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Lawn leveling rakes can be quite expensive, but don’t let that stop you. Leveling your lawn is an optimal way to give your lawn a neat look.
When you cut grass on your lawn, you need to get rid of the dead grass with a leveling rake. Did you know that you could make your lawn leveling rake at home?
We are going to show you how to make a lawn leveling rake using readily available materials you can find at home.
What are the components of a lawn leveling rake?
Before finding out how to make a rake, we will discuss the individual parts you need. A typical rake has a comb or a head that measures 36 inches in width. Its teeth also lengthen downwards.
It also has a handle that is attached to the head. With this handle, you can easily extend the rake to pull leaves in a pile. However, a DIY leveling rake has some adjustments on the teeth. It needs to collect more grass every time you extend and pull it.
Related Article: How to Get Rid of A Lawn Full of Weeds
How can you make a leveling rake?
The following steps will show you how to make your leveling rake at home.
The materials you will need.
- 2-inch screw
- 1-inch screw
- 3-inch screw
- 13 wire gauge
- Wire cutters
- Tape measure
- A wood strip measuring 1x2x36 inch
- A rake handle
- A pencil
- Screw
Procedure
– Take the 1x2x36 inch lumber strips and put it on a workbench.
– Make sure that the 2-inch side is facing upwards on the wood strip.
– Take a tape measure and measure 18 inches from one end of the lumber.
– Find your pencil and mark the center of the lumber.
– Revolve the lumber in a way that its 1-inch side faces upwards
– Take a tape measure and measure the lumber length. With a pencil, mark it after every one inch. The marks should be in the middle and at an equal distance, starting from all the edges.
– Use a drill to pierce a hole on every 1-inch mark. The drill bit should be larger than the 13- gauge wire you will be using.
– You should also drill in the 1-inch side you had earlier marked and also through the other opposite 1-inch mark.
– Overturn the lumber so that the 2-inch area faces upwards and pierce a hole at the center. Make sure that the gap is somehow more extensive than the rake handle’s diameter.
– Take the wire cutter and cut the 13 gauge wire to 12 inches of length.
– You can then bend the wire into half so that it forms a U shape on one end. Pliers would be useful in doing this. The ends of the wire should also be an inch apart.
– Go back to the hole of the wood you drilled first and place in one wire end at the lumber. Put in the other end of the wire in the next hole.
– Move on the wires through the holes
– Use pliers to bend the wires at least an inch from the end so that they are at an angle of 45 degrees.
– Drag the loop of the wire so that it can snug the ends that have bent against the lumber.
– Take the 1-inch screws and secure the bent wires alongside the lumber.
– Force the screws in the wood. Do this in a way that their heads catch the wire and hold them to their place.
– Take the wire and cut an extra 12 inches, then put them through the holes.
– Bend the ends of the wire and use the screws to secure them. Make sure that all the lop teeth of the wire are installed against the length of the lumber
– Take the rake handle and insert them inside the hole at the middle part of the lumber
– Get the 2-inch screw and drive it through the rake handle and the lumber’s side so that it can hold it well.
– Hold the wire loop teeth and bend them backwards so that they are somewhat towards the handle of the rake. This is important to help the rake slide beneath the grass while raking.
– Once you bend the wire loop teeth, your lawn leveling rake will be ready for use.
What are other uses of a lawn leveling rake?
Besides leveling grass in your lawn, you can also use your leveling rake to perform other functions in your garden. Here are some of them.
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Removing weeds
When you want to kill weeds in your garden, the easiest way to get rid of them is through a rake. The leveling rake teeth can pull the weeds once you press them on the ground.
You need to be extra careful not to pull out desired plants while removing the pesky weeds.
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Gathering leaves
During colder seasons, especially during the fall, many leaves will descend on your yard. This can make your garden or lawn appear a little messy.
With the help of your handy dandy leveling rake, you will be able to gather these leaves quickly. Rakes gather a large pile of leaves within a short time, making it easy to dispose of them.
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Removing pondweed
Do you have a pond in your home? It’s normal to have weeds in them once in a while. You can use a lawn leveling rake to get rid of those weeds.
As you move the head of the rake through the water, it will gather plant materials found in the pond.
If you have a lawn, you must have a lawn leveling rake. It helps you have a smooth and even lawn that is free from depressions and bumps.
Such a surface is not only desired to walk on but it is preferable for athletic activities. With a leveling rake on hand, it becomes easier to maintain your lawn.
A lawn leveling rake helps the job be completed more quickly. If you cannot afford to buy a new lawn leveling rake, now you can consider making one by yourself.