How to Use a Dethatcher
Thatch is the layer of stuff between the soil and grass blades. It is made up of dead plants, roots and lawn debris like decomposing leaves, twigs and bugs. Normally, thatch is not a problem; however, if it becomes 1/2 inch or thicker, it will smother grass roots by impeding the passage of air, water and nutrients into the soil. It also provides an ideal place for disease organisms and insect pests. To prevent thatch from accumulating, aerate your lawn regularly and avoid over fertilization, especially with high nitrogen fertilizers. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Location of underground cables (phone, power) and sprinkler lines and heads
- Lawn mower
- Sprinkler system or hose
- Cavex rake
- Power dethatcher with at least a 7-horsepower engine and rotary tines
- Compost or commercial 3-1-2 or 10-10-10 fertilizer
Instructions
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Dethatch when your lawn grasses are actively growing; the time depends on the type of turf grass you have. Cool season grass lawns are dethatched in spring or early fall. Dethatch warm season grass lawns in early summer. Mixed season lawns (a mix of cool and warm season grasses) are dethached in spring and early fall.
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Mow your grass to the lowest recommended height for the type of grass you have. Bag the clippings. Have your utility company mark all the underground cables running across your property. Locate sprinkler heads and lines. Do not run power dethatchers over buried cables or around sprinkler heads and lines. Pick up lawn debris like fallen leaves or small branches or twigs. These will interfere with the dethatcher's effectiveness. Wait to dethatch until the day after a light rain, or if no rain is in the forecast, lightly water your lawn. Damp thatch is easier to remove that dry thatch and your grass will recover more quickly.
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Use a cavex rake for small areas. Cavex rakes look like regular rakes with sharp blades rather than tines. Gently pull it across the lawn. You will need to make several passes to bring up all the thatch. Do not push the blades into the soil because you will uproot grass along with the thatch.
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Use a power dethatcher for large areas. Choose one with at least a 7-horsepower engine and rotary tines. Depending on the amount of thatch, you may need to make several passes to remove all the thatch. Make each pass at a 90-degree angle to the pass before it. This ensures you do not bring up grass with the thatch.
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Fertilize your lawn with a 3-1-2 or a 10-10-10 commercial fertilizer. Apply it according to package directions. If you are using compost apply at a rate of 10 to 20 lbs. per 1,000 square feet.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not fertilize or apply commercial herbicides or pesticides at least a month before using a dethatcher as they will be less effective. When you fertilize your lawn after dethatching, do not use a weed and feed type commercial fertilizer as it could kill your turf grass. To start out, set the dethatcher on its highest setting until you have the hang of using it, and then lower the setting for more effective dethatching.
Dethatchers that attach to the rotary blades of your lawn mower are not as effective as a power dethatcher or a cavex rake. Incorrectly installed, the dethatcher can fly off or damage your lawn mower. Do not dethatch when your lawn is water soaked. Too much water will cause the dethatcher to catch grass roots as well as thatch, pulling up your grass.
