8 Best Lawn Dethatching Rakes

How to Use a Dethatching Rake

Many homeowners use a dethatching machine to get rid of thatch buildup that may be keeping adequate water and nutrients from reaching their grass roots. Another option is the old-school manual method: a dethatching rake. “This tool looks much like an iron rake, but each of the tines is very thin and sharp,” explains National Association of Landscape Professionals Director of State and Local Government Relations, agronomist and lawn care expert Bob Mann. “When pulled across a turfed area, it digs in and will remove thatch,” says Mann.

If you need to dethatch a small yard or limited area of your lawn, a dethatching rake is a straightforward tool to get the job done. Keep in mind, however, that dethatching manually can be a vigorous upper body workout. To get rid of a dense thatch layer across a large lawn, opt for a tow-behind rake, which works in much the same way as a manual dethatching rake but is hitched to a tractor or rider to get the job done with much less physical effort.

Here are the best lawn dethatching rakes to rid your yard of organic debris for vibrant, robust grass.