What could go wrong? Plenty, as it turns out. A flimsy rake bends the first time you hit a wet pile of leaves. A cheap rake snaps the handle at the ferrule halfway through the season. A heavy rake makes your arms ache before you finish the front yard. We tested seven rakes across four categories, leaf rakes for clearing debris, bow rakes for soil work and gravel, thatching rakes for dethatching lawns, and lawn rakes for fine debris. We raked leaves, spread mulch, thatched patches of overgrown grass, and leveled soil beds. Here is what we found. ...

Every serious gardener reaches a point where carrying things by hand stops being practical. Mulch bags, potting soil, pavers, harvest bins, firewood — the weight adds up fast, and your back pays the price. A good wheelbarrow or utility cart turns a three-trip job into a one-trip job, and it keeps doing that for decades if you buy the right one. But wheelbarrows have gotten more specialized. Traditional metal tray barrows for heavy construction loads. Garden-friendly carts with pneumatic tires and deep tubs. Collapsible fabric carts for light hauling. And a new generation of heavy-duty utility wagons with 4-wheel steering that handles like a shopping cart. We tested 6 of the best wheelbarrows and utility carts for garden use — evaluating capacity, wheel type, frame material, dump angle, and how easy they are to move when fully loaded. ...