Houzz Pro: One simple solution for contractors and design pros. What do you use for raking pine needles? The decorative block wall detracts from the character of the house. This will be particularly suitable if you have pine drop onto a hard surface, maybe your decking or a patio area? The article is updated for accuracy monthly and was last updated in April, 2021. Although it is appealing to choose a handrake for pine needles as light as possible, lightweight metal handles are susceptible to bending if they are not treated with respect. You are here though because you have decided to use a rake to clear up your pine needles and you are in the right place. Needs to be much more robust because thats where the majority of the load is going. They are bombproof and ultra-stable. I would recommend one by TRG. Yes, its times are thick enough for pine needles lawn care even if its covered with thick grass. We are real people with years of experience in the field, so you can always reach out to us with any questions you may have. It's glued up instead of hanging with clips which would be so much easier to take down. 
So you have the perfect cool attic and are seeing no ice dams but mother nature and her snow making machine wont let up. 
For a larger area raking them straight onto a tarpaulin is a fabulous short-cut and then you can use that to move them directly to a better location, whether you are using them as a mulch or taking them off the property. It works fabulously!! For example, well encounter even adjustable models well fit for both leaves and needles. Ladders are a necessity for some tasks, but what you are proposing to do on one is highly likely to cause a fall sooner of later. Finding the clearing up difficult? I agree with the comments before. There are any number of Japanese Maple varieties that will thrive and colour beautifully as understory trees. Any similar one, though, will do. Sign up to our mailing list for tips and savings! Here are the questions I often hear, some of them just recently. Keep us posted. We get them at Home Depot. Take Care of the Garden, Best Garden Tiller: SOS for Confused Gardeners, Best Liquid Lawn Fertilizer: Top 10 Alternatives. Perfect for Cleaning Sun Porches. The 3 in 1 rake offers a great pick up solution it means that it takes longer to rake but collecting and picking pine needles up with this rake is easy and effective. There are real people behind our project and you can always reach out to us with any questions or suggestions you may have. Fits on most common telescoping poles with a 3/4 inch acme thread or purchase one of our popular Garelick or Mr. Long Arm telescoping poles. You do not need to cut trees down to plant more trees. This means that some of our posts contain affiliate links, so we may receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Buy the LARGEST glazed pot you can afford to fill with more annuals for the front steps in a beautiful contrasting colour. When to Apply Grub Control? I enjoy sharing the vast gardening experience Ive accumulated throughout the years with like-minded green thumbs. We have taken an objective look at the range of manual Pine needle rakes on the market and have arrived at our best rake for pine needles 2019 across a range of models. OUTDATED RANCHHelp, please. It only weighs 2.5lbs and was ergonomic to use with a good handle meaning you felt in control at all times. It is a fantastic tool for concrete, paving, decking, a driveway. If you are prepared to clear very regularly and havent learned how easy it is with a rake specifically for raking pine needles or have a LOT of pine trees there are alternatives to raking up pine needles. Actually, all the previous aspects matter for the ease of use, so just look for a rake that meets all of them. The upright stance that this creates made it a joy to work with. Our editor panel took a look at the wide range of Pine Needle Rakes on the market currently and narrowed down the selection to our top 5 rakes for pine needles. Rake works well on Florida screened in lanai, but the adjustment arm, where the wing nut sits is weak and bends too easily. The sliding mechanism is partly plastic, though, and it will take a couple more years to see how it endures. The best solution is to opt for a telescoping one. Has anyone tried a gutter guard that passes water but blocks pine needles from entering the gutter? I have everything to start my project except the mirrors, still looking for just the right ones. They need the same care as a metal handle wipe them down after use and store out of the elements, but with sensible storage and a modicum of care they will last for years. We strive to ship all orders out the same weekday if possible. If your pine tree is incorporated into landscaping on your property, and the needles drop onto beds, cultivated areas, areas of land with other shrubs or smaller trees, then access becomes an issue in this instance you would do well to consider an adjustable headed rake so that you can use it in smaller areas without damaging other plantings. For information on gutter guard type products, use the search function here on GardenWeb: there are extensive threads on this subject. Pine needles are difficult to shift and raking pine needles can be an absolute chore, for effective results, this calls for a rake that is designed specifically. Dogwoods are awesome too - just be selective about what you plant and where you plant in regards to these specimens. Sold below or at our sister sitetelescopingpole.com, Copyright 2022 Roofrake.com, Michigan | All Rights Reserved, If you feel that you've received this message in error, please. The extended handle made it much easier to reach. Meant for raking up leaves, its nevertheless good for handling pine needles. You want the job to be as painless as possible? Although a rake seems to be such an obvious thing, you should learn what features to consider before buying one for pine needles. This proved very popular in our tests with great rigidity it lifted with very little effort at all. If you have a large open space, and the needles are being dropped onto lawn then a larger head will suit your purpose perfectly and you can buy with confidence. Like the other rakes that we recommend this is strong enough to serve other purposes, from grass raking to raking soil this will give you an excellent result. Just like you, were fully aware of that. Perennials for texture and interest and groundcovers to slowly fill in and decrease maintenance.
SOLD OUT - 7 Pound Shaker Jug of Calcium Chloride, Gutter Cleaning Tool - Currently Unavailable. Strong and lightweight at the same time, its a great tool for those who do a lot of raking. Your choice will need to take into account the area you are looking to rake, the ground that the needles are on, and any personal fitness limitations that you have which can be compensated for by choosing the correct pine needle rake. It even worked on the roof of the car port without causing any damage at all. This rake is durable, strong and very well made, if you have a large area this is definitely a great rake for you. Professional EZ Travel Collection Adjustable Telescopic Folding Rake. Not a pine straw specific rake, but we found that this did an excellent job on the needles and worked better on the leaves and other garden debris than some. Each offers you something a little different to enable you to buy the best pine needle rake for your property and requirement. Take our Roof Rake Tour to discover how easy it can be!
And here comes another brand from the Amazon/Walmart ecosystem. Instead of pea gravel we used 3/8 minus gravel with sand in it. We use roof rakes all the time to clear snow. Still, there are quite various rakes that deserve a closer look at each.
We have also pine needles in our backyard, but we went with a gravel path. Many handles featured a grip area, rubberized or another material in general, we found these to be a boon adding comfort as well as control using the rake. Give some thought to ease of use of the tool, and make sure that you are comfortable to use it. You will love the result, no need to go over and over the same piece of ground. It was light, the handle was comfortable, all in all a great result with very little effort. The head extends between 7.5 to 24 inches, so there is a range there for you to choose from. You can fan the head to a superb 7.1 inches all the way out to 21.75 inches wide. As an Amazon Associate we earn from commission of qualifying purchases. It's not just about ladders. Once you have raked your needles into a pile you can pick them up using hand-grabs and transfer them into a wheeled barrow. It took a little getting-used-to, which is why it is lower down the list, but after a little time our testers found it fabulous, its perfect for anyone with mobility or back issues as it means that you dont have to bend. I am amazed at the number of people who have their leaves/ needles cleaned out of their beds only to spend more money having pine straw and bark mulch brought in and applied to their beds. But I still think that what the OP is proposing to do is inherently dangerous regardless of how stable the ladder is. But after a heavy storm, you can see lots of them down on the ground, and they are so easy to spread around. We can help! Drop a comment, and we will not rake it up. The one we review here quite fits the name, being both telescopic and expandable it is a great option to rake pine needles with it. For some areas that may mean starting at the base of the trunk and working out from the tree in slices or you may have a boundary that you can start at as a marker. Finally, a rubberized grip area will make the process much more convenient. If access to the needless is an issue, a straight or adjustable head will save your day. Your magnolia, dogwoods (love those!!) We still have to finish the path, thats why there is not enough gravel in the second picture. Other designs dont offer any notable benefits. This is why the adjustable pine needle rakes came out so high for raking pine needles you can literally make them fit to protect yourself from any muscle pain or backache at the end of the day.
Our shorter testers really liked this one, often handles come on a one-size-fits-all basis, the adjustment available, once you got the hang of it, meant that the handle could be adjusted to make it comfortable for anyone to use. If you are the type to enjoy coniferous trees in your garden, you know that sometimes they cause issues when cleaning time. The roof rake was very sturdy and able to grab small twigs and debris. The second is less exposed to rusting, but with proper care, you dont need to bother. Let it spread and grow! I agree to get the best, most stable ladder one can. The comb, flexrake and titan adjustable pine needle rakes were really great to use, but for a large open area then a fixed large head was easier. A garden vacuum will create the same effect and can be used to clear the needles, this covers a smaller area so can be time-consuming, but, if you want a mechanized approach those choices are there for you.
Have fun ans good luck in your new home! Not meant to move stones or other heavy stuff, this one with an expandable head is great for small areas. I am very pleased with my roof rake. The handle length really affects the comfort of the user after a very short period of time. Online of course! Its a great tool to prepare your camping place and clean it from leaves and needles. It covers the whole wall above the two sinks. The tines on this rake are really effective for pine needle removal, but it proved to be equally at home with grass, leaves, in fact, any other garden chores that involved a rake, meaning that you can use this again and again. I'm going to tackle the main bathroom. Can't wait to get started!!!! The Leaf Roof Rake is not just another tool. EZ Travel Collection is rather a well-known brand of various outdoor tools and accessories, including rakes. The Leaf Roof Rake is great for the roof tops of sun rooms, conservatory's, solar rooms, screened in lanai's and porches that are made of glass, plastic, medal, screen, asphalt, fiberglass and tile. As someone who lives (and gardens!) The height and grip comfort of the handle are the two most important things for you to consider when purchasing your pine straw rake. The handle is 55 inches long and made from fiberglass which will give you years of service. All rights reserved. Nearly all orders sent out day they are received. You may even get a special rake for that. Whats not so great is that the manufacturer overtries to make it as lightweight as possible. I would like to add a few of my own: Looking at the front elevation it is interesting to see how the vertical Tudor style timbers are echoed by the trunks of the pines - I would absolutely keep those trees. For diverse areas, an adjustable rake would be perfect. I am hoping to find this for under $40. Professional EZ Travel Collection Adjustable 1. I take the leaf blower up on the roof and blow the needles off and then rake them up off the ground. What sort of area are you looking to work in? The best for larger areas. If this is a plant of interest to you also consider the Fullmoon Japanese Maples. Lightweight models will attract you first, but you should know that they require gentle use. Exceeded my expectations in terms of results and overall ease of use. Affiliate links and images placed from the Amazon Product Advertising API on 2022-07-29. The adjustable rakes were excellent here because the line spacing could be adjusted to suit the area being cleared. It does what it says it will do. @davidr Using that method I would need to empty a shop vac about 50 times to clean the roof. Paint on exterior brick can easily become a maintenance nightmareI've seen many, many painted brick homes that immediately started peeling. The criteria that they were judged on combined ease of use alongside result achieved and these 5 pine needle rakes were our clear winners. Its soft nylon construction will not damage your shingles and can also be used for other tasks such as removing vines from screen porches, raking and cleaning a pool. Add in a tarpaulin and trailer or wheelbarrow and you dont get the same level of clarity that you achieve with a rake, but then it doesnt take as much time either. Snow storms mayadd extra time. Not meant for stones and other heavy stuff. Looking for the best rake for pine needles on the market? Made in America! 2022 BumperCrop Times. As for me, I dont consider cleaning the ground as necessary. Dont want to rake very often? Its unique lightweight design will help you remove leaves, pine needles, and other debris from your roof while standing safely on the ground. This model is not collapsible: just a heavy narrow rake with rounded tines that does not get you bending while raking. This winter scenario could be even worse and it takes me back years to speaking with a client in Washington state. We are always happy to hear your feedback! When it comes to raking up needles, the rake has to be head-collapsed as well. What do you think about them? Do they just have to be thicker? Generally speaking for all around garden use metal tines, or plastic covered metal tines, offer the best result. Pine needles are not a problem, simply rake them into the beds/groundcovers as a mulch or allow to compost. A leaf blower will shift them if they havent been left long enough to really bed down. A pine needle rake is fundamentally an extra wide grass rake. Rake Head Size large open grassy areas require a rake with a larger head. Some say they make the soil more acidic, though its proven to be a misconception. I need to be able to reach from the top of a ladder about 25 feet to the top of a roof. And if you take a slightly Oriental perspective, its even beautiful. What you need to remove pine needles from a lawn is a thick and stiff rake. Bumper Crop Times is a blog for gardening and home maintenance enthusiasts of all skill levels. And yours already looks great with classic black shutters. For a completely different experience we tried out a rubber rake and loved it. If you apply too much force, you can bend the handle severely. Its the most obvious solution, but there are others as well. Always rake towards yourself. westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked klem1, westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked kudzu9, westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked daisychain Zn3b, westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked gracie01 zone5 SW of Chicago, westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked millworkman, westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked ci_lantro, westes Zone 9b California SF Bay thanked Diane D, Save resources with a cooling or sustainable roof or add-on that looks great and fits your price range, Before you pluck and rake, consider wildlife, the health of your plants and your own right to relax, Follow these steps to care for your gutters so they can continue to protect your house, Before you go making a mountain out of a mulch hill, learn the facts about what your plants and soil really want, Answer these 7 questions to find the right gravel size, color and texture for your needs and landscape style, Find out why you should be mulching your garden beds and what material is right for your site, Prep your house and yard for cold weather with this list of things to do in an hour or over a weekend, Keep your home safe and comfortable in winter by choosing the right home features and systems, End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain, Trees add beauty while benefiting the environment. Gardenite 63 Inch Adjustable Garden Leaf Rake, 3. The handle can be wooden or metal, and the tines will be plastic or flexible metal. klem beat me to it. Treated well and used correctly this will not be an issue with any of the rakes in our guide above. Hello Alejandra, There are some interesting ideas already here for you to consider. I will be purchasing the brush so it will get the pine needles off better. I really dislike the builder grade mirror that's up. You know it prevents forest fires Speaking seriously, needles are not much of a calamity when they fall down in a regular way. broad strokes advice required - please help! Of course, for this sort of job you need its head collapsed from the regular 22 inches down to 7 inches. The one we see now is a shovel-shaped rake that obviously has the best of both worlds. In addition, it requires little space, and its handle is zinc-coated. The last two we bought were on sale for $15 each. In time the moisture can soften the roofing materials and weaken the valley's and joints. Look at a small variety of perennials and groundcovers to start filling in beneath the trees. Tines pine needles require tines that are close to each other and strong enough to lift the needles from the grass. But, as you see, not all of those reviewed fit this definition. Having two specialized tools at home is affordable, at least more affordable than frequently replacing the one versatile. The creativity it applies to its products is surprising. This is why the adjustable handled models scored so well on our tests, for shorter (or indeed taller) people it was a pleasure to be able to make the handle suit the job in hand and save the back pain. Its considered that a 3-point pine needle rake is the best tool. Well maintained, mature trees add value to any home, their presence adds a sense of separation for the house from the street while at the same time adding to the streetscape/ appearance of your neighborhood. The head offers 6-inch long sprung times on a fixed 21 inch head. Spend the money you saved by not painting on a professional to deal with the lawn and pruning. This gives bags of scope if you have to clear constrained areas between other plants or shrubs, but a lovely widespread on grassland or open ground. Plastic and fiberglass handles are not as common, and for good reason, they are more inclined to break or shatter and do not offer the durability of the stronger materials. Here we provide a review of our top-rated pine needle rakes. Not that there is diversity comparable to consumer things like clothes or mobile phones. A leaf blower is probably a better idea. BumperCropTimes is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Standing on a ladder with a rake on the end of a 25 foot handle would be unwieldy and more dangerous than walking on the roof. Handle it can be made of aluminum, hardwood, or even steel. I have a metal roof and the valleys are hard to reach. When you have them piled, you can use the rake as a shovel to move them, and (as I saw) very few will slip through. I can already see stress marks in that area after one use and anticipate itll fail/break after another couple uses. The shop-vac, hose, and a crevice tool are also the least messy method I've found for cleaning gutters. Make sure that you dont work too large an area, once you have a line of material that is reaching a hard to manage size then draw it into a pile and start again. Your email address will not be published. It will be a bright welcome to your home and impressive at the front door. Luckily, when it comes to light jobs (like cleaning paved paths), it doesnt take enough effort to break it. They get injured on your job and then sue you for their damages. This rake by TRG is quite a different sort. A lot of design thought is now put into the ergonomics of the handle and grip by companies and this translates directly into easier use, and less strain for the worker. Best Rake for Acorns for Your Tip-Top Yard, Best Hedge Trimmer: Reviews of Top-7 Models. I agree you are proposing to do something dangerous. This product is EXCELLENT.. It was an all round top pick and absolutely great on embedded pine straw. We finally found the Roof Rake website and ordered. If you suffer from back pain, a 3-in-1 rake model will help to take the strain off. Great if you have a mixed park to clean up. I would remove/relocate the block and replace with stone as budget allows. On the High Street, your local gardening store will have a small selection for you to try out and handle so that you can get the feel of the pine needle to rake yourself. The pine needle matting that has dropped from your pine tree and is driving you mad is perfect as a mulch, particularly for shrubs like Azaleas who thrive on its addition. This really does extend easily, and feel secure whatever height suits your working. If you have any mobility or back issues then the 3 in 1 is perfect, it will be a slower job for you but you will get it done with less effort. Half of them claim to have workers compensation insurance and they do not. If you are not agile enough to walk on the roof,hire someone. But, due to their size, you will need the best rake for pine needles to do the job. For pine needles, you need to have tines close enough together that the needles do not pass through, but strong enough to lift them where they are embedded leaving the grass behind. and lawn will do much better now and your house looks nicer from the street without it. If you need any more convincing, here are a couple of facts from the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors: @kudzu9 I agree that ladders are risky. Either put them to good use elsewhere on your property or removing them altogether. Fiberglass handle, lightweight and not cold; The handle needs to be handled with care. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. With it, theres no question how to pick up pine needles when piled, no need to switch tools while working, and thats great. Selecting one, you should care about thick tines and comfort rather than durability. The narrower ones will work fine, but extra width makes raking pine straw quicker because you can rake a larger area. Pine straw is a valuable commodity really! Scalability also lets you do the raking in places hard to access. This way you dont ever have to rake the same ground twice. The answer is no,regardless of ladder involved,I do not recommend standing on it with a 25' rake. Anyone that has used a paint roller with 10 feet of handle will likely agree that a 25 foot rake isn't workable. Can anyone recommend a roof rake for pine needs that has a telescoping handle? We were looking everywhere for something to get the pine needles off of our screened porch to no avail. Last but not least: its great for cleaning paved or asphalted paths, but feel way harder on raw ground. So, as you see, it takes a thick rake to rake pine needles, and an expandable one is quite an option. Going to hang two mirrors up in its place, repaint and redecorate. Due to its construction, it can be used for sorts of work like raking up raw ground or moving stones just what Gardenite rake isnt meant for. I've been on ladders, I've had a couple of close calls on ladders, and I know two people who died from ladder falls (one was on an 8' ladder). This leaf rake, its designed to do the fine sort of job. And you needed to be willing to walk around on a wet roof, which is something I did 20 years ago, but would not consider now. The absolute joy with this rake though is that it is completely adjustable size-wise. But what matters the most is the height and grip comfort. What can I do to have a better curb appeal? They are strong, retain their shape and yet have enough spring to cover uneven ground effectively. Toss some cheap plastic tarps over shrubbery so you don't have pine needles stuck in the yew bushes. It works in wet and dry, and gives a great result without damaging your underlying surface. Root Assassin is suddenly a brand that exists outside major marketplaces and feels good. What would you do?? As with all things, its important to let the tool do the work and not try to use brute force! If you do not paint the door the large pots, and the plants within them, can add a colour pop to the scene. The 24-inch head with flat tines works well on pine needles although if you dont have too many you may find that not extending it to the full range so that the distance between the tines is slightly smaller will serve you better.
This can be used on wet and dry, hard or concrete surfaces, painted surfaces and gives good pick up for pine needles. Whats the Best for Your Lawn? Using the right equipment can make all the difference between being happy getting your hands dirty and wishing youd never started.