How to Use a Pull Behind Dethatcher on a Riding Lawnmower
Thatch buildup makes your lawn subject to pests, disease and drought. A thick layer of thatch prevents moisture and nutrients from penetrating the soil, which weakens your grass and leads to an unhealthy lawn. Prevent thatch buildup by dethatching your lawn at least once annually. The proper time for dethatching is during the growing season. Use a pull-behind dethatcher and rake your lawn to loosen thatch and aerate your lawn. Pull-behind dethatchers attach with a tongue to your riding mower or all-terrain vehicle, similar to the way a wagon is attached to a tractor. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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A day or two after a springtime rain is the perfect time to dethatch your lawn. Watch the weather for the correct time to dethatch your lawn. Dethatching is best performed when the soil is moist but not wet and the weather is moderate.
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Mow your lawn before dethatching to facilitate the lawn rake tines' penetration through the grass and into the thatch layer.
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Attach your pull-behind lawn rake to your riding lawn mower or all-terrain vehicle according to the manufacturer's instructions.
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Ride over your lawn in a manner similar to mowing. Rake your lawn in a north-south direction and then in an east-west direction. The second raking will loosen and disperse thatch.
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Tips & Warnings
Use a lawn sweeper to remove thatch from your lawn.
Lawns with thatch buildup more than 1-inch thick may require verticutting or core aeration to penetrate the thatch and soil to create an environment favorable to growth of grass roots.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Manicured Lawn 2 image by jc from Fotolia.com Springtime Meadow image by Gary Kirby from Fotolia.com
