How to Use a Dethatching Rake

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By Jennifer Ketcherside
eHow Contributing Writer

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If your grass is struggling to grow through a think layer of thatch, a dethatching rake can help improve the appearance and health of your lawn. Thatch is a layer of dead grass and other trapped debris that forms at the surface of the soil. Thatch can prevent water from reaching the soil, keep grass seed from reaching the soil and provide a hideout for unwanted bugs. These conditions can create an unhealthy lawn and even kill grass. A dethatching rake has special blades to loosen and remove thatch, improving the health and viability of your lawn.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Lawnmower
Dethatching rake
Garden rake

Step 1

Mow your lawn to a height of about 1 inch. This might be lower than you typically mow, but it will help you more easily see and remove the layer of thatch.
Step 2

Identify the areas of your lawn that could benefit from dethatching. If you cannot see the soil beneath a layer of brown dead debris, you should dethatch the area.
Step 3

Loosen the layer of thatch using the dethatching rake. Work the rake like you would any other rake. Make sure it is reaching the surface of the soil, and then angle slightly upward when you pull back to raise the layer of thatch. You should feel the thatch breaking away from the soil and see the thatch separating from the grass.
Step 4

Work the dethatching rake across your lawn until all thatched areas have been raked.
Step 5

Rake the raised debris with a garden rake, and dispose of the debris as you would any other yard waste.

Tips & Warnings

It is best to dethatch your lawn in the spring and fall growing seasons when your lawn is more durable. If you have a large lawn, consider renting or borrowing a dethatching lawnmower attachment to make the job quicker and easier.