Best Pond Rakes & Cutters For Lake Weed Control | Product Reviews

1. Outdoor Water Solutions Heavy Duty Lake Rake - removes algae

2. Weed Razer Jenlis Razer Rake Collapsible Pond Rake - Durable

3. Weed Razer Muck Razer Aquatic Weed & Root Eliminator - Designed with hooked teeth

1. design

Nearly every rake available can be used to remove weeds that are directly in front of you while you are looking at your pond or lake.

If all you intend to do is remove those directly in reach of the shoreline or dock, the length of pole that you choose should help maximize how far you can reach out into the water.

Quite a few different rakes come pre-equipped with handle ropes you can use to throw the rake into deeper water. The rope allows you to pull the rake back while removing aquatic vegetation at the same time.

If this is how you intend to use the rake, you are going to want to purchase a model that has a long rope attached to it. You can also purchase more rope to extend the amount of reach that you have available.

When you are using a longer rope, you can get away with buying a rake that has a shorter handle. This will give you more leverage to toss the rake into the pond with enough rope to easily retrieve it after. The shorter handle also helps avoid getting snagged on logs.

The second type of rake is what pond keepers refer to as a “beach roller.” These rakes use a large, rotating drum that contains studded teeth. It is also attached to a pole so you can move the roller back and forth on the bottom of the pond.

Beach rollers help loosen the sediment so that the aquatic vegetation will break free and release itself from the bottom. You will need a longer handle to use a rolling rake, and they are known to require more physical activity than other styles.



2. durability

When you’re using a pond rake or cutter the way it is designed to be used, you definitely want to make sure you’re buying a quality product up front. Cheaper, more inferior products are known for broken handles and bent teeth, which can lead to a bad day for you.

Rakes are going to come in a variety of different materials, ranging from steel and aluminum or some combination of the two. Some cheaper rakes may also come in plastic.

The materials in your rake are going to determine how durable it is as well as how much it weighs. Metal rakes are the most common type and provide much higher durability, but they’re also going to be heavier and require more effort on your part.

Getting rid of the aquatic vegetation in your pond or lake is an extremely physical activity, there’s no way around it. The heavier your equipment, the more you’re going to be working whenever you use it.

That means you’re going to want to check the weight on the rake or cutter you’re getting before you buy it. If it’s too heavy, you won’t want to use it, and if it’s too light, it could be because the manufacturer skimped on quality, and the rake is going to break.



3. floating rakes vs. sinking rakes

You’ll also want to consider whether you’re going to want a floating rake or a sinking rake.

Floating rakes are buoyant and designed to help capture floating vegetation, like lily pads. On the other hand, sinking rakes are meant to drag along the bottom of the pond and reach the weeds that you may not necessarily see while looking into the lake.

Rolling rakes are the most common type of sinking rake. They stay in direct contact with the bottom of the pond, so they are more efficient to use than most classic-styled rakes. 

If you aren’t sure whether your rake is going to float or sink before you purchase it, you can read the manufacturer’s specifications or read through customer reviews. They will typically let you know if it’s designed to float or sink.



4. Teeth

The teeth on pond rakes can vary wildly from short to long and everything in between.

Longer teeth are going to be able to reach down into the dirt and pull weeds up by their root system. But, longer teeth also create far more sediment in your water.

Thinner, sharper teeth are going to perform best when you need to dig down deeper into the lake bottom. Wider, flatter teeth are used larger surfaces that help gather weeds up into a ball that you can collect when you’re done.

Some rakes will use tapered tines that help combine the best of both previous types of teeth.

Others will use beveled teeth that act like chisels to cut weeds out of the pond.

When you’re thinking about the type of teeth you need, you will want to decide how you’re going to get weeds from the bottom of your pond. If the weeds are collected together, one type of tooth is going to be better than another that is designed for floating vegetation.

You will also want to think about the width of the rake head. A wider head is going to collect more weeds on each pass through the water, but they also increase the amount of work it takes to get those weeds back to you.



5. Features

Sometimes, you’re going to find rakes that use special features to make it easier for you to use and increase their functionality.

Some may come with detachable floats, while others will have extended handles. Some may come with longer ropes or make it possible for you to fold the rake up to make it easier to store.

The extra features that you get are determined by how you intend to use the rake and whether or not you think you will need (and use) those features.

1. not all weeds are created equal

You’re going to have different types of weeds in your pond. While the cutter may be able to get some of them, you’re going to have others that have a film on them. This film makes them slick and nearly impossible to grab with the blades on the cutter.

2. you may have a long-term problem

Even though you cut the weeds, you still have to get those weeds out of the pond. If you can’t get them after you’ve cut them, they’re going to decay and create organic pollution. This type of pollution sticks and creates an environment for mosquitoes and parasites to thrive.

On top of that, if you have fish in the pond, the decaying plant matter will starve the oxygen in the water and could end up harming your fish. Even though the cutter can cut the weeds, you still have to remove them from the water when you’re done efficiently.



3. you may be wasting money

   Spend some time sifting through customer reviews of pond weed cutters, and you’re going to realize that your money could be spent elsewhere. The blades on pond cutters are known for becoming dull very quickly. This means you’ll end up replacing the cutter soon after buying it.
   
   

4. you might not be successful

   If your pond is on the smaller side, you may be able to remove all of the weeds in the pond with your cutter. However, for a larger pond or lake, getting rid of the vegetation could prove nearly impossible to do.
   
   

5. you could create a bigger problem

Let’s assume you use a weed cutter to get rid of the weeds. What are you going to do about the root system that is left behind? This root system will quickly respawn new plants, and then you’re stuck doing the work all over again.

A pond rake is always a better decision than a pond weed cutter. Take our word for it when we recommend a good rake and the little bit of extra effort it takes to get rid of the weeds the right way. Your work will pay off, and you won’t be facing all of these issues again in the future.

1. hand removal

One of the most cost-effective methods you can use is to put on your swimsuit and dive into the pond to start pulling weeds. It’s free and great exercise. However, it’s time and labor-intensive and may not necessarily work if you have a large pond or lake.

If you’re going to use this technique, make sure you are pulling them out by the root system to prevent them from growing back.



2. rakes and cutters

   We’ve already broken down why pond cutters are a terrible idea, but pond rakes are one of our favorite ways to get rid of weeds. The best pond rakes are capable of pulling the weeds from the bottom while bringing their root systems with them. This means the weeds won’t grow back!
   
   

3. vegetation groomers

   If you are dealing with a pond that has been completely taken over by weeds, you may need to call in the big dogs. A powerful vegetation groomer can, essentially, decimate the entire weed population down to depths of four feet. You will want to net your fish before you start, though!
   
   

4. pond fish

If using heavy-duty equipment on your pond isn’t necessary, you can also put precautions in place to help prevent weeds from being able to grow out of control. Koi, carp, and goldfish all love to feast on aquatic vegetation, so stocking your pond with them can make your life easier.

A few grass carp can completely decimate your weed problem before you realize how big they’ve grown. One carp can eat up to 2 to 3 times their body weight in aquatic vegetation every single day.

However, before you start adding carp to your pond, you will need to check with the laws in your local area. In some areas, carp can be considered an invasive species, and adding them into your pond is deemed to be illegal to do.

The worst situation you can find yourself in is with a pond that is free of vegetation, but new fish that you’ve become fond of now need to be removed by the fish and game warden. On top of that, the hefty fines they’ll hit you with will make you wish you bought a rake the first time!



5. pond dye

If you aren’t dealing with a complete overgrowth of aquatic vegetation, you can add dye to your pond to help prevent weeds from growing in the first place. Pond dyes work by dying the water column to help prevent the sun’s ultraviolet light from making its way through.

When you block the UV light, you are starving the weeds of the source of life they need to survive and thrive. They will not be able to move through the photosynthesis process required to grow to a point where they become the problem.



6. Herbicides

Now, even though we include herbicides in the list, they are a last line of defense against pond weeds. Herbicides could poison your fish and make the water toxic, so you aren’t able to swim in it or enjoy it any longer.

Herbicides are a quick and dirty, cost-effective way to rid your pond of weeds completely. However, you are going to be limited by what you can restock into the pond for an extended period of time. It could be months before your water is safe for fish and other aquatic creatures, again.

In our experience, the best, safest, and easiest way to remove weeds from your pond is with a high-quality pond rake. If you absolutely must, one of the best pond cutters can help you clear your shoreline of weeds, but they will grow back as time goes on.

What Are The Best Pond Rakes & Best Pond Cutters?