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Rakes are typically considered tools for cleaning up autumn leaves, but for those who have conifer trees, rakes for pine needles are just as important. Since a gardening rake or leaf rake’s tines are generally too wide to capture fine pine needles, the job typically calls for a specially designed tool. Rakes appropriate for pine trees often have tines made of durable metal or high-grade plastic that are close enough to grab the trees’ fine fallen needles.
Many pine needle rakes also have double rows of tines capable of collecting leaves, acorns, and other yard debris as you work. This dual-tine design is part of why our tester likes the True Temper 26-inch poly leaf rake best. In addition to working effectively, it also resists clogging and is comfortable to use. Read on to see our other top picks and learn more about the characteristics of the best rakes for pine needles so you can choose an ideal tool for your spring and fall cleanup needs.
- BEST OVERALL: True Temper 26-Inch Dual-Tine Poly Leaf Rake
↓ Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Suncast 26-Inch Double Row Leaf Rake Combo
↓ Jump to Review - UPGRADE PICK: The Groundskeeper II Professional Landscape Rake
↓ Jump to Review - BEST LIGHTWEIGHT: Root Assassin Poly Rake, Shovel, and Skim Multi-Tool
↓ Jump to Review - BEST DURABLE: Bully Tools Lawn/Leaf Rake With Fiberglass Handle
↓ Jump to Review - BEST EASY-TO-USE: Amazing Rake 3-in-1 Ergonomic Pickup Rake
↓ Jump to Review - BEST TOW-BEHIND: Field Tuff 60-Inch Tow-Behind Pine Straw Rake
↓ Jump to Review - BEST HEAVY-DUTY: Razor-Back 51-Inch 24-Tine Steel Rake
↓ Jump to Review - BEST ADJUSTABLE: Bond 2060 Adjustable Steel Rake
↓ Jump to Review
Our Top Picks
The rakes below are made with sturdy materials and feature designs ideal for picking up pine needles. We’ve also included models that eliminate the need to bend over to rake or gather pine needles, placing less strain on the back.
Best Overall
True Temper 26-Inch Dual-Tine Poly Leaf Rake
Product Specs
- Head width: 26 inches
- Handle length: 60 inches
- Material: Plastic tines, steel handle
What We Like
- Alternating straight and curved tines resist clogging
- Works well on all types of yard waste
- Ergonomic design causes less hand and shoulder strain
What We Don’t Like
- Plastic tines aren’t as flexible as steel ones
When a rake has an ergonomic design that’s comfortable to use, resists clogging, and works on both leaf and pine needles, we pay attention. That’s why the True Temper poly rake is our top pick for both leaf rakes and pine needle rakes. Its lightweight construction doesn’t sacrifice strength or efficiency, and its 26-inch-wide head is ideal for almost any yard. While we can’t promise its dual-tine design will make you love raking, we do think this pick will make you hate it a little less.
What our tester says: Mark Wolfe, Bob Vila staff writer and product tester, notes in the Best Leaf Rakes that “I found that the dual tines really did collect more debris faster, including hard-to-reach pine needles, acorns, and grass thatch, eliminating the need for me to double rake.”
Get the True Temper rake for pine needles at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or Tractor Supply Co.
Best Bang for the Buck
Suncast 26-Inch Double-Row Leaf Rake Combo
Product Specs
- Head width: 26 inches plus 8-inch hand rake
- Handle length: 40 inches
- Material: Plastic tines, steel handle
What We Like
- Double row of rake tines
- Included small hand rake attaches to the head
- Great for general use and tight spaces
What We Don’t Like
- Plastic tines aren’t as durable as metal ones
This rake’s versatility and reasonable price make it a great value for those looking to collect both leaves and pine needles with a single gardening tool. The Suncast features a double layer of tines, giving it the ability to rake up smaller materials like pine needles as well as larger leaves.
Though this rake’s plastic head may not have the durability of steel, the polyethylene plastic construction gives the tines the flex they need to move along the contours of the ground. Also, its steel-core-shaft handle provides the strength necessary to endure collecting heavier loads of needles. This pine-and-leaf-rake combo also comes with an 8-inch hand rake that conveniently piggybacks onto the larger rake for removing leaves and pine needles around plantings.
Get the Suncast rake for pine needles at The Home Depot or Blain’s Farm & Fleet.
Upgrade Pick
The Groundskeeper II Professional Landscape Rake
Product Specs
- Head width: 21 inches
- Handle length: 55 inches
- Material: Steel tines, fiberglass handle
What We Like
- Spring-loaded steel tines
- Fiberglass handle
- Can also be used as a manual dethatcher
What We Don’t Like
- Some users report issues with the handle
The Groundskeeper II isn’t inexpensive, but given its durable design and ability to perform as a landscape rake for a variety of needs, it’s worth the extra cost. The head consists of 28 curved spring-loaded steel tines capable of snagging smaller materials, including fine pine needles. It’s also easier to use than other rakes, thanks to a 55-inch fiberglass handle that’s both long and light enough to use without placing undue strain on the back.
What our tester says: An award winner from our leaf rake tests, the Groundskeeper II wholly surprised Master Naturalist and Bob Vila staff writer Mark Wolfe. “The Groundskeeper II felt entirely different from the other standard rakes that I tested due to its downward-curved tines. It was so lightweight that its aggressiveness was sort of a surprise. The tines poked right through the grass to the soil surface. For longer leaf-raking strokes, I had to use a very light touch. But for dethatching, just a little downward pressure was all it took.”
Get the Groundskeeper rake for pine needles at Amazon or The Home Depot.
Best Lightweight
Root Assassin Poly Rake, Shovel, and Skim Multi-Tool
Product Specs
- Head width: 15 inches
- Handle length: 50 inches
- Material: Poly tines, aluminum handle
What We Like
- Very lightweight construction
- Shovel shape is ideal for scooping pine needles
- Has the performance of a heavy-duty rake
What We Don’t Like
- Multiuse functionality increases the price
Root Assassin’s multi-tool rake manages to be plenty durable while also ranking as one of the lightest pine needle rakes on the market. These features mean it’s great for yard-related tasks and also make it a contender for the best roof rake for pine needles or light snow. At a featherlight 1.75 pounds, the high-quality plastic head and lightweight aluminum handle shouldn’t warp or break, even during extended use.
But the features we love about the Root Assassin don’t end there. We also appreciate its pointed tines, ideal for collecting pine needles, and its curved shape, which allows you to scoop up the needles without having to bend over. Like other shovel-shaped rakes, the Root Assassin is also ideal for collecting fallen fruit, cleaning kids’ sandboxes, and even raking loose hay.
Get the Root Assassin rake for pine needles at Amazon, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Best Durable
Bully Tools Lawn/Leaf Rake With Fiberglass Handle
Product Specs
- Head width: 30 inches
- Handle length: 53 inches
- Material: Poly tines, fiberglass handle
What We Like
- Solid polyresin head and strong fiberglass handle
- Wide head for speedy yard cleaning
- Rubber grip adds comfort
What We Don’t Like
- At over 3 pounds, it’s on the heavy side for a rake
Constructed from high-grade lightweight polypropylene, the curved head and angled teeth on the 30-inch-wide Bully Tools rake are strong and effective at cleaning up all types of yard waste, including pine needles. Not only that, its rugged fiberglass handle with rubber grip resists bending but feels comfortable even during the longest raking sessions. While this model comes disassembled, all you need to do is screw the handle into the head, and you’ll be ready to roll.
What our tester says: According to his review in our tested guide, Mark Wolfe, Bob Vila staff writer and product tester, appreciates the design of this rake. “The tines feature curved tips that can even pull up saturated, matted debris. The deeply concave head and strongly curved working edge make this rake most practical when heavy-duty efforts are necessary.”
Get the Bully Tools rake for pine needles at Amazon, Lowe’s, Tractor Supply Co., or Bully Tools.
Best Easy-To-Use
Amazing Rake 3-in-1 Ergonomic Pickup Rake
Product Specs
- Head width: 17.25 inches
- Handle length: 58 inches
- Material: Poly tines, steel handle
What We Like
- Ergonomic design minimizes bending and stooping
- Rakes, scoops, and picks up yard waste
- Weighs less than 3 pounds
What We Don’t Like
- Not as durable as a metal garden rake
The Amazing Rake ergonomic pickup rake stands out from the crowd with a back-saving design that eliminates the need to bend over. Its scoop-shaped head features a series of firm yet flexible tines for raking up leaves, pine needles, and other yard waste. Once you’ve made a pile, simply move the cuff on the handle upward to close the rake’s jaws around it, pick it up, and put it into a receptacle.
With its plastic construction, the Amazing Rake weighs less than 3 pounds, so it is easier to wield than other rakes. Since it’s a three-in-one unit, it’s also more versatile than other options—you can even use it to scoop dog poop or spread mulch.
Get the Amazing Rake for pine needles at Amazon or The Home Depot.
Best Tow-Behind
Field Tuff 60-Inch Tow-Behind Pine Straw Rake
Product Specs
- Head width: 61.25 inches
- Handle length: N/A
- Material: Steel tines, steel body
What We Like
- 5-foot swath covers lots of area quickly
- Attaches to most riding lawn mower hitches
- Spring-loaded tines
What We Don’t Like
- Higher priced than manual options
Though acreage owners and landscapers can certainly manually gather pine needles from large properties, this tow-behind rake from Field Tuff is a more efficient solution. Its 5-foot-wide head attaches to the back of a riding lawn mower via a category 1 three-point hitch (the most common hitch on a lawn tractor or ATV), making quick work of picking up pine straw, dead grass, and leaves.
All 26 tines on the Field Tuff tow-behind rake are spring-loaded, enabling them to move over uneven terrain while still maintaining level contact with the ground. True to its name, the entirety of this durable pine straw rake for a lawn mower is heavy-duty, powder-coated steel. If you’re looking for a rake for a tractor, this massive option will make spring and fall cleanups much easier.
Get the Field Tuff rake for pine needles at Amazon, The Home Depot, Walmart, or Target.
Also Consider
Razor-Back 51-Inch 24-Tine Steel Rake
Product Specs
- Head width: 24 inches
- Handle length: 51 inches
- Material: Steel tines, fiberglass handle
What We Like
- Durable and springy steel tines
- Lightweight yet sturdy fiberglass handle
- Cushioned grip
What We Don’t Like
- Tine spacing might lead to missed finer pine needles
The aptly named Razor-Back rake checks all the boxes as a top option for a pine needle rake. It features sturdy steel tines that are closely set, making them suitable for collecting all but the finest of pine needles. A flexible steel coil located in the middle of the head provides the spring action needed to allow the rake to run across uneven terrain. It’s also lightweight at under 3 pounds but still strong enough to pull heavier loads of needles.
What our tester says: Mark Wolfe, Bob Vila product tester and staff writer, performed a full hands-on test and review of this rake, preferring it for all-purpose landscaping over all the others. Mark notes that “It was light enough to rake leaves for hours at a time, but we also used it to rake gravel and garden soil with excellent results. The steel tines had the perfect balance of rigidity and springiness to clean up the lawn without damaging the grass.”
Get the Razor-Back rake for pine needles at Tractor Supply Co. or The Home Depot.
Best Adjustable
Bond 2060 Adjustable Steel Rake
Product Specs
- Head width: Adjustable from 7 inches to 22 inches
- Handle length: Not specified
- Material: Steel tines, steel handle
What We Like
- Lightweight and space saving
- Easy to adjust from 7 inches to 22 inches
- Especially good at getting needles out of gravel
What We Don’t Like
- Narrow handle can get uncomfortable to hold
- Not strong enough for heavy-duty work
This all-steel rake is not only adjustable to accommodate different tasks and spaces of varying sizes, but it’s also super lightweight and easy to collapse for storage once the work is done. For a large yard or more heavy-duty projects, however, this thin-handled steel rake won’t be the most durable or comfortable to use. Still, it excels at getting pine needles off gravel and leaves out of mulch. For the price, we think it offers excellent value for the money.
What our tester says: Calling this rake a “revelation” after testing it alongside nine other rakes, Bob Vila staff writer Mark Wolfe was surprised at how well this adjustable rake works. “The tine spread was easy to adjust, and the rake was easy to store. Overall, the Bond 2060 adjustable steel rake was surprisingly effective at taking on many of the same tasks that a spring-tine rake is used for.”
Get the Bond rake for pine needles at Amazon.
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Chose the Best Rakes for Pine Needles
A pine needle rake is a specialized tool designed to do a job most types of rakes can’t. Keeping that in mind, we paid careful attention to the design of the rake head and tines to select models specially suited for the job of picking fine pine needles off the ground.
Because raking pine needles places more tension on the rake than leaf collection, durability was also a crucial factor. We chose rakes with metal or high-grade plastic construction and sturdy fiberglass, wood, or metal handles that resist bending or warping.
Finally, we also included designs that help to save the user’s back by allowing them to scoop up collected pine needles without straining their back.
What to Consider When Choosing a Rake for Pine Needles
The shape and number of times, as well as the design of the rake head and handle, are crucial considerations when shopping for a good rake for pine needles. Ahead, learn more about these and other important attributes of pine needle rakes.
Tines
The tines on a good pine needle rake should be strong yet flexible enough to conform to the contours of the ground so they won’t float over pine needles while raking. The best pine needle rake should also have curved and pointed tines to better bite into the ground to pull up pine needles.
In addition to those factors, the best rakes will also have durable steel tines that can collect large amounts of pine needles in a single swipe, even if the needles are wet or damp. Some pine needle rakes have high-quality plastic tines that may not be as durable as steel tines but will get the job done.
Rake Head
Most pine needle rake heads are between 22 and 24 inches wide, though you may need a smaller or larger option depending on your yard and landscaping. Proper rake head width ensures your rake will collect enough material with each pass to be efficient while not being so large that it’s awkward or difficult to use. Some rake heads are adjustable-width, allowing you to narrow the tines by pulling a cuff up or down the handle to prevent pine needles from slipping through.
Handle
The length, material, and grip on a rake handle determine the durability and comfort of the rake. Rake handles generally measure between 4 feet and 5 feet long, not including the rake head. A rake with a longer handle reduces the need to bend over while raking, putting less strain on your back.
Some rakes use fiberglass instead of wood, which lightens the overall weight of the rake. Cushioned grips on the handles are also a common feature, making the rake more comfortable to use over long periods while helping to prevent blisters from forming on your hands.
Ease of Use
Many pine needle rakes feature designs that make them easier to use. Some rakes have heads that allow you to scoop up piles of pine needles after collecting them, which takes pressure off your back by eliminating the need to crouch down to collect the yard waste. Easy-to-use rakes may also have curved heads that function as scoops. These models have mechanisms that close their heads around yard waste so you can easily pick it up and dispose of it in a waste can.
FAQs
If you’re wondering whether you can use leaf vacuums or standard garden rakes to pick up pine needles or how well a standard rake works to collect pine needles, read on for answers.
A standard rake’s tines are typically wide set with a broad, flat shape. Although this is ideal for picking up dead leaves, this layout isn’t well suited for picking up pine needles, as they will slip between the larger gaps in the tines.
Some leaf vacuums produce enough suction to lift up pine needles; however, they probably won’t be effective if the pine needles are damp from rainfall. This makes them ineffective for picking up thicker layers of pine needles. If you’re looking to avoid picking up piles of pine needles, you might want to try one of the scoop rakes we recommend above or one of the best lawn sweepers.
The fastest way to rake pine needles is to use a proper pine needle rake to gather them into small piles. Raking pine needles into small piles is generally considered faster, easier, and more efficient than dragging them over long distances into one large pile.
If allowed to collect and form a thick layer, pine needles can kill grass. This is because a thick layer of needles will deprive the lawn of water, sunlight, oxygen, and nutrients the grass needs to grow and thrive.
According to the U.S. Forest Service, it takes over a year for approximately 10 percent of pine needles to decompose.
Yes, it’s OK to add pine needles to the base of a tree. Pine straw mulch adds nutrients to the soil as it breaks down and helps maintain soil temperature, structure, and moisture levels.
