How to Operate a Dethatching Machine

A dethatching machine is a tool that looks similar to a lawn mower, but instead of trimming the height of the grass, it rakes all of the dead grass (thatch) out of the turf. In fact, dethatching machines are also called power rakes. By removing the thatch, or the dead grass in the turf, you open the surface of the ground to accept more oxygen, to allow healthy grass to fill in sparse areas, and to allow new seeds to sprout in good soil.

Things You'll Need

• Fresh grass seed (optional) Leaf rake Plastic lawn collection bags

Instructions

1. Remove any surface debris, such as rocks, toys or pine cones, from the lawn before dethatching.

2. Fill the fuel tank and check the oil level in the engine. Place the machine where you would like to begin dethatching. Set the choke on the engine and pull the starter until the engine catches. Allow the engine to warm up for a minute or two. Close the choke so the engine will run normally.

3. Adjust the raking height by moving the adjustment shaft down. The correct raking height allows the raking fingers to just touch the ground. Attempting to make the raking fingers dig deeper into the ground will cause the raking fingers to malfunction and they will not remove thatch effectively.
   Run the dethatching machine over the entire surface of the lawn. The thatch being removed will be left on the surface of the lawn.

4. Rake the thatch off the lawn with a leaf rake and put it into lawn bags for disposal. Thatch can also be composted.

References

• Classen TRS-20 Turf Rake Operators and Parts Manual