OT:Do you dethatch?

redtom · Apr 4, 2013

I'm not a lawn guy. I always say "I have yard, not lawn". But I do try to maintain the front, half way respectable. I think its to the point of needing dethatching. Never done it, maybe never will again. About 75ft by 100ft. Should I rent a power rake? I know it sounds redneck but what about that blade with the two springs pointing down that goes on my push mower? I'll probably only do it once. Tips?

Ellis Kinney · Apr 4, 2013

A hayrake will do the job if set correctly (low) Ellis

da.bees · Apr 4, 2013

The real question is wherther it even needs dethatching. Some dead and deterioating material is healthy for soil and holds moisture. I don't but if I was doing it,I would rent the machine. Temporary teeth mounted on a mower blade risks damaging the motor due to imbalance or your person by coming loose.

wilamayb · Apr 4, 2013

What type of grass? If it's bermuda then let the power thatching begin. It will work fine. If Zoysia then you better just go for a good close cut with a vac or even burn it off with a little fire.

JML755 · Apr 4, 2013

redtom,
I've dethatched in the past using both methods. The rental machine does a great job (be careful, though. You can "over-de-thatch" and rip up more than you want). The de-thatch blade does a so-so job and is not worth the effort, IMO.

Haven't dethatched in a while, though. I try to fertilize on Holiday schedules (Easter, Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day). If I do that along with one or 2 weed sprayings, I get a decent looking lawn.

BAnNC · Apr 4, 2013

What"s different about Zoysia? Seems as thick as it grows it would benefit with a good back scratchin" once in a while.
What does it do to it?

John M · Apr 4, 2013

Mine use to get like that. Those spring things just ate up my yard, couldnt set it high enough to dethatch with ripping up the grass, so in the trash it went. I did burn it a couple of years, but almost got fined for doing once because I didnt know we were under a red flag alert. What I do now, and just in the front like you, is Ill cut it normal once, then mulch it the next time, then bag it the next time. That has worked for a few years now to keep the thatch down.

Anonymous-0 · Apr 4, 2013

First where are you in these united states? For warm season grasses, bermuda, zoysia, some others, a spring dethatch is OK. Northern cool season grasses are better done with a slit seeder, in the fall. Some western grasses don't tolerate it at all.

RAW in · Apr 4, 2013

I've seen the neighbor rent one of those small wheel rakes for lawns. Did a pretty good job of picking up the dead grass, and windrowed it too.

OT:Do you dethatch?

redtom

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Ellis Kinney

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da.bees

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wilamayb

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JML755

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BAnNC

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John M

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Anonymous-0

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RAW in

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