This Fungus Can Take Over Your Yard If You Don't Rake Your Leaves

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Now that fall is on its way, our lawns are about to be blanketed in a thick layer of sunset-hued foliage. If you don't have a leaf rake, it's time to get one (or two). If you think you can avoid the inevitable fall chore because colorful leaves are actually beautiful and potentially worth leaving alone, you're not entirely wrong. However, leaving too many dead leaves on your lawn can create a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi—especially if you live in a place prone to a lot of rain. The leaves also could suffocate your grass and kill it by the time spring rolls around. You can't really get out of raking entirely.

Besides, raking leaves could become a weekly ritual that, at the very least, gets you outside for a few minutes. Ahead, we listed our top picks that will help you keep your lawn looking clean and tidy without killing your arms and back, so if you're in the market to get your front yard in tip-top shape, peep our list below. From a $10 find that's small enough to squeeze into tight spots to a beautiful larger one that's handmade in Holland (and codesigned by a famed European rose breeder).

With the official start of fall just a few weeks away, don't wait too long to nab one of the best leaf rakes. Once the leaves start to fall, they pile up pretty quickly. Not to mention, the closer we get to fall, the more expensive these finds can get—and the best ones can sell out entirely. Snag one now on the cheap while you still can!

Steel Tine Leaf Rake

With 22 steel tines that won't pull loose no matter how much they dig into the ground, this True Temper find is one of our top picks. What makes this leaf rake so good? The flexible coil spring, which makes dragging the leaves into a big pile feel effortless. One reviewer even said, "Appears well made and handle assembled with no problems. Have tried for several years to just find the rake head which wears out or deforms much quicker than the handles."

Length: 64.5 inches

Head Material: Steel

Number of Tines: 22

Sneeboer Leaf Rake

Technically, a leaf rake's attractiveness has no bearing on its performance, but the prettiest one is still the one we want to buy. The geniuses at Terrain and a noted English rose breeder collaborated on this lovely garden tool that's handmade in Holland. It comes in two sizes, both of which feature a one-inch diameter wooden handle, a stainless steel core, and brass rivets. The smaller rake is for tight spaces—between plantings and along borders—while the larger one will get rid of all the leaves on your lawn.

Length: 68 and 70 inches

Head Material: Stainless steel

Number of Tines: Seven and 20

Clog-Free 30-in Lawn and Leaf Rake

This Craftsman rake is a best-seller for a reason. You know how sometimes when you're raking the leaves don't seem to budge? That's usually because they're clogged in the delicate and thin tines. That won't happen with this rake because the "teeth," if you will, are specially designed to prevent sticking and clogging. You may not feel the need to customize your rakes the way you would a sofa or dining table, but if you want your rake to feel a bit more special, you can choose the handle material and head size.

Length: 48 inches

Head Material: N/A

Number of Tines: 48

Garden Rake

The more expensive a rake is, the longer we expect it to last. This one by Bulldog Tools is designed to get you and your yard through more than a few autumns. The head is made of forged steel and flexible rubber tines, and the handle is ash wood. Plus, it's free of phthalates, BPA, lead, and latex. Did we mention that it comes with a 25-year manufacturer warranty?

Length: 51 inches

Head Material: Steel

Number of Tines: 20

Leaf Rake for Gardening

If you don't have a massive lawn and therefore don't want to spend a ton of money on a rake, this is a good find. At under $30, it will get the job done, courtesy of its 25 tines. In terms of storage, this is much easier to tuck in a cabinet than most of the other options on our list. The handle comes apart into several different pieces, which you can toss in a storage bag until next year's leaves begin to fall. "I like that it's lightweight and the handle can be "collapsed" so it will be easy to store. Also collects fewer leaves, etc. that get "stuck" in tines compared to my larger rakes (that I'm now giving away!)," one reviewer says.

Length: 77 inches

Head Material: Metal

Number of Tines: 25

Fiberglass-Handle and Steel Garden Rake

This rake looks a little different than the others on our list, but it's just as good—maybe even better, depending on your lawn. It's called a bow rake, which can certainly be used to rid your yard of dead leaves, but it's designed for dealing with heavier natural materials, including sand, dirt, gravel, and compacted turf. This one is made with a cushioned grip and fiberglass handle.

Length: 54 inches

Head Material: Metal

Number of Tines: 14

Kids Garden Tool

If your kids have chores, you may want to consider assigning them the ones you don't love doing, like raking the yard. This adorable rake is perfectly child-sized and kind of looks like a toy. You can even turn the chore into a game to make it more fun. For instance, if you have more than one child, assign them different areas of the yard and tell them that whoever clears the most leaves in their specific zone first wins an extra treat after dinner.

Length: 28 inches

Head Material: Metal

Number of Tines: Nine

Wood & Poly Shrub Leaf Rake

If this leaf rake looks small, that's because it is! Its head is only eight inches wide, but that's because it's designed to clean up tight spaces, like beds and borders. The best part? There's no need for you to try to squeeze into said tight spaces because it comes with a 45-inch eucalyptus handle provides a long reach.

Length: 45 inches

Head Material: Plastic

Number of Tines: 15

Expandable Leaf Rake

We're surprised that all rakes aren't expandable and adjustable because, at the end of the day, everyone is a different height, so what works for one person may not work for another. This rake fixes that problem because it can expand from just seven and a half inches to a whopping 24 inches. One reviewer says, "I had a rake like this one before for many years, it finally broke, but this one is better constructed and the fact that the handle can be made different lengths is great. Fits easily in the car and the rake can be used in small areas."

Length: 7.5 to 24 inches

Head Material: Metal

Number of Tines: 15

Bow Rake

This leaf rake does more than simply organize your fallen leaves. It's finished with an antirust and anticorrosion coating, making the whole thing sturdy enough to loosen soil without collapsing or cracking. So if you have a garden (vegetable, flower, or something else), this is a good multifunctional find. We'll add one word of warning: It does require some assembly, which some reviewers say is a bit difficult. That said, the assembly consists of snapping parts of the handle in place, so we can't imagine it's that complex.

Length: 60 inches

Head Material: Metal

Number of Tines: 17

Garden Leaf Rake

Here's another Walensee find we couldn't leave off the list. This classic garden rake has 15 widely space tines to prevent clogging. The tines can also expand to 22 inches long, so no matter how thick the blanket of leaves on your lawn is, this rake will take care of it. One reviewer says, "This is a great rake to own. Works as advertised and easy to operate to get the correct width needed to get the job done. I would recommend this product to anyone who wants an easy way of raking."

Length: 32.68 inches

Head Material: Metal

Number of Tines: 15

What to Look for in a Leaf Rake

Rakes have a simple task to do, but that doesn't mean they all perform at the same level. Here's what to consider when buying a leaf rake to keep your lawn looking fresh.

Handle Material: This may seem like an insignificant element of your rake, but it matters just as much as anything else. Here's why: If you have a large yard that piles up with leaves and other debris, you'll be using your rake with more force than someone with a smaller yard will. In such cases, your rake can snap in half.

Number of Tines: Larger rakes have more tines (the "teeth" that trap all of the leaves) than smaller ones, which makes sense them ideal for larger yards or lots of leaves. A wider rake can cover more ground in a single pass. For a smaller yard with fewer leaves, a rake with 15 or so tines should be fine.

Adjustability: Rakes with metal tines are often attached to a coil spring that lets you adjust the length and width of your tines. If you have a massive blanket of leaves on your lawn, you'll want longer tines with lots of space between them. That way, the leaves won't get clogged or stuck.

Is a Plastic or Metal Leaf Rake Better?

One material isn't necessarily better than the other. We'd suggest making your choice based on the type of leaves you need to rake. Plastic rakes pick up wet leaves better, for instance, and metal rakes work better for dry, lightweight leaves. You might want one or two of each kind to cover your bases.

Why Trust Us?

We may not be professional landscapers, but when it comes to keeping your outdoor spaces looking immaculate throughout the fall, you can trust our product recommendations. Every rake on our list is a top performer (and highly affordable, might we add).

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