7 Best Dethatchers of 2024

The Best Lawn Dethatchers of 2024

Many add dethatching to their list of lawn maintenance tasks. The best lawn dethatchers of 2024 remove dead grass, roots, and debris, known as thatch, which can suffocate your lawn as it piles up over the years. A dethatcher breaks and pulls up the thatch, leaving your lawn free to breathe and absorb water.

Before we look at our list of the best dethatchers, let's learn more about dethatching — what and how often should you do it?

Key Takeaways

What is dethatching?

Dethatching is simple: it's the process of getting rid of the thatch layer to restore a healthy balance in your lawn. The goal is to cut through the thatch so it can be lifted away from the soil surface. This process allows your lawn to breathe freely and absorb nutrients more effectively.

Dethatching helps more water and nutrients reach your soil. The results? Better root development, all of which add up to a healthier, more resilient lawn.

Dethatching can be back-breaking work. Honestly, it makes a big difference if it's needed, though. It will help turn your lawn into a green carpet that adds curb appeal and makes your home a great place to unwind.

A note of caution: dethatching can be stressful on a lawn and should not be performed on warm-season grasses like Saint Augustine or Bermuda. It's also a process that should be avoided during extreme heat or when actively growing seedlings. 

RELATED: What Is Aeration? The Truth About This Important Part of Lawn Care

How Often Should You Dethatch?

How often you should dethatch your lawn depends on your grass type, soil type, climate, and lawn care practices. Different types of grass have different tendencies to accumulate thatch, and the extent of that tendency can help you determine when you should dethatch your lawn.

Sun Joe 24V-X2 Scarifier/Dethatcher

For cordless fans, the Sun Joe 24V-X2, powered by 24V lithium-ion batteries, gives you up to half an acre of runtime; its 14-inch cutting width is on par with other models designed for homeowners. 

Five depth settings let it handle different levels of thatch

Homeowners with a small to mid-sized lawn who prefer to be mobile and never have to deal with cords will love this dethatcher. Like others on our list of best dethatchers of 2024, the Sun Joe 24V-X2 also serves as a scarifier.

Greenworks 14-Inch Corded Dethatcher

The Greenworks 14-inch Corded Dethatcher is one of the best dethatchers of 2024. It's reliable, easy to use, and inexpensive. This electric dethatcher has three height adjustments for removing varying matted layers. Its 13-amp motor handles moderate to heavy thatch well; its 14-inch deck covers a large area. It's lightweight, making it easy to push.

However, corded models come with their own set of issues. Greenworks mitigates these to some extent by providing an integrated cord lock that prevents the cord from disconnecting. (It's a pretty convenient feature, honestly).

Plus, it easily converts to a scarifier with its 2-in-1 system.

Agri-Fab 45-0294 Tow-Behind Lawn Dethatcher

If you have a large lawn and an acre or more, you'll want a dethatcher to hook up to the hitch of your four-wheeler, riding mower, or tractor.

The Agri-Fab 45-0294 tow-behind dethatcher is a great option. This 40-inch dethatcher is meant for heavy-duty use. With 24 heat-treated tines, it can handle the toughest thatch. The large coverage area makes for fast dethatching, and the transport handle makes lowering the tines easy.

Wolf-Garten UR-M3 Multi-Star Dethatching Rake

The Wolf-Garten UR-M3 dethatching rake is a great option if you have a smaller lawn or heavy thatch. It has sharp tines that cut through the surface with ease.

Its lightweight aluminum shaft does the job without overworking the user, and you can easily maneuver it between and around plants. We consider this one of the best dethatchers of 2024 due to its ability to handle close-quarters work.

RELATED: The helpful guide you need to combat lawn diseases

Billy Goat CR550HC Compact Power Rake

If you are a professional or own a lawn care business, you will want a dethatcher that is built for heavy use, and the Billy Goat CR550HC is the one that fits the bill. This dethatcher is a gas-powered brute constructed to handle anything you throw its way. Even with thatch half an inch thick or more, the CR550HC's Honda Engine keeps going.

It has a 20-inch dethatching path to take care of large areas in a shorter period of time. This machine is best for pros or homeowners needing the best, most powerful dethatcher. It comes in around $1,500 but doesn't skimp on doing the job extremely well.

Worx WG850 12 Amp Electric Dethatcher

Another electric dethatcher worth considering is the Worx WG850. This model boasts a very powerful 12-amp motor and has a 14-inch cutting path. This gives it plenty of power to dethatch your average neighborhood lawn. A bonus is its compact design and fold-down handle, allowing for easy storage.

The Worx WG850 has three depth adjustments and comes with a collection bag for all the dead grass and roots you pull up.

Ames True Temper Adjustable Thatch Rake

The Ames True Temper Adjustable Thatch Rake is a manual dethatcher that is simple but highly effective for small to medium lawns. It has an adjustable rake head, so you can scrape the thatch off your lawn at different depths.

Its two-sided head has a straight blade and a curved side that can be used as a dethatcher or a cultivator, so it's versatile and suitable for various types of lawn care tasks. It's a sturdy, ergonomic, and manual tool for dethatching areas where powered tools may not be able to reach.

Key Considerations When Selecting a Lawn Dethatcher

Finding the right dethatcher involves evaluating several aspects to match your lawn's needs. The tines on a dethatcher penetrate the lawn and pull out thatch. Avoid those made from carbon steel, which can rust, and look for tines crafted from stainless steel or spring steel. Choose tines with sufficient numbers and spacing to match your lawn's density and condition.

The width of the dethatcher you choose will decide how much land you can cover with each pass. Larger dethatchers (40 inches) are good for large yards as they allow you to get the job done quicker, while smaller dethatchers (12-14 inches) come in handy in tight spaces or with obstacles such as trees or flower beds.

Most dethatchers allow you to adjust the depth so you can work with different levels of thatch. Being able to raise or lower the tines means that you won't cut too deeply, damaging your lawn, while also not leaving too much thatch, which would hinder the health of your lawn.

You may also want to consider some of the following features depending on your needs:

• Transport Wheels

• Foldable Design

• Interchangeable blades

Types of Dethatchers

Manual: These long, rake-like tools let you dethatch small swaths by hand. Manual dethatchers work well for precision spot treatment or tiny lawns but are more labor-intensive.

Motorized: These electric or gas-powered dethatchers spin metal tines to clear a large area of thatch quickly. They're good for medium-to-large lawns – electric models are quieter, while gas models are more powerful.

Tow-Behind:  Tow-behind dethatchers are designed to be used behind a riding mower or a tractor and are best suited for large lawns. These machines can cover large areas quickly thanks to the multiple tines they use to move the thatch. They're a good option for homeowners with a tractor or large lawn.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between a dethatcher and a scarifier?

Although both can improve the health of your lawn, the scarifier goes deeper into the soil to aerate it, removing thatch at the same time. A dethatcher does not go as deep into the soil and is therefore aimed more at removing the thatch layer than aerating the soil.

What is a lawn dethatcher?

A dethatcher for a lawn is a tool used to remove the layer of dead grass and roots that accumulates between your grass and your soil.

How does a dethatcher work?

It pokes holes in the thatch layer with one or more tines or blades to break it up and remove it so that your lawn can breathe and take up water and nutrients more efficiently.

When should I dethatch my lawn?

For dethatching, the best time, depending on your grass type, is in early spring or fall – both are mild seasons and your lawn has time to recover and grow before the more extreme summer or winter conditions.

How frequently should I dethatch?

If your lawn is average and it grows at a rate of one inch per week, you may need to dethatch only once a year — maybe less. But if your lawn has excessive thatch cover, you may need to dethatch more often. Or, if you have a healthy lawn with minimal thatch cover, you may be able to dethatch every other year.

Quick Summary

There are dethatchers available for small yards and large estates, and for all budgets. We have made a list of the top 10 dethatchers in 2024. Don't forget to dethatch your lawn every year or bi-annually, and complement your dethatching efforts by fertilizing and watering your lawn the right way.

Dethatching isn't always necessary, but if your lawn is in poor shape, it may be that the thatch layer is keeping key nutrients from reaching the root zone.

Hiring a pro can help determine if you have a problem with thatch. GreenPal makes hiring a lawn care professional easy. Sign up to get started.