Power Rake vs Dethatcher: Are They the Same?

Thatch is a problem that every lawn owner has to face sooner or later. Thatch is comprised of grass clippings, roots, old leaves, stems, twigs and other stuff that’s blown into your yard on the wind, and your choices to remove it come down to power rake vs dethatcher.

A little thatch is good for a lawn because it retains a bit of moisture and protects the roots from extreme temperatures and foot traffic. When thatch gets thicker than 1/2 an inch, however, it becomes a problem. The built-up thatch begins to absorb water and nutrients, the grass begins to take on a yellowish tone and growth slows or stops.

In this article, I’m going to look at both the power rake and dethatcher, how they differ, when they should be used, and their respective pros and cons. By the end, you should have a better idea of which one is right for your lawn.

What is a Power Rake?

A power rake is a mechanical device that is designed to hasten the job of removing heavy layers of thatch from your lawn. When compared to dethatching with a standard garden rake they will save you hours of time and trouble. If there is a downside it’s that this is a very aggressive tool and if you are not careful how you wield it, it can do some significant damage to your lawn. It can be physically demanding as well.

The power rake features rotating flails that are designed to whip through the grass to the soil pulling up thatch along the way. In almost all cases it works like a charm, but a lot of people are hesitant to use it nonetheless. Personally, I would not use a power rake unless the thatch I was attempting to remove was more than an inch thick.

What is a Dethatcher?

A dethatcher can be a rake, but because I like my back the way it is, I’m talking about a mechanical dethatcher here. This type of dethatcher has a number of blades attached to a drum that do essentially the same job as the power rake. They’re just a bit more gentle about it. A dethatcher is typically used on light to moderate thatch up to about 1 inch thick. Anything more than that and you should probably opt for the power rake.

Because it is not as aggressive as a power rake your lawn will recover quicker from the dethatcher, and you may even use it more than once a year. This will enable you to prevent the thatch from ever getting too thick and endangering your lawn. Also, while a dethatcher is not exactly easy to use, it is less labor-intensive than a power rake.

When is the Right Time to Power Rake the Lawn?

Sometimes folks get tied up with other things and lawn care gets demoted on the priority list. When they finally cast their gaze back into the yard they notice the lawn has taken on a yellowish hue. This usually means the thatch has gained the upper hand and is strangling the lawn. A quick check can confirm this. If the thatch has become thick and formidable it’s time to break out the power rake.

There are those who recommend power raking once a year. I’m of a mind that if you dethatch when you should you maybe never need to use a power rake. The potential damage the power rake can do means it’s one of those tools of last resort. It’s a good thing they exist, and they have saved countless lawns over the years. But if you don’t really need to use it, stick with the dethatcher.

Note: Because they may not use the power rake more than once every few years most people will opt to rent this particular piece of equipment.

When is the Right Time to Dethatch a Lawn?

Dethatching is something that should be done either in the early-to-middle spring or early fall. If you have a warm-season grass such as Bermuda grass, you’ll want to dethatch in the early summer. Even though it is less aggressive than power raking, dethatching is still somewhat traumatic for the grass and your lawn will need a couple of weeks to recover before any extreme weather sets in.

If you do it right there really shouldn’t be any need to dethatch more than once a year. The only exception might be if you have experienced a heavy weather event that blew a lot of material into your yard that settled into the lawn. Keep in mind too that fungus can cause yellow spots. So if you see yellow but don’t see much in the way of thatch buildup, your lawn may have a fungal infection.

Power Raking vs Dethatching: Pros and Cons

Power Raking Pros

• Removes the toughest thatch.
• Can bring your lawn back from the brink.
• Removes several times as much thatch as a dethatcher.

Power Raking Cons

• A very aggressive tool that tears the grass.
• Labor intensive.
• Power rakes are expensive to buy and rent.
• May remove too much thatch leaving roots overexposed.

Dethatching Pros

• Not as aggressive as a power rake.
• Used once a year it should suffice.
• Makes for a healthier, more vibrant lawn.

Dethatching Cons

• Won’t remove very heavy thatch or stolons.
• Needs to be done at the right time or it could damage your lawn.

Power Rake vs Dethatcher: Conclusion

Is a power rake the same as a dethatcher? No. So, what is the difference between a power rake and dethatcher? It’s really just a matter of degrees. They are both designed to remove thatch from your lawn, but the dethatcher is designed to handle light to moderate thatch and the power rake is only employed if the thatch is too thick for the dethatcher.

If you employ the dethatcher once a year, either in the spring or fall, chances are pretty good you will never need to buy or rent a power rake. Just remember that there are other things such as fungal infections that can cause your lawn to go yellow, so don’t just assume it’s a thatch problem.