What is a Power Rake & Why Would You Need One?
Power rakes, also called dethatchers, are similar to gas-powered lawn mowers, but rather then a horizontal blade, they have hundreds vertically spinning tines or blades that beat into the ground to remove thatch. Thatch is accumulated organic materials such as leaves, grass clippings and roots that collect on top of the dirt beneath the grass. If this layer gets too thick (more than ½ inch), then it cuts off the roots from water, fertilizer, air and other nutrients they need. A small amount of thatch can be removed manually with a dethatching rake. However when the thatch is ½-1 inch or more, a power rake is needed to remove the larger build-up.
How to Dethatch With a Lawn Power Rake?
Arrange to rent a power rake at a local rental center. Plan ahead because demand increases on weekends and during the best times to dethatch (early spring and late fall). Prep your lawn before you pick up the machine. Pick up any obstructions such as rocks, toys or pine cones. Mow the grass shorter than you normally do to make it easier to dethatch. Also don't forget to mark your sprinklers.
When you rent a power rake dethatcher, have them show you how to set the blades the correct width apart and to the correct depth for your type of grass. Ask any other questions you have about how to use the machine. You will probably need help loading and unloading, since dethatchers are often twice as heavy as a gas-powered lawn mower.
Before you begin, add extra oil to the engine if the level is too low. The fuel tank will also need to be filled. Check the machine to make sure there is nothing that is caught anywhere or seems out of place. Take the lawn power rake to where you want to start. Put on safety glasses to protect your eyes from anything that may come up while raking. You may want to consider protective earphones if the machine is particularly noisy or you will be at it a long time. Then set the choke on the engine and pull on the starter to get the engine going. To enable the engine to run as it should, close the choke and wait a couple minutes before you begin.
Begin moving the power rake over the lawn. If the tines dig in too much, adjust them to be shallower. Going in too deep makes it harder for the thatch to be removed and is not good for the turf. You may have to make other adjustments since lawns and thatch are both typically uneven. Do the whole lawn going in one direction first than again in another direction second. You can either go long first then short as if you were making plus signs or diagonal one-way and then on the other diagonal to make X’s.
Once you have finished, you can use a manual dethatching rake to do any small spots, corners or edges that need extra work. Then rake up all the debris and thatch left on the lawn and bag it for disposal or compost it. This is a good time to reseed and/or fertilize. Water well after you are done, especially if you overseed. Continue to water frequently if there is not a lot of rain to make sure the seeds stay moist as they germinate and sprout. Right after dethatching with power rakes, the lawn may look pretty sparse and ugly, but it should be looking good again in about 3 weeks when it will be ready to be mowed.
If You Are Going to Buy a Power Rake
Since power lawn rakes cost around $1000-$2000, consider purchasing one used. As a substitute, you could also buy a dethatching rake. Look for a quality manufacturer like a Bluebird power rake or Arnold Universal power rake that is in good condition. You might see if you can specifically request one of these brands when you rent to try it out. What is the benefit of using a
lawn aerator?