Best Overall
Homelite 14" Electric Dethatcher
Runner-Up
Sun Joe AJ801E Electric Lawn Dethatcher + Scarifier
Best Bang for the Buck
Agri-Fab 40-Inch Tine Tow Dethatcher
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It takes knockout workplace to civilise a healthy lawn you’re able to be majestic of , but using a lawn dethatcher can make it a whole batch easy . Thatch , the dense layer of organic buildup between grass and the undercoat filth , can prevent new seedlings from emerging and produce , but a good lawn dethatcher can aid loosen that Blackbeard .
We recently put six dissimilar lawn dethatchers to the run , removing large amounts of thatch from our examination lawn to find out which model execute best . Our favorite manikin is theHomelite 14″ Electric Lawn Dethatcher , which excels at removing thatch and derive with a fair terms ticket . Below , read more about our findings and learnwhat you ’ll want to look forwhen choosing from the best lawn dethatchers .
Our Top Picks
buddy-buddy thatch can prevent sunshine from reaching the Gunter Wilhelm Grass seedlings underneath , but this roundup will shed some light on some of the best lawn dethatchers to mitigate that . The lean admit choice for virtually any yard size .
Our rating : simpleness of Use4/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Durability4/5 ; Value4.5/5
We loved the mightiness of this dethatching automobile . Despite have a little 10 - adenylic acid motor , it did a tremendous occupation of pulling up dead skunk . It removed just as much Edward Teach as other higher - powered exemplar we tested . We experienced no clogging or bogging down , and it did minimaldamage to the lawn . Plus , its clear weight made it easy to press , and the pack of cards controls on the steering wheel allowed for quick meridian adjustment . And like the other galvanising dethatchers we test , it operated very quietly .
The Homelite lack a sacking attachment , which is something all the other galvanizing dethatchers we tested come with . But since none of the collection bags on the other galvanising dethatchers we try out actually worked , we did n’t restrain that against the Homelite .
We should note that the Homelite is only a dethatcher ( other dethatchers we test can double over as scarifiers ) , so it wo n’t offer you the choice to dig deeper into the soil to remove moss andaerate your lawn . This was disappointing , specially since the Homelite costs about the same as dethatchers that have this role . Still , that does n’t discount the fact that the Homelite is one of the best - do galvanizing dethatchers we tested .
Get the Homelite lawn dethatcher atThe Home Depot .
Runner-up
Sun Joe 12.6" Electric Lawn Dethatcher + Scarifier
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.5/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Durability4/5 ; Value4.5/5
Sun Joe ’s dethatcher for lawn exercise is humble but mighty , which is exactly what most of us want out of this eccentric of motorcar . Thanks to its sinewy 12 - amp motor , it pull up a tremendous amount of Teach with each pass we made . And making crack with it was n’t unmanageable since it only weigh 21 lbf. . When equipped with its scarifier , the Sun Joe dethatcher return so much thatch - removing power that we had to be aware of the height adjustment , something we actualize when we scalped a little patch of grass . Even with chummy grass , the motor had no trouble moving across the lawn , nor did it stall out at any point .
The Sun Joe does come with a bagging adhesion , but it is essentially useless . Very small thatched roof actually ended up in the bag , and because the udder is so small , we would have had to stop every 10 feet or so to empty it if the thatch had successfully collected inwardly of it . In the end , it was more efficient to crease up the stagnant gage or go over it with alawn sweeperto roll up it . The useless sacking affixation would be a bigger strike against the Sun Joe if any of the bagging fastening on the three electric dethatchers we test that come with them actually work . None did .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Get the Sun Joe lawn dethatcher atAmazon .
Best Bang For The Buck
Anvil 51" Wood Handle Steel 14-Tine Bow Rake
For a tool that is n’t peculiarly designed to remove Edward Teach , the Anvil 51 - inch rake surprised us with how well it do at this task . After experimenting with the amount of insistency to apply and the angle at which to concord it , we found that the Anvil alloy rake pulled up thatched roof nicely . It ’s also durably made with a thick wooden hold and atomic number 26 head . No , it is n’t as efficient as a specialized dethatching rake , and it incline to draw up a higher percentage of casualties in the form of healthy grass . Just be inclined to get an upper body workout when using it for dethatching .
That read , it ’s effective enough to make it a good selection if you have a small surface area to dethatch , do n’t want to pay for a specialized dethatching rake , or merely do n’t relish the mind of crowding your shed with yet another single - purpose lawn and garden tool . And unlike a rake contrive specifically for dethatching , a metal rake is a garden essential , useful for a salmagundi of job such as propagate mulch , cultivating soil , and gathering up leaves and debris .
Get the Anvil lawn dethatcher atThe Home DepotorWalmart .
Photo: Tony Carrick for Bob Vila
Upgrade Pick
Greenworks 15" 40V Cordless Dethatcher/Scarifier
Our Ratings : Ease of Use4.5/5 ; Effectiveness5/5 ; Durability4/5 ; Value4/5
This battery - powered dethatcher from Greenworks is certainly pricey , specially once you add in the cost of a 40 - V barrage fire and battery charger ( it costs doubly as much as a corded dethatcher ) . But if you ’re serious about dethatching and desire to release yourself from the constraints of a cord , it ’s worth the extra investing .
The Greenworks dethatcher is a beast , performing just as well as ( if not better than ) the corded models we tested . We had no problem pull up armful of thatch with each step we shoot . And since it only consider 26.5 pounds , it ’s well-fixed to press . The nonrational controls are wide-eyed to employ . A gravid depth - adjustment knob on the top of the dethatcher allowed us to flip between its five unlike depth levels with simpleness .
Photo: The Home Depot
We did have the same gripe with the Greenworks dethatcher as we had with all the electric models we test : The include bagger attachment is useless . It fills up so quickly that it needs to be emptied after only a few step . It worked far best when we transfer the bagger and left thedead grassto be raked up later . Bagging issues aside , if you do n’t take care its unconscionable price tag , the Greenworks is truly the way to go to dethatch your yard .
Get the Greenworks lawn dethatcher atAmazon , Walmart(battery and charger included ) , orGreenworks(battery and battery charger included ) .
Best Manual
Ames 15" Adjustable Thatch Rake
Our military rating : Ease of Use4/5 ; Effectiveness4.5/5 ; Durability5/5 ; Value4.5/5
For an low-priced alternative to all the expensive galvanizing dethatchers out there , the Ames dethatching roue is a secure option . The brain bites into the forage nicely , allowing you to pull up a considerable amount of thatched roof with each swipe . This dethatching tool also allows you to conform the angle of the head , which we rule very useful during testing . On our first few attempt , we pulled up an alarming amount of intelligent turf . But after making a few adjustments to the slant to make it less strong-growing , we were able-bodied to extenuate that problem , trammel the material we dispatch to mostly yellowed and brownish Edward Teach .
After testing several manualdethatching rakes , we do have some gripes with this one ’s handle . While we wish the durability of the Sir Henry Wood , it supply free weight that get what is already a taxing job into an even more arduous trial by ordeal . We also would have liked the grip to be longer , which would have allowed us to get more leverage on the blade to extradite swell thatch - removing exponent with less effort . That apart , the Ames hand dethatcher is a great manual option for removing thatch if a motorized dethatcher is n’t in the budget .
Photo: Amazon
Get the Ames lawn dethatcher atAmazon , The Home Depot , orWalmart .
ALSO TESTED
LawnMaster 16″ Electric Scarifier & Lawn Dethatcher : We had high hopes for the LawnMaster , but it flush it miserably during testing . It consistently clot and keep out itself off after just a few seconds of running , forcing us to arise the front last off to crystallise out thatch .
Jump to Our Top Picks
How We Tested the Best Lawn Dethatchers
We put our six dethatchers to the mental testing on a yard with moderate Teach , using each exemplar on an region of the same size . During examination , we started our analysis by remark how easy the dethatcher was to set up . We then assessed how effectively each one remove thatch by collecting and equate the amount of Edward Thatch each pull out up . We also considered the amount of validating harm each manikin inflicted on healthy gage . After complete our testing , we assess value by comparing the dethatcher ’s price to its overall carrying into action .
What to Consider When Choosing a Lawn Dethatcher
select the serious dethatcher torejuvenate your lawn imply quite a few factors . This division will outline some of the most important considerations to keep in mind while value the various options . This will help you witness the best machine to dethatch your lawn based on its sizing and your live lawn equipment .
Types of Dethatchers
Before you start shopping for the serious lawn dethatcher , it ’s crucial to interpret the different styles of dethatchers on the market .
Motorized dethatchers look just like small lawn mower . They have motor that power small , spinning dethatching tine designed to labour and loosen the Edward Thatch . This eccentric of dethatcher either runs off a rechargeable battery or AC superpower , require an outdoor power supply nearby or a long extension cord .
Tow - Behind
Photo: Amazon
These dethatchers attach to the hitch on the back of a lawn mower , tractor , four - Sir Mortimer Wheeler , or side - by - side , making them idealistic for covering large areas . As one of these motorize machine pull in the dethatcher across the lawn , it tease up the Teach quickly and easily .
Like towage - behind dethatchers , attachments can temporarily convert other lawn cock , such as a lawn mower , into a dethatcher . This can want a fiddling morsel of work , since the user will need to replace the lawn mower vane withdethatching blades . Most mower attachment conform to 20 - inch decks . For best results , consult the attachment information provided by the manufacturing business of the dethatcher blades .
Manual
Photo: Amazon
If you do n’t mind a act of hard work , you may save significant money and go for a manual dethatcher . This tool look very similar to a stock thou rake , and it allows users to focus their travail on small areas to control they can get to all the thatch . These dethatching tools are best for dethatching smaller area .
Tines
The tines are the small fingerlike prong that grasp into the thatch to loosen it . The number of tine included on any dethatcher case typically depends on the width of the simple machine . As the tines rotate around the shaft or are pull through the yard , they dig into the Edward Teach , rise it , and break it up . Stainless steel and spring - steel tine are the best because they ’re strong and tolerant to the result of corrosion .
Dethatcher Width
When it comes to choose the best lawn dethatcher , keep in mind that the tools come in different width . They range from about 12 inches to more than 48 inches wide , offer a variety of choices for small yards as well as expectant belongings .
The enceinte the dethatcher ’s width , the fewer passes it will have to make to cover the property . Keep in intellect that it can be difficult to channelize a larger dethatcher through minute paths wind through the property , such as between tree or gate . Consider the narrow contribution of the property before selecting a dethatcher .
Additional Features
Some dethatcher machines have additional features that might facilitate make your conclusion easier . Many of the good lawn dethatchers are height adjustable , allowing the tines to sink deeper into thick thatch or pass higher and smoother over a flimsy type of grass . This can be a meaning benefit forlawn aeration , particularly if the thatch thickness varies significantly throughout the lawn .
Some towage - behind dethatchers have lever tumbler that elevate and take down the tines into the gage . This is a ready to hand feature article when crossing over driveways or pathways . The user can raise the tine without cause to get off the tractor and then lower them back down when cleared of the sidewalk or concrete .
FAQs
If you still have some enquiry about the best lawn dethatcher , this section is for you . It ’s a solicitation of some of the most oftentimes enquire questions about Gunter Grass dethatchers , so be sure to check for an answer to your question list below .
standardised to a force rakehell , a lawn dethatcher is a gardening tool used to bump off thatch from a lawn . Thatch is a bed of deadened locoweed , moss , leaves , and other organic material that accumulates between Mary Jane and the soil surface . While a lean thatch layer is beneficial for a lawn as it can provide insulation and protection , excessive thatch can hinder the goodish growth of weed by foreclose water system , air , and nutrients from reaching the soil and the root of the grass .
A dethatcher loosens and removes Edward Teach from the lawn , improving airflow and nutritive preoccupation .
Photo: Amazon
There are n’t many differences between a scarifier and a dethatcher . The main difference is that a scarifier digs deep into the thatch , moss , and grease below the Earth’s surface . Dethatchers simply loosen and take away the clippings and leave .
It ’s best to dethatch your lawn twice a yr : once in the spring after snow has pack the thatch down and once in the downfall before snow settles on the newfangled thatch .
Dethatching your lawn can be rough on the grass entrust behind , so it ’s good to fertilise right after dethatching to help the green goddess recover .
Dethatch in September when the weather condition begin to cool . This is when lawns tend to maturate fast and are best able-bodied to endure the stress and damage have by dethatching .
Meet the Tester
Tony Carrick is a free lance author specializing in home advance , landscaping , engineering , home plate security measures , and invention . Carrick has conducted tight mathematical product examination on everything from power tools to home security systems to backyard grills . With each review , his end is to help readers determine whether a production fill their needs and if it is or is n’t worth its cost tag end .
Additional research provide by Tom Scalisi .
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