Differences Between a Grader Blade and Landscape Rake-Blade

While motor grader blade is used for creating a flat surface or levelling during the grading process, the landscape rake is primarily used to spread and level ground coverings, usually over fairly large areas. Both the grader blades as well as landscape rake-blades can be rear-mounted using a three-point hitch or quick hitch. However, grader blade can also be front-mounted like in case of motor graders which have three axles, with the engine and cab situated above the rear axles at one end of the vehicle and a third axle at the front end of the vehicle, with the blade in between. Even the landscape rake-blades can be front-mounted.

Both the grader blade as well as landscape rake allow hydraulic tilting, angling, raising and lowering when fitted with kits. Depending on their size, both can be used for road maintenance and construction, landscaping, ground keeping, construction or sports field maintenance.

Chalking out the difference between grader blade and landscape rake

Here is a list of all the differences between the two blades...

1. Typically, grader blades are designed for precision scrapping and levelling and thus, they help in creating smooth and uniform surfaces. Sometimes, large grader blades can also be fitted with removable teeth for cutting of the soil. Overall, grader blade can be used for reconditioning driveways, cutting drains and for small areas of levelling. On the other hand, landscape rakes are designed to comb the upper surface of the soil i.e., reshaping and cleaning ground before seeding or rolling. Slightly springy steel tines of the landscape rakes pick up rocks or debris while they groom and distribute soil. For spreading gravel or compost evenly, landscape rakes are the most helpful. Most of the landscape blades have reversible cutting edges for longer life.

2. One of the other major differences between the landscape rake and grader blade is that the former is used to incorporate material into the soil as well as comb it out while the grader blade cuts the material and spread it over the surface and then smoothens it out into an even layer. Typically, the individual tines of the landscape rake separate the soil and allow the material such as compost to incorporate itself.

3. While the landscape rake work by conditioning the soil, grader blade make the surface plain. For removing roots, rocks and other debris that might be in the topsoil before grading, landscape rakes are used. Since landscape rakes can be set low so that its tines can cut soil, they can also separate and aerate it. In simple words, they perform the task of soil conditioning very well. Here it is to be noted that even grader blades cut the soil but they do it by peeling off the surface instead of combing it out. Graders blades generally flatten, reduce height and smoothen out the surface.

4. Both the blades can be used to make hills by angling the blade and building up the material. However, the grader blade is considered to be much more efficient at performing the hilling task because the finer particles cannot pass through it as they can go through the landscape rake tines.

5. Grader blades help in levelling the soil so as to get a uniform layer. Also, grader blades can build up material easily and carry it along to fill holes. On the other hand, landscape rakes can also do that to some extent but are not that useful in this task as soil always passes through them. Thus, instead of building up a layer of soil, they carry along debris like rocks or sticks. However, here the size and separation of the landscape rake’s tines also comes into play.

6. Sometimes, some rakes are fitted with a grading blade inside the tines to allow dual use.

7. While grader blades can be used for ditching, landscape rakes cannot do this task.

8. Landscape rakes are usually strong enough to move tougher materials such as stones and gravel. Even grader blades can work very well on the soft ground or loose gravel. However, if the ground is too hard or the gravel is quite compacted, the grader blade tends to skip over the top rather than cut in. In order to avoid this problem, generally grader blades come with the ripper attachment which can help in loosening up the ground or driveway for making the grading task easier.

9. While grader blades are usually used for road construction and maintenance tasks, landscape rakes can be used for spreading and composting, gathering leaves and other garden debris, removing pond weeds and spreading bark chippings and other mulch. Thus, the landscape rakes are usually good for use with a variety of ground coverings, however, individual rakes have different specifications.

In a nutshell

Both the grader blades and landscape rake-blades have their own uses, advantages and disadvantages. It is your need and requirement which will help you to identify which one to use. Making it simple for you, it is to be noted that for tasks like conditioning, levelling and removing rocks from soil before sowing seeds or laying sod, landscape rakes are used and they come with different specifications. On the other hand, for tasks majorly involving moving, cleaning debris and levelling any material, grader blades are used and they are also available in varying sizes.

So, should you opt for a grader blade or landscape rake-blade? Well, just look at your requirement, gather information about the two and then take the final call!