Quick verdict
A steel levelling rake with a 30 by 10 inch plate on a 7 foot handle, from a range that also offers 17 and 45 inch plates, for dragging sand and top dressing flat across a lawn, seedbed, compost pile or gravel path. The 30 inch plate is the all-round size: wide enough to span hollows and light enough to swing for an hour. Steel is rust resistant rather than stainless, so dry it after use. It does what the pricier stainless rakes do for a little less.
Strengths
- Thirty inch plate spans hollows and covers ground quickly
- Seven foot handle for upright work
- Range offers 17 and 45 inch plates for small or large lawns
- Levels sand, topsoil, compost and gravel
- Good value against stainless rivals
Weaknesses
- Coated steel rather than stainless; dry it after wet sand
- Heavy at the end of an hour
- Handle joints need checking before each use
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
Flat Lawns Without a Greenkeeper
A levelling rake is the greenkeeper’s tool that reached home lawns in the last few years: a wide flat plate on a long handle that drags sand across the grass until the surface is even. BlumeTrec’s comes with a 30 by 10 inch plate on a 7 foot handle, with 17 and 45 inch plates in the same range for smaller or larger lawns, in coated steel at a price below the stainless rivals.
This review is based on the listing specifications and on how lawn levelling rakes are used with top dressing generally. We have not used this rake ourselves.
Levelling
Mow short, spread a quarter to half an inch of sand or a sand and compost mix, and work the plate back and forth across the lawn. It rides over high spots and drops material into low ones; the grass stands up through the sand. A second pass across the first evens it further. Water in and repeat in a few weeks. Over a season the bumps go.
Plate Size
Thirty inches is the size most people want: wide enough to bridge the hollows that matter and light enough to swing for an hour. The 17 inch version suits small lawns and working around beds; the 45 inch covers big lawns fast and asks for strength.
Steel
Coated steel is rust resistant, not rust proof. Rinse the sand off and dry the plate and it stays clean; leave it wet in the shed and spots appear. Stainless rakes avoid that at a higher price and do nothing else better.
Handle
Seven feet lets a tall user work upright and reach across a bed. Check the joints are tight before each session; a loose joint on a loaded rake wears quickly.
Other Jobs
Dragging a seedbed smooth before sowing, spreading compost on beds, raking a gravel drive flat after rain and levelling sand under pavers.
Who Should Buy It
- Lawn owners levelling with sand on a budget.
- Anyone who wants a choice of plate width.
- Gardeners preparing seedbeds and paths.
Common Owner Complaints
Rust spots from wet storage and weight late in the job. Dry it; take breaks.
Technique Tips
Level when the grass is growing strongly so it recovers through the sand in a week or two. Work from the high ground toward the low and let the plate carry the material downhill. For a hollow deeper than half an inch, fill it in two sessions a few weeks apart rather than smothering the grass in one. A stiff broom after raking knocks the last sand off the blades.
Alternatives to Consider
The HIDALIFE 30 inch stainless rake for rust-free wet sand work. A drag mat behind a tractor for large lawns. A landscape rake for rough grading.
Verdict
For levelling a lawn with sand at a sensible price, this 30 inch rake does the job and the range lets you size the plate to the lawn. Dry it after use and it will flatten many seasons of bumps.
Full specifications
BlumeTrec Heavy Duty 30 x 10 Inch Steel Lawn Levelling Rake with 7 Foot Handle FAQs
Seventeen inches for small lawns and tight beds, thirty for most suburban lawns, forty-five for large open lawns where speed matters and strength allows.
Spread a thin layer of sand or sand and compost, then push and pull the plate across the lawn so material fills the hollows and rides over the bumps. Repeat at right angles and water in.
Coated steel does the same job and needs drying after use to avoid rust spots. Stainless costs more and shrugs off wet sand.
Yes. It drags gravel paths and drives flat and spreads compost on beds.
