Dethatching Tools

Keep your lawn looking healthy with regular thatch removal.

Throughout the course of a year, a lawn goes through changes. From hibernation in the winter to growing new shoots in the spring to full growth in the summer and slow dying off in the fall, a lawn produces dead grass that sinks down towards the soil forming a layer on top of the dirt. This layer is called thatch and when too much of it builds up, it can suffocate your lawn, hampering growth and hindering optimal lawn health. To promote appropriate fertilizer and water absorption in your lawn, use one of a few dethatching tools to remove excess thatch buildup from your lawn.

Aerator

When lawn thatch reaches 1/2 inch or more, it's probably time for you to remove some of it so that your lawn continues to breathe and absorb nutrients properly. The best time to dethatch your lawn is in the fall or early spring. One easy way to deal with thatch is to aerate your lawn. Aeration is performed by a machine which punches holes into the lawn; the machine can be used either manually or electrically. These holes are about 1/2 inch in diameter and 1 to 2 inches deep. When you're done aerating, little plugs of dirt will appear all over your yard. Aeration helps remove built up thatch and is good to do before reseeding in the fall so that grass seeds, along with fertilizer and water can be absorbed into the soil.

Thatch Rake

A dethatching rake is a labor-intensive and time-consuming way to dethatch your lawn but it is also one of the least expensive tools you can use to complete the task of dethatching your lawn. If you have a small lawn, a dethatching rake or thatch rake may be all you need to get the job done. It has a handle like a normal rake but sharp, crescent-shaped metal teeth on the end that penetrate the thatch, creating holes in the soil that allow nutrients, oxygen and moisture into the lawn roots.

Dethatching Machine

For larger lawns, a dethatching machine performs the work of the thatch rake in much less time. Since these machines are expensive to purchase, many lawn owners opt for renting one for a few hours to dethatch their lawns. As you push the machine over your lawn, its sharp metal teeth cut into the thatch and lift it up off the ground, laying it on the surface of the grass. After you're done covering your yard with the machine, you'll have to go back and pick up all of the loose thatch now sitting atop your lawn, and put it into bags for yard waste pick up, or into your compost pit if you have one.

Lawn Mower Attachment

Another option for larger lawn owners who don't want to rent a dethatching machine is to purchase or rent a dethatching attachment that is designed to fit onto an existing lawn mower. If you have a large and powerful lawn mower designed to accommodate various attachments, a dethatching attachment may be the best solution for you. Just make sure your mower meets the minimum horsepower requirements for the attachment before you try to use it, to prevent damage to your mower.

References

• Sunset: Dethatching and Aerating your Lawn
• Blades Lawn Care: Confessions of a Lawn Dethatcher
• This Old House: How to Dethatch a Lawn