Low-tech tools for long grass For some gardeners, an immaculately manicured and striped lawn could not be farther from their minds. Thanks to the deluges interspersed with sunshine we've enjoyed all summer, grass has grown thick and long. Here are some tips for taming a wilderness. Use the traditional skill of scything to cut back long grass and undergrowth. It's an efficient and satisfying way to deal with overgrown areas and with a well-peened (i.e. sharpened) blade and good technique it will tackle weeds as well as long grass. Serious scythers, check out The Scythe Shop in Dorset. It offers an hour's tuition by appointment when you buy. Prices from £98 for a beginner's set, including scythe, sharpening stone, file and instructions (01297 561359). Darlac offers a small hand-held sickle, £12 (below); it's light, razor sharp and slices through undergrowth, but requires elbow grease (01753 547790). Rake it up The WOLF-Garten spring tine rake (below) is ideal for raking thatch from a lawn, or raking up cut grass. It has a generous 50cm head and a curved fan shape that makes every tine touch the ground and collect up grass from a large area. The rake head costs £26.99; a 1.2m aluminium handle, £9.99, fits all WOLF-Garten multi-change tool heads (08452 707603). A pile of grass needs a pitchfork to turn it. Consider the Bulldog compost fork at £23.24 (01279 401572;) or opt for the compost pitchfork from the Recycle Works, in mild steel, £13.99 (0800 0320 377).