Garden gadgets - leaf grabbers

These have got to be one of the most useful and yet inexpensive bits of kit for the gardener at this time of year, when raking is a weekly, if not daily occupation: a pair of leaf grabbers.

These act like enormous hand-rakes - gripping them by the handles enables you to scoop up large quantities of leaves at a time, before dumping them into a bin, bag or compost heap. They can even be long-handled, which are a little more pricey, but reduce the need for bending.

Leaf grabbers make it much quicker and easier to tidy the autumn garden, and they’re  also handy throughout the year for lifting grass clippings, moss, twigs or other pruned material. You can pick up a plastic pair for under a tenner; expect to pay £20 to £30 for a metal long-handled set.