Verticutter vs Dethatcher: How Do They Differ?

If you have a lawn there are a ton of things to know. Drop the ball on any of them and the look and vitality of your grass could suffer. For instance, when it comes to a verticutter vs dethatcher, do you know the difference? If you do then kudos. But don’t worry if you’re not entirely up to speed, because I’m going to take you through it now.

Verticutting vs Dethatching: How They Differ

There are some who would argue that verticutting and dethatching are the most important things to know when it comes to lawn care and I wouldn’t necessarily argue with that. If your lawn requires verticutting and you neglect to do it in a timely fashion you could be seriously undermining the health of the lawn long term. Same with dethatching.

Both machines are designed to eliminate the layer of thatch that quietly but persistently accumulates between the blade tops and the soil. If left to its own devices this layer of thatch can rob your lawn of nutrients, air and sunshine.

Now that we know the stakes, let’s take a look at both of these devices.

The Verticutter

When most people think “thatch” they think of a layer of clippings from past mowings that gradually builds up, eventually giving the lawn a spongy feel. And many times that is exactly what it is. Other times, however, there is more to the thatch than clippings.

Sometimes there are also stolons (also known as “runners”) mixed in with the clippings, along with dead leaves, twigs, dirt blown in from far-off places and more. The stolons are particularly problematic, because leaving them in place will promote weed growth and accelerate the process of lawn degradation. This is where it pays to know the difference between verticutting and dethatching.

The verticutter, with its row of sharp, aggressively shaped blades is designed to cut vertically (hence “verticutter”) through the clippings, twigs and other detritus without damaging the grass and chop the stolons into little pieces that can then be easily removed. Verticutting is usually done after seeding to help ensure the seeds take.

The Dethatcher

If you’re into a serious growth period, but the layer of thatch has become more than about 1/2 inch thick, it’s time to reach for the dethatcher.

If the thatch gets too thick it absorbs water before it gets to the roots, prevents fertilizer from reaching those same roots and cuts off air and light. This will starve the grass of everything it needs while it’s in the middle of what should be a growth cycle. The dethatcher prevents this.

But the benefits of dethatching don’t stop there. The dethatcher also loosens up the soil a bit enabling it to absorb water and fertilizer more easily. Breaking up the hard soil also helps smooth out the surface, making the lawn feel more pleasant underfoot.

More About Verticutting

The best time to use the verticutter is in the late summer or fall while the lawn is still growing. You should not use the verticutter in mid-summer when the lawn is constantly baked by the summer sunshine, or during dry periods because verticutting will make the grass more susceptible to fungi or disease. For the record, some homeowners will use the verticutter in the springtime. While there is nothing fundamentally wrong with this approach using it later in the year is more likely to produce optimal results.

That said, in most cases, you shouldn’t have to use the verticutter more than once a year. However, if your lawn is comprised of a fast-growing grass like Kentucky bluegrass or creeping bentgrass you may have to. Should multiple verticutting sessions be required just try to keep in mind what I said about not using the device during an extremely dry period or on scorching hot days when the sun is beating down.

More About Dethatching

A dethatcher is a serious tool and should only be used when necessary and in the correct manner. It should not be used if the lawn is bone dry or sopping wet because you could wind up doing as much harm to the grass as you do to the thatch. I’d recommend dethatching in the spring. This will give the lawn time to recover before any serious hot, dry weather sets in.

Conversely, you might want to dethatch late in the summer to address thatch that has built up from multiple mowings during the year. Just be careful not to dethatch late in the fall. A frost could damage fresh cut grass.

Verticutter vs Dethatcher: Pros and Cons

Now that we’ve got a better idea of what these machines do, along with how and when to use them, let’s review the pros and cons of the verticutter and dethatcher.

Verticutter Pros

• Eliminates thatch before it can suffocate your lawn
• Makes short work of stolons/runners
• Once a year is usually enough
• Allows water, fertilizer and air to reach the roots
• Promotes a healthy, vibrant lawn

Verticutter Cons

• If you’re not careful you could damage the lawn
• It might be too much if all you need is dethatching

Dethatcher Pros

• A relatively simple way to ensure the health of your lawn
• Clears away heavy thatch and allows water, air and nutrients in
• Breaks up hard soil and makes the lawn feel better
• Can be done in the spring or fall

Dethatcher Cons

• Tempting to overuse it
• Won’t tackle stolons effectively

Conclusion

Whether you use a verticutter or dethatcher will depend mostly on the type of thatch you’re dealing with. If it’s a heavy thatch made up mostly of clippings you’ll want to use a dethatcher. If it’s a moderate thatch but includes stolons/runners you’ll want to break out the verticutter. Just make sure that no matter which one you use, that you don’t use it too early or late in the season, under the scorching sun, or when the lawn is dried out or sopping wet.