{"product_id":"rhs-endorsed-stainless-steel-shrub-rake-by-burgon-ball","title":"Burgon \u0026 Ball RHS Stainless Steel Shrub Rake","description":"\u003cp\u003eIf your hostas have ever been reduced to lace overnight, or your dahlia shoots vanished by the time you came back from the kitchen, you've already met the shrub rake's natural enemy. Slugs and snails overwinter and shelter in the damp leaf litter that accumulates under shrubs and low planting — and clearing that litter regularly is one of the gentlest, most effective things a gardener can do to reduce their numbers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the right tool for the job. The \u003cstrong\u003eBurgon \u0026amp; Ball Stainless Steel Shrub Rake\u003c\/strong\u003e is a compact hand rake designed precisely for the spaces a full-sized rake can't reach — beneath shrubs, between low planting, in the tight corners where leaves and debris quietly accumulate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom \u003cstrong\u003eBurgon \u0026amp; Ball\u003c\/strong\u003e, the Sheffield toolmaker who've been making garden tools since 1730. RHS-endorsed, backed by a \u003cstrong\u003elifetime guarantee\u003c\/strong\u003e. Supplied to us through our partners at \u003cstrong\u003eAllotMate\u003c\/strong\u003e, who curate proper, well-made tools for gardeners and allotmenteers who'd rather buy once.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy a shrub rake matters more than people realise\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMost gardeners think of leaf clearing as a tidiness job. It's actually one of the most useful pieces of integrated pest management you can do without any chemicals at all:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSlugs and snails shelter in leaf litter\u003c\/strong\u003e — particularly the damp, shaded litter under shrubs and dense planting. Removing it through autumn and winter dramatically reduces the local population\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFungal disease overwinters in fallen leaves\u003c\/strong\u003e — especially black spot on roses and rust on hollyhocks. Clearing the leaves removes the spores\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDamp accumulated debris promotes rot\u003c\/strong\u003e at the crown of perennials and the base of shrubs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHidden weeds get a head start\u003c\/strong\u003e in undisturbed leaf litter — clearing it exposes seedlings before they take hold\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAir circulation improves\u003c\/strong\u003e around the base of plants when the ground beneath them is open rather than smothered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor anyone gardening organically — or wanting to reduce slug-pellet use — regular shrub-raking through autumn and into spring is the single most effective non-chemical intervention you can make.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat makes this one work\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe compact size and considered construction matter for the specific job:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCompact head\u003c\/strong\u003e — fits into tight spaces between low branches, low planting and shrubs, where a full-sized rake simply doesn't reach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlat stainless steel tines\u003c\/strong\u003e — gather leaves rather than stabbing them. Gentler on surrounding plants, more efficient at collecting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBalanced hardwood handle\u003c\/strong\u003e — comfortable for the slow, methodical work of properly clearing under planting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePolished stainless steel\u003c\/strong\u003e — soil and leaves release cleanly, the head stays bright over years of use, no rusting issues\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLeather hanging cord\u003c\/strong\u003e — keeps the rake stored properly off damp surfaces between uses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe flat-tine design is particularly important. Pointed-tine rakes can damage roots, lift mulch and snag emerging perennials in spring. Flat tines do the gathering work without the collateral damage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhen you'll use it\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAutumn leaf fall\u003c\/strong\u003e — the main season, working through the steady drift of leaves from October to December\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLate-winter tidy\u003c\/strong\u003e — clearing the last of the previous year's leaves before spring growth starts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpring inspection\u003c\/strong\u003e — gentle clearing under hostas, peonies and emerging perennials to expose any sheltering slugs before they get going\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAround roses\u003c\/strong\u003e — clearing fallen black-spot leaves through the season to reduce reinfection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUnder hedges and at fence lines\u003c\/strong\u003e — places leaves naturally accumulate and full-sized rakes can't reach\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTines:\u003c\/strong\u003e Flat stainless steel — gathering rather than stabbing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHead:\u003c\/strong\u003e Compact, designed for tight spaces under shrubs and low planting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHandle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardwood, balanced for control and comfort\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStorage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Strong leather hanging cord\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEndorsement:\u003c\/strong\u003e Royal Horticultural Society approved\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGuarantee:\u003c\/strong\u003e Lifetime\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade by:\u003c\/strong\u003e Burgon \u0026amp; Ball, Sheffield (since 1730)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSupplied through:\u003c\/strong\u003e AllotMate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLooking after it\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWipe clean\u003c\/strong\u003e after each use, particularly after damp leaf clearing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDry properly\u003c\/strong\u003e before hanging — stainless steel resists rust well but appreciates not being stored damp\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe hardwood handle\u003c\/strong\u003e can be lightly oiled with linseed oil once or twice a year to keep it conditioned\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHang from the leather cord\u003c\/strong\u003e rather than leaving it on the floor — keeps the rake off damp surfaces and ready for next time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTreated this way, this is another lifetime-guarantee Burgon \u0026amp; Ball tool that you'll keep for decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAs a gift\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eParticularly thoughtful for:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAn organic gardener\u003c\/strong\u003e — the slug-management angle is a quiet acknowledgement of how they like to garden\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA rose grower\u003c\/strong\u003e — black-spot clearing matters more than most people realise, and a proper rake makes it efficient\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA hosta or dahlia enthusiast\u003c\/strong\u003e — anyone whose treasures get nibbled overnight will appreciate the help\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA gardener with mature shrubs\u003c\/strong\u003e — the under-shrub spaces are exactly what this rake is for\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePair with our other Burgon \u0026amp; Ball hand tools\u003c\/strong\u003e — the \u003cem\u003eStainless Steel Dibber\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eMid-Handled Fork\u003c\/em\u003e, or \u003cem\u003eBoronGreen Hand Trowel\u003c\/em\u003e — for a fuller cottage gardener's hand-tool gift\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Burgon \u0026amp; Ball\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBurgon \u0026amp; Ball have been making garden tools in Sheffield since 1730, drawing on the city's centuries-old expertise in steel. They hold the official Royal Horticultural Society endorsement — a designation given to tools that meet exacting standards for performance, durability and design. We're proud to stock their range; British-made tools at this quality are increasingly rare.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eA small thought: the small undervalued tools often turn out to be the most useful. A shrub rake on a misty November morning, slowly working through the fallen leaves under the hydrangeas, is the kind of unglamorous job that quietly does more for next year's garden than any number of spring planting sessions. The slugs that aren't there in May are because of the leaves that weren't there in November.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AllotMate Essentials","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57145127076217,"sku":"5019360008538","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0576\/6004\/7547\/files\/rhs-endorsed-stainless-steel-shrub-rake-by-burgon-ball-hand-rake-gthssrrhs-5019360008538-burgon-and-ball-shop-now-at-allotmate-essentials-7481146.png?v=1777153378","url":"https:\/\/www.bishybarnabeescottagegarden.com\/products\/rhs-endorsed-stainless-steel-shrub-rake-by-burgon-ball","provider":"Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}