Power raking removes thatch, a tight mat of dead rhizomes, stems and roots, which builds up under the surface of a lawn. Some thatch is beneficial to lawns, but too much blocks water, air and nutrients from reaching the soil.

Power raking removes thatch, a tight mat of dead rhizomes, stems and roots, which builds up under the surface of a lawn. Some thatch is beneficial to lawns, but too much blocks water, air and nutrients from reaching the soil.

You can rid your lawn of harmful thatch by renting and using a dethatcher. Your local, ARA-affiliated rental professional can help you determine which rental items best suit your needs.

• Powered walk-behind dethatcher. Most powered, walk-behind dethatcher rentals receive their power from gas engines. Important characteristics to look for in this type of dethatcher include ease of use, portability and working width. Self-propelled dethatchers are easier to use than push dethatchers. Features such as folding handles make dethatchers more portable. The wider the path made by the dethatcher the fewer passes it will take to finish your lawn. Working widths of the majority of powered walk-behind dethatchers typically range from 18 to 20 inches. Another handy feature of some walk-behind dethatcher rentals is a catcher bag attachment for collecting thatch. Some dethatchers also convert to seeders.
• Towable dethatcher. Some rental stores offer towable dethatchers. For those who use a tractor to mow the lawn, renting a towable dethatcher to attach to it may provide the best rental option. A rented towable dethatcher also works well when you have a large area of lawn to dethatch.
• Sod cutter. When thatch completely takes over a section of your lawn, consider renting a sod cutter to cut out the area for renovation before reseeding.
• Seeder/overseeder. Rent a gas-powered seeder/overseeder to make fast work of seeding your lawn after dethatching.

Contact your local, ARA-affiliated, rental store for information on available rental products and services to meet your dethatcher needs. To locate the rental store nearest you, use the Rental Store Quick Locator above.

Lawn & Garden Rentals: Post Hole Digger, Stump Grinder, Aerator, Log Splitter, Dethatcher, Skid Steer, Wood Chipper