What is a Lawn Dethatcher?

A lawn dethatcher is a gardening tool which is designed to remove thatch, a thick layer of debris which accumulates between the soil and grass blades in a lawn. An excessive buildup of thatch can have a negative impact on lawn health, causing a lawn to turn brown and scraggly. While dethatching can be accomplished by hand, using a mechanical lawn dethatcher is much faster, more efficient, and more effective. Many garden suppliers rent out dethatchers, and it is also possible to purchase one. Thatch is a layer of grass clippings, lawn debris, and other material. In a healthy lawn, the thatch will be about as high as the width of a pinkie finger. The thatch slowly breaks down with the assistance of bacteria, ensuring that the height stays consistent, and it provides a number of protections to the lawn, preventing the burning of the grass roots and helping the lawn retain water. In an unhealthy lawn, the layer of thatch can become quite thick. The lawn may be overfertilized, or the soil ...  more

14 posts - 11 authors - Last post: Mar 20, 2006I had the same question about a pull behind dethatcher. I live in Houston and have St. Augustine grass. I have one acre. ...  more

How Does Lawn Dethatching Work? A lawn dethatcher is also referred to as a power rake, a lawn sweeper, a thatching machine, or a dethatching rake. All of these have the same purpose, which is to remove undesired thatch out of your lawn.  more