For work in the garden, a rake is an essential tool. When choosing a rake, you should pay attention to its type and features, and to the quality of materials from which the product is made.
Looking for a dethatching rake for the lawn? We can help you choose the right dethatching rake. We will tell you about the features and tips on the proper use of rakes for the lawn. Furthermore, we have also collected the best rakes for lawns and rated them based on customer feedback.
What is a dethatcher rake?
Dethatcher rake removes straw with a series of tines (or springs) that plunge into the grass and pull the straw to the surface, where it can be collected and disposed of. Spreaders come in many varieties, but their basic function is the same: to free the grass in your yard from the dead weight.
Dethatching Lawn: In a nutshell
- Dethatcher rake is a useful tool in the garden for clearing lawns of unwanted.
- Important that the length and width of the rake match your height and strength. Larger and wider rakes require more power than smaller, narrower models.
Best Choice – True Temper Adjustable Thatching Rake
Features:
- 54″ Hardwood Handle.
- Number of Tines: 19.
- Curved steel teeth for cultivating soil.
What types of Dethatching Lawn Rakes are Available and Which One is Right for You?
When buying a dethatcher lawn rake, you have two options to choose from:
- Wooden lawn rakes.
- Stainless steel lawn rakes.
Gardena Combisystem Thatching Cutter 12.8″Rake Head
Features:
- Removes moss, weeds and matted grass thoroughly.
- Special tines with smooth sliding backs made of high-grade stainless spring steel.
Ames True Temper Thatching 15-1/2″ Rake
Features:
- Head: 15″ Tines: 19″.
- Wooden handle.
Wolf-Garten Interlocken Dethatching 12″ Rake
Features:
- Efficient Moss Clearing.
- Swing Head.
Corona Thatch & Groom 15″ Rake
Features:
- 15″ Head width works on the push and pull motions for easier removal of thatch and dead grass.
- Adjustable head adjusts up or down to suit the height of the users.
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Dethatching Rake Buying Criteria
Next, we’ll show you what aspects you can use to choose between the many possible lawn rakes.
Criteria you can use to compare different lawn rakes include:
- Material.
- Width.
- Number and size of tines.
- Handle.
In the following paragraphs, we will explain what the individual criteria are.
More info: Rake: what are there, what are they made of, and how to choose?
Material
Dethatching rakes are generally made from the following materials:
- Wood.
- Stainless steel.
Depending on the characteristics you expect from the material from which the detatcher rake is made, you should choose the appropriate rake.
What distinguishes a wooden thatch rake and what are its advantages and disadvantages?
A wooden thatch lawn rake is not common on the market and the supply is very small. Probably, this is also the reason why wooden rakes are expensive. In addition, wooden rakes are partly made by hand. This also pushes the price up, but it is also a quality feature.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Drives smoothly through dense turf | Low supply |
| Natural material | High price |
| Usually handmade | Sensitive to external influences |
| High quality |
Most designs have a large distance between the individual tines. This means that the rake does not get stuck in the lawn so easily. Wooden rakes are therefore especially suitable if you have a very dense and overgrown lawn.
What distinguishes a stainless steel thatch rake and what are its advantages and disadvantages
Stainless steel thatch lawn rakes are the most common on the market. They are slightly more expensive than those made of wood or plastic, but the material used is also of higher quality. Stainless steel is very strong and sturdy, which allows you to remove even the most stubborn weeds.
Furthermore, it is a very durable material, as it is insensitive to external influences and is considered virtually indestructible.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Very robust and stable | Expensive |
| Durable | Not flexible |
| Rust protection | Higher weight |
One disadvantage of stainless steel is that the lawn rakes bring a lot of weight. This makes working with the rake more strenuous, and you have to use more force.
Also, the tines are not as flexible and soft as plastic. However, this can be both disadvantageous and advantageous, depending on the condition of your lawn and the rake’s intended use.
For example, a slightly harder rake is desirable for dethatching, while a soft and flexible lawn rake makes more sense for collecting leaves in a manicured lawn that is free of moss.
Width
Lawn rakes vary in width from 16″ to 40″. The wider the rake, the more material you need to use and the heavier the rake. This automatically makes it more bulky.
Also, wider dethatching lawn rakes require more physical effort to move through the grass
So when buying, make sure that the width of the rake matches your height and strength. Therefore, dethatching lawn rakes with a slightly smaller width are recommended for people who are small in stature. The advantage of a wide rake is that it covers a larger area. This means that you can work a lot more lawn in less time than with a narrower model.
So a wide rake is desirable if you have a large garden and don’t want to spend a lot of time gardening. The shape of your garden should not be neglected. If there are narrow corners that the wide rake cannot reach, it is worth buying the narrower model.
Number and size of tines
The number and size of tines can vary greatly. There are rakes with 15 tines and ones with 60 tines.
Of course, the number of tines must always be seen in relation to the width of the lawn rake. As a rule of thumb, however, the higher the number of tines, the closer they are to each other and the better you can pick up small objects on your lawn. However, the closer the tines are to each other and the bigger they are, the harder it will be for you to get the rake through a heavily overgrown and dense lawn.
In such cases, a rake with fewer tines and wider teeth is better suited.
So take a look at your lawn and its condition and decide how many tines your rake needs.
Handle
The main thing to consider when choosing a rake handle is its length. This is usually between 45 “and 95”.
A shorter handle is recommended for people who are not tall, as it is easier for them to use it. Taller people can buy a longer rake. It is best to hold the rake in your hands before buying it. You will immediately notice if it sits comfortably in your hand and if it is too long or short.
So if you are only looking for a new “end item”, cheaper offers without a handle will be optimal for you. However, if you are looking for a complete lawn rake, including the handle, note that in the product description.
Best Brands of Detatcher Rakes
- Gardena;
- True Temper;
- Corona.
Thatching Rake Price:
Under $100:
- Gardena Combisystem 12.8-Inch Thatching Cutter Rake Head.
Under $80:
- Ames True Temper Thatching Rake;
- Corona Thatch & Groom Rake.
Under $60:
- True Temper Adjustable Thatching Rake;
- Wolf-Garten Interlocken Dethatching Rake.
Under $50:
SurmountWay Lawn Leveling Rake
FAQ
Are thatching rakes worth it?
Dethatching rakes are good for light thatch and general thatch maintenance on small lawn areas.
Is it better to aerate or dethatch?
Core aerating not only breaks up thatch buildup but also relieves compacted soil. Dethatching mostly loosens the top layer of soil and also removes the layer of debris (dead grass) from the soil. Dethatching can really help when overseeding your lawn.
What month should I dethatch my lawn?
For cool-season grasses, that’s early spring or early fall. For warm-season grasses, dethatch in late spring through early summer (after the second mowing).
