kongmen
Bronze Member
Will a landscape rake do anything with weeds on a gravel driveway? Will it do anything as far as turning over the old gravel like a box blade? How about spreading new gravel on a driveway? Thanks.
Gravel driveway with landscape rake?
- Thread starter kongmen
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Monster5601
Platinum Member
Good question. I asked my dealer this and because I used crushed concret, the rock sizes have various sizes and most would not pass through the rake. I use a box blade without issues.
Kays Supply
Veteran Member
It is really the wrong time of year. This past spring just after the thaw, I took my box and put the teeth down. I ripped the whole drive up and then boxed it smooth. It is like a new drive. It got rid of the fines and brought back the full size gravel down under. If I have ridges in the drive I have a 6" pipe about 6' long with chains welded to it that I drag the drive with. It will give the best results on loose gravel. Almost as good as a Harley rake in dirt.
lhfarm
Veteran Member
I use a rake, a box blade and a back blade at different times I like the finish the rake puts on the drive and it will remove some weeds. I have a curve at the top of a hill that has potholes the rake won't fix and I have to use the box blade. I like the back blade for cleaning the edges and side ditches.
I do think a rake (with gauge wheels) is a good driveway tool.
JDGreenGrass
Veteran Member
I have grass and weeds on the edges of my gravel driveway and it sort of drives me nuts. I want nice crisp edges.
My question is....If I use my rear blade to re-store the edges and "dig" up the grass and weeds, will that promote mixing of the fine gravel and top-soil.??...creating mud when it rains??
To the OP.....I have found that my rear blade works better than a rake, though i do use both.
My question is....If I use my rear blade to re-store the edges and "dig" up the grass and weeds, will that promote mixing of the fine gravel and top-soil.??...creating mud when it rains??
To the OP.....I have found that my rear blade works better than a rake, though i do use both.
riptides
Super Member
Yes it will. About once a year I maintain my driveway with just the rake, one trip down the road, then back up to the house. I spot spray for weeds on occassion.
Thomas
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Rake will spread new gravel,but not as quick as box blade/rear blade..you may have to take lighter pulls.
Good dump truck driver should be able to spread load which will make it lot easier.
Good dump truck driver should be able to spread load which will make it lot easier.
I really like my tine rake for the gravel drive,and I somtimes remove every other tine.Also have box blade and a 7 ft. rear blade so just play[I mean work] to see which works best on your drive at different times of the year.If you can angle the tine rake they do a great job on freshly spread gravel to create a crown in the center.Have fun
Dave
Dave
jimgerken
Veteran Member
I think the rake is very good for gravel driveway maintenance. A drag harrow is also pretty good, but takes a long time if there is a lot of weed growth.
I raked the driveway last weekend. It was getting so full of weeds and grasses it looked like nobody lived there anymore. With the rake angled fully, it gets pretty aggressive. A few passes like that and pretty much everything is up-rooted. I am trying a new idea this time. In the past I would rake it all one way, then all back the other way, finally spreading the windrow of gravel back down onto the surface. This time, to get a nice crisp edge, I raked some sod and dirt into the mix. So, with a few passes, I moved it all the way across to the far side, and left a windrow of gravel / some dirt / weeds all along that side (the lower side of the drive). I plan to wait thru a couple rains until some of the dirt washes out of the gravel before re-spreading it back onto the drive. This also gives the weeds that might try to grow a chance to barely get going again, then I hit the windrow and respread it, uprooting them for the second time which should kill most all of them. I have found in the past that spreading right back down results in some of the weeds that you uprooted to be effectively replanted again, and they grow. I am pretty sure this new technique will get them.
I don't use training wheels 'cause I have many many hours of rake practice, plus I have added hyd top and sidelinks, so I can practically screed concrete with it.
Here's my rake build link, in case you want to see the whole story. If not, go to the photos on page 6. Don't miss the Utube link in post #42 on page 5.
I raked the driveway last weekend. It was getting so full of weeds and grasses it looked like nobody lived there anymore. With the rake angled fully, it gets pretty aggressive. A few passes like that and pretty much everything is up-rooted. I am trying a new idea this time. In the past I would rake it all one way, then all back the other way, finally spreading the windrow of gravel back down onto the surface. This time, to get a nice crisp edge, I raked some sod and dirt into the mix. So, with a few passes, I moved it all the way across to the far side, and left a windrow of gravel / some dirt / weeds all along that side (the lower side of the drive). I plan to wait thru a couple rains until some of the dirt washes out of the gravel before re-spreading it back onto the drive. This also gives the weeds that might try to grow a chance to barely get going again, then I hit the windrow and respread it, uprooting them for the second time which should kill most all of them. I have found in the past that spreading right back down results in some of the weeds that you uprooted to be effectively replanted again, and they grow. I am pretty sure this new technique will get them.
I don't use training wheels 'cause I have many many hours of rake practice, plus I have added hyd top and sidelinks, so I can practically screed concrete with it.
Here's my rake build link, in case you want to see the whole story. If not, go to the photos on page 6. Don't miss the Utube link in post #42 on page 5.
My landscape rake does a good job for me, keeping the driveway groomed. My first attempts at it using rigid top link was frustrating because every hole or bump my front tires hit, the rake would duplicate it, eventually giving a wasboard effect. I keep considering going with guage wheels, but read here at TBN about using Chain as the Top Link, BINGO!!! a smooth finish. The rake is not the right tool to move much material, but for spreading and grooming it works great. The fun part is the seat time learning, once you get the hang of it, it becomes another job to do.
Just suggesting to try a Chain Top Link before the exspense of Guage Wheels.
Good Luck, and Have Fun
Edit: Just wanted to add, using Chain as a Top Link does not give the protection from a Rollover that a Rigid Top Link does.
Just suggesting to try a Chain Top Link before the exspense of Guage Wheels.
Good Luck, and Have Fun
Edit: Just wanted to add, using Chain as a Top Link does not give the protection from a Rollover that a Rigid Top Link does.