Lawn care involves much more than mowing. To help your lawn thrive, you need to perform several tasks. While most of these chores are simple and may only need to be performed once each season, they often require special tools that allow you to accomplish your goal without damaging your lawn.
To clear away the potentially strangulating organic matter that resides at the base of your grass, you will need a dethatcher. A larger model, such as Brinly’s Tow-Behind Dethatcher, will clear a 48-inch path with each pass, allowing you to easily tend to larger lawns.
What to know before you buy a lawn dethatcher
What is thatch?
Organic debris, such as grass clippings and leaves, is constantly accumulating in your yard. Much of this matter decomposes rather quickly to nourish your lawn. However, some materials can take longer to break down, so they begin to build up. This layer of living and dead organic matter is called thatch.
Why is thatch bad for your lawn?
Not all thatch is bad for your yard. A thin layer, less than a half-inch thick, is beneficial to your grass. When thatch is thin, it acts in the same manner as mulch, helping the soil to retain moisture and insulating the root while still allowing water, nutrients and air to nourish your lawn.
When thatch builds up to over an inch, however, it begins to compact and form a barrier that will keep water, nutrients and air from reaching the roots of your grass. When this happens, that thatch must be removed so your lawn can thrive.
How do you remove thatch?
The best way to remove thatch from your lawn is to gently rake it using a thatching rake. This device allows you to gently remove all the intertwined organic buildup on your lawn. It puts you in full control of how deep you go and how vigorously you attack the problem. However, since most people will not have the time to carefully rake their entire property by hand, there are many devices available that can help the homeowner accomplish the task much more efficiently. These devices have tines that remove thatch as they are dragged across, worked into or rotated above your lawn.
Types of dethatchers
The three main types of dethatchers are manual, tow-behind and electric dethatchers.
Manual
As it sounds, manual dethatchers are any tool that requires physical exertion to operate. These can be rake-like devices, fork-like devices or even rolling devices that the operator uses to comb out the thatch. While this is the best method, it is also the most time-consuming way to get the job done.
Tow-behind
If you already own or have access to a tractor, a tow-behind dethatcher is your best option. While it is not as gentle on your lawn, a tow-behind dethatcher can dislodge the thatch in large yards in a relatively short amount of time. A modified version of the tow-behind dethatcher is a front-load dethatcher. This allows you to dethatch and bag the debris in a single pass, but these models can be difficult to steer.
Electric
An electric dethatcher is designed for the individual who has a smaller yard and no tractor. These devices rotate the tines to remove the thatch and, if not set and used properly, can do more harm than good. However, when used correctly, they can be the perfect tool for many homeowners.
Lawn dethatcher features
Width
The wider your dethatcher is, the quicker you can get your task done. The only downside to using a wider dethatcher is that you won’t be able to get into smaller spaces.
Depth
Sometimes you do not need to go very deep when dethatching. To make sure you are not inadvertently damaging the roots of your grass, it is best to get a dethatcher that gives you control over how deep you go.
Comfort and ease of use
Even though you may only be using your tool once a year, when you dethatch your lawn, it may take a considerable amount of time. If you are using a manual or an electric dethatcher, you will want one that is ergonomically designed so it is comfortable to use and won’t cause hand, forearm, shoulder or back pain.
Storage
If you do not have a great deal of storage space, you will need a dethatcher that folds down or can be easily disassembled and rearranged so it doesn’t take up much room in your shed, garage or basement.
Lawn dethatcher cost
You can purchase a thatching rake for less than $50. A tow-behind dethatcher or an electric dethatcher, however, will likely cost $100-$200. You may use a dethatcher infrequently, so spending more than $200 might not be a good value.
Lawn dethatcher FAQ
How often do I need to detach my lawn?
A. Since it can take a long time for thatch to build up, and thatch that is less than a half-inch is beneficial to a lawn, it is important to inspect your lawn before dethatching. You can do this by digging up a very small portion of your lawn and checking the cross-section to see how thick the thatch is. You will only need to do this once each year. If there isn’t significant thatch build-up, do not dethatch as it may harm your lawn.
When is the best time to dethatch?
A. The best time to dethatch is near the beginning of the growing period. However, that happens at different times of the year depending on the type of grass you have. For warm-season grasses, early summer is the best time to dethatch. For cool-season grasses, late summer or early fall is the best time to dethatch. Do not dethatch when your lawn is dormant, as you may damage it beyond recovery.
Which lawn dethatcher should I get?
Best of the best lawn dethatcher
Brinly Tow-Behind Dethatcher: available at Amazon and Home Depot
Our take: A 48-inch, tow-behind lawn dethatcher that is suitable for larger lawns.
What we like: This model features 24 steel tines that comb through your grass to lift the thatch, allowing your lawn to breathe better so it can thrive. The 8-inch never-flat wheels are positioned behind the tray for maximum efficiency.
What we dislike: Some individuals thought the instructions were a little difficult to follow.
Best bang for your buck lawn dethatcher
Greenworks Corded Dethatcher: available at Amazon.
Our take: This corded, electric dethatcher is best for individuals who have a smaller yard.
What we like: The model features a push-button start, a padded grip and a 14-inch dethatching path. You can easily adjust the tine depth to fine-tune your dethatching. Tines that get bent or broken during use are easy to replace.
What we dislike: The tines are not very durable and tend to wear out sooner than expected.
Honorable mention lawn dethatcher
VonHaus Corded 2-in-1 Lawn Dethatcher: available at Amazon
Our take: This device features both a dethatcher and an aerator to help keep your lawn healthy.
What we like: It has a 15-inch width, five selectable detaching heights and a 45-liter collection bag to eliminate manual raking. The handle folds down and the bag can be removed for easy storage.
What we dislike: As with other corded lawn tools, care must be taken not to damage the cord when using.
Allen Foster is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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