What are you using to dethatch your lawn?

JayInMichigan

New member

Equipment
B2601
May 22, 2021
4
0
1
Michigan
I have a B2601 that I attached a pine straw rake to and attempted to dethatch my lawn. Compared to my $130 Greenworks electric dethatcher, it was completely useless, even with multiple passes. I have a feeling that the tow behind dethatchers that you put bricks on will be equally ineffective.

As much as I like it, trying to dethatch a couple acres with the Greenworks would take me about 3 days. I thought about about trying a york rake with gauge wheels, but it's likely to just shred my turf. I'm also considering a rotary broom since I already have the front QA hitch and PTO shaft for the my snowblower, but that seems like overkill (and expensive). It would be great to be able to rent a rotary broom but I'm not sure the skid steer ones would work on my tractor.

Or, do I just suck it up and rent a walk-behind power rake from Home Depot and walk the property?
 

MOOTS

Well-known member
Lifetime Member

Equipment
MX6000
Jun 27, 2019
1,925
2,210
113
Canton, Georgia
We have a First products verti cutter at work, for doing ballfields. Over kill for your application, but maybe give you some ideas. Something that spins would be better than the rakes.

And boy do they make a mess!
 

JayInMichigan

New member

Equipment
B2601
May 22, 2021
4
0
1
Michigan
We have a First products verti cutter at work, for doing ballfields. Over kill for your application, but maybe give you some ideas. Something that spins would be better than the rakes.

And boy do they make a mess!
Hah! That would be awesome. Whatever it costs though, I'm sure it's beyond my budget. Maybe if I can convince my wife to open a driving range in our backyard though.
 

PaulR

Well-known member

Equipment
BX 23S -- 100 hours seat time so far
Aug 3, 2020
579
459
63
Hadley, MA
<lawn geek>

I never de-thatch, the micro-organisms in my lawn break down all the clippings.

<shrug>
 

JWool

Member

Equipment
B2650HSDC FEL & Front Snow Blower, ZT-Z421, GL11000 Generator
Dec 29, 2013
97
17
8
Northern MI
I picked up a used rotary broom and used it to dethach and move tons of acorns.

Kubota Rotary Broom.jpg
 

frozenorangejuce

New member

Equipment
BX1870 la203 loader AI2 quick attach 48" bucket 60" snow blade 60" box blade
Oct 5, 2020
5
3
3
The Tundra of MN
I use a front mount dethatcher from agri-fab on my ride on mower, it does great, and with the rear bagger on, its pretty painless

 

PNWBXer

Member

Equipment
BX2380
Feb 24, 2020
134
13
18
Washington
Honestly, I would pay to rent a walk behind. It’s really the cheapest option that will get the job done quickly. Those tow behind Thine and spring things that you put bricks on suck compared to the power rake/detacher you can rent. My neighbor has the latter and we both just gave up and split the cost on a walk behind power rake rental.