The past couple of seasons I used the de-thatching accessory on my Echo/Mantis cultivator and it made a huge difference. It’s a bit of work but it’s totally worth it.
Love the groundskeepee rake!!! I bought both sides late last year and they work great. I use them to dethatch the perimeter of each lawn I power rake. The other thing it works great on is brushing juniper bushes to remove pine needles and leaves!! Thanks for the recommendation brother!!!
@@SilverCymbal 4 TRUE ... You were simultaneously inspiring & relaxing, as I'm ANXIOUS about personally attempting to transform the "yard" of my home🏡 into a "LAWN" 🥰😊
@@SilverCymbal is your lawn kentucky bluegrass midnight, granite or wildhorse ......the light green color tells me it's rye grass.....rye grass looks very soft.....this one of the most beautiful lawns on all of UA-cam......is thIs the results of humic acid if so I'm sold ....which one works better pellet form or liquid
Need to add option of a pull behind tine rake for a riding mower. It makes dethatching easy and is relatively inexpensive. It works well and is pretty fast. It helps to make multiple passes with it. I also use it before seeding. It will put small grooves into any bare areas of ground that let the seed fall into instead of washing away. I recommend this model: Craftsman 24315 40" Rear Mount Lawn Dethatcher. It costs about $90. I also use it in the fall when I am going to pick up leaves with my mower. A couple passes with this loosens any leaves that are matted down on the lawn and makes it easier to vacuum them up.
I really appreciate. Allett is newer to the US and offers a better machine now at a lower cost this is worth checking out too: ua-cam.com/video/1Gzttrn9P0c/v-deo.html Still expensive but less than Swardman considerably.
That Swardsman Edwin is a BEAST!! I went to the Swardsman website, spec'd out the Edwin machine I wanted but even when I agreed to compromise and deleted the leather-wrapped hand-grips, LED headlights, custom paint color and racing stripe, the wife still vetoed the $3000+ price tag. I tried to explain that this was an important investment in the curb appeal of our home (the biggest investment we have) but she was having NONE of it. Guess I'll just have to wait until Amazon delivers my Groundskeeper II rake either today or tomorrow. Now all the other guys on the block will laugh and laugh at me.
@Bob Hoffman Ever dealt with a kid or employee that messed everything up just so they could get out of doing it? Yea, I married HER. All kidding aside, my wife had a stroke in 2016 so all she really CAN do is watch and offer commentary... Just glad she's still here...
I just thatched my front lawn also. I do it about every year but I’ve got some moss issues I’ve been battling. But I picked up an electric SunJoe dethatcher and scarifier combo and it’s cheap. Maybe $110 on Amazon, I call it the Fischer price lawn care system lol. Looks like a cheap toy but it works really well.
Also note if you're running a de-thatcher machine try your best not to stop on the lawn with the blades down, or go onto hard surfaces with the blades down. If the maxhine sits in one spot it could dig in deeper than you want, & damage the lawn.
This Fall I plan on getting the Rake Attachment for my Zero Turn and have The Blades Going. Return it back in a way finer cut so it can Finish Decomposing back into dirt. I don't know how well it will do but it's just a thought.
In an earlier video I showed dethatching on my Walker mower which is a non-powered rake and it did a very good job, especially considering you just drive it and the mower sucks it up. The tines are very rough though and it didn't seem to get as much material as these ways but it was incredibly fast so I think that you may be very happy with what you are getting and it's easy to use too. I hope it works out well for you but the important thing is that regular dethatching will greatly improve your lawn.
@@SilverCymbal I have been in this house 13 years, had it tilled with a humongous tiller, seeded it, and just been mowing it with my 42" Gravely Zero Turn Mower. Anyway my front yard looks great and I've never checked to see how bad it is. My back yard and not being able to put chemicals for weeds due to dogs has made it seriously go to pot. I just don't know what to do other then hearing about prodiamine so that they can't germinate. I'm just really lost.
@@DonaldAJr Check out my other video ua-cam.com/video/HWNM1Wafsvk/v-deo.html This is safe for kids and pets and I have both and this stuff has been a game changer for me. If you watch some of my other renovation videos you will see even more about what it did to turn my lawn around. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.
I can definitely say yes to that. My lawn might seem level on the video but I have a LONG way tp go it's very bump and lumpy like al New England lawns.
@@meandmsjones8755 It's well over $3k. I would recommend looking at this alternative ua-cam.com/video/1Gzttrn9P0c/v-deo.html - They have local dealers and they have been making these uin the UK for over 50 years
Hello....what should I do where the thatch comes right off and leaves bare soil? Is t OK to leave that way through the winter? I have about 1 1/2 acres of lawn and a few pretty large spots of I guess what is thatch. Where it is spongy everything just easily peels off and leaves bare dirt. Did I create this by mowing when the grass was too high and leaving it there? Thank you.
I would like to try that sometimes My only concern is that there seemed to be a lot of posts saying that it worked well at first and failed quickly after. I would hate to recommend something like that without a long term test but I will see what I can do.
I’m still trying to figure out why any one would do this, but I’m a farmer so what do I know. I got the greenest grass on the block. I learned long time ago, leave it 3 inches and leave it alone.
Scoop Yall I’m with you. I live in New England. I have a mix of Kentucky blue and some other seeds. Some shade, some sun. I leave my lawn a little bit higher than my neighbors. I noticed, I don’t have to cut it as often and it burns less than my neighbors.
Check out a SunJoe or Greenworks electric dethatcher if your lawn is small. I have one and it pulls an AMAZING amount of thatch. More than the Husky in this video and not far behind the Uber thatcher. About $125. Budget some extra $$ for a quality 12 gauge electric cord since they will pull 10 amps, about $50. If I hit the lottery I'm all in on the Uber Thatcher ;-)
Would a dethatching blade on a push mower be ok on a cheap budget? I've seen one with spring tines and another with what looked like weed trimmer line looped through holes in the blade and pointing down. Love the lawn advice. Just started watching your videos as I am in the process of improving my lawn ... finally.
Thank you very much for the nice words. You don't have to spend big $ or have a fancy machine. One mounted on a push mower could work or even buy one of these and just do small areas when you want to. It ends up with the same results and let's you control how much or little you do. amzn.to/2LpoyBM
Yes or Rent One for Ave of Only $30 for 1 hr..Only do it every 3 yrs at the most..Unless you have a Nice Big Shed to store all this Equpitment? ( I also ask my neighbors( Via Email) if they want to share and rent it for 3 hrs?
You could've mentioned a dethatching blade for a rotary mower, newer ones have multiple plastic tines, mine has two spring steel tines. They cost about $20 and the tines are easily replaceable. The result is about the same as the Swardman...minus the $2600 price tag.
I have tried those blades and found they wore out too quickly to be effective. The swardman is certainly an expensive machine and you may want to consider the stand alone dethatching machine rental as a economical option that can give great results.
@@wiredawg2005 I wish I could help but I have tried them and they just don't work. Or they do for a few minutes and wear out. I don't like them at all.
I just released a brand new video that shows more dethatching and covers those tips too. Hope you can check it out: ua-cam.com/video/j3hMSKtcmxE/v-deo.html
What happens if you hit a rabbits nest? I live near the woods and constantly have rabbit nests in my yard. A few haven't made it through the mowing season. My yard needs to be dethatched but I think this machine would be brutal on some bunnies. Any tips to scare away rabbits?
My inner me would love to go buy one but the voice of reason (my wife) would kill me. I did buy a groundskeeper rake last year and fell in love with it. It dose a wonderful job and the wife is happy 😃. Thanks for the great video
How much of the thatch layer do you wanna remove? 100% or leave just a little bit ? I don’t wanna over do it and cause damage to my grass because I have a damaged yard I’m trying to bring back to life.
Yeah. I have my own buissness where I mow and trim and ( a lawn buisnness) I should've just said lawn buissness lol but I found the groundskeeper rake and it was about the same price as an electric dethatcher but either one I don't care. I wanted an edger for a little while and I'm tired of edging now. I want that groundskeeper rake
great video, but in my personal opinion “thatch” is the spongy layer above the soil .what you are pulling up is dead debris. yes, it does pull up a tiny layer of thatch but if you want to truly remove a lot of the thatch layer if it’s too thick, use an aeration machine👍🏽
Should you dethatch on a recently overseeded (3 weeks after germination) grass? Or would it be too stressful on the new grasses? This is with the rake.
Yes I would agree as well. You want to wait a while, I am not sure I would even do it in the first season unless the grass is very mature from a strong growing season.. The grass is too young.
I have the Honda 110 Tiller Dethatcher attachment. Worked great but can't find replacement tines nor does Honda offer them. A search shows it's a common question but no responses of an after market tine that works. So can't recommend it
Thatch is also a protective layer, like mulch, so you only need to do it when it becomes excessive. If your mower has a bag, it's even less frequent. Guessing I Florida as long as it stays watered you're okay. Aerating can be done spring or fall, usually when the roots are most active. If you have heavy dense soil like clay you can put sand down afterwards and rake in to fill the core holes.
No need for any of that. You can apply with your lawn as-is. I would see how it looks a few weeks later. The other things are fine to do but the weed control is truly #1
Ryan turf manufactures a power rake that makes swapping reels (flail, spring, fixed blades) a breeze. Not necessarily budget friendly but it’s a great machine Do you recommend detaching this time of the year? I’d think it would be a bit rough on the lawn especially heading into the hot/dry season
Hi, Just came across your channel and I am impressed with your beautiful lawn and living space. Since your useing the sword man What type of grass are you growing?
I like to dethatch when it's a bit cooler. But you can do it really anytime if you don't go too rough. The swardman has is thorough but doesn't seem to tear like the larger machines do. Plus if you own one you can do it more often when it's convenient for you.
You mentioned first season with reel mowing but is the lawn new? If the lawn is brand new I would wait one season before dethatching but if the lawn existed prior and you are now just cutting shorter you can dethatch really anytime. Even in heat it is ok to do as long you are irrgating. I try to dethatch 2-3 times per year and it has helped a lot. I also get a ton of little sticks, needles and pinecones that get embedded without dethatching the lawn,
@@youme77324 Ok good to know, you can definitely dethatch it then and see what kind of material comes up. If its very heavy you can always do it again a month later but you will probably be shocked at how much is there smothering the lawn.
The husqvarna is about 150# and the Swardman is about 180# - The aerator is probably double those weights. You can get one of these in a hatchback, much lighter than an aerator.
You can dethatch any time of year even in heat provided the lawn is properly irrigated. I like to do it at least once usually 2-3 times for best results, especially if you are improving the lawn. Thanks for watching.
I put down tenacity 2 weeks ago to my whole lawn, since I have a lot of weeds. Do you suggest detaching in another week, after tenacity has had its full effect?
If it's been 2 weeks detaching would not be a problem to do now. It is already working and won't be disturbed by dethatching. It will also help clean up some of the white blades too and make it look better also.
My neighbor had a small cub cadet rider, circa 1995?? Maybe, anyway at the time cub cadet sold an accessory tine rake, that clipped onto the front of the mower, he de thatched my front lawn once for a case of beer, he got l about ten trash cans of thatch up in 30 minutes, from a 50 x 50 foot patch of lawn..and btw the cubby had a plastic tub "grass catcher" so all we had to do is disconnect the catcher and dump it. No raking, no bending over, fast as ever! Cub cadet please bring back that system!!!
I have a tow behind and use it on my 2.5 acres. As long as you properly weigh it down, it works great. I use a lawn sweeper to then clean up the thatch.
I think they work great for a very short amount of time that's the problem. There are some units like this electric one that would be a better budget alternative: amzn.to/2NrtBVc
Hey Cymbal! How often should I thatch my lawn? I just bought and used a pull-behind dethatcher to my midwestern lawn two weeks ago - the first time in 10 years. Is this a seasonal task? Does it depend on how thick the lawn is? Thanks in advance...
Deththatching can be scary, I say this because you can do it once, then do it again the next day and you will continue to get more and more out of the lawn. Since you have equipment to do it and can suck up the thatch with your rider (meaning less work than raking) I would try to do it 2x a year. Don't be shocked though that it just keeps coming up, you have to think of it that you are removing build up so anything removed is a big positive for the lawn.
Sorry yes, you can dethtach, if you use the greenworks I just reviewed its fine to touch a head, rental units will destroy sprinkler heads, so avoid them.
I really am interested in that one but haven't had a chance to even try one but I love the idea of being able to mow at 5am when I wake up and not wake my neighbors!
@@youme77324 They are really nice, I am hoping to find some way to get my hands on an Electra but they do seem amazing. My biggest thing is that I work late and often would mow super early or late but the noise is too much. This would solve that plus need less maintenance. The attachments make the value of this machine go up a lot for me. I hope it can work out for you.
another great video. My lawn is in pretty good condition , green but I notice the beige cast underneath and it is an annoyance. I suspect that some mulching mowers do not work well and it builds over time especially cutting 2x per week . Then factor in stalks , some grass dying due to fungus/melting out (RAIN RAIN and more Rain) and various "lawn debris" (lawn ginga). I did buy the Groundskeeper II based upon your recommendation , love the Swardman but price is a factor.Sticking with Timemaster for now . I plan on watching mulching effectiveness and will bag more. I have never dethatched this time of year but im going to pull out the Greenworks this week
@@lsturbointeg overall look is pretty good but "lawn debris" is present. I plan on testing removal in one area. I have put down 2 fungicide apps already and another will be thrown down mid July.
If you never done it before, I would almost always say yes. You will usually get the type of material you see in the video and it really helps the lawn breathe a little easier.
@@SilverCymbal Thank you for your reply. I've never dethatched my lawn. After watching your video I want a Swardman so bad, then I looked up the price. Guess it's a rake for me lol.
You will often see brown/yellow/white patches which indicate poor growth due to thatch and dead material. Generally, virtually all lawns develop it because the grass leaf growth starts going sideways and forms a foliage effect rather than growing up. That’s why scarifying and verti cutting is essential.
Caused by mowing grass not often enough. You want to only mow the top 1/3 of the blade. So if you let your lawn get long mow higher. Smaller the clippings the easier it is decompose.
Big Kat Ok, thanks. By the way , do you know how long I have to wait after spray my lawn for weeds to spread seeds? I have tenacity being shipped to me this week.
@@pouchy400 I'm not sure with Tenacity. I has to be in the label. I know Roundup is usually 14 days or so. But that is a completely different chemical.
The amazing news with Tenacity is that you don’t have to wait at all, the seed can go down before during or after, it has no effect on seed at all. Truly a remarkable product for weed control and different than any other. Everything you need to be weed free: Tenacity Weed Control: amzn.to/2JM4APm - Surfactant: amzn.to/2Xz6dod - Dye/Colorant: amzn.to/2Jta4yh 2 Gallon Sprayer: amzn.to/2xBJP3k
Yes, it is an amazing machine. You can order the basic machine for a lot less than that but it's hard to not want the accessories but you can always buy them over time.
If you’re into reel mowers and are shocked by the Edwin price. Check out California Trimmer. Super great reel mower for a lot less. www.mowersdirect.com/California-Trimmer-RL207H-BS550-Lawn-Mower/p62067.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwtLT1BRD9ARIsAMH3BtVWgTxvrQ2I8U0PeNhFlny2SVOVm1aKfpYWUoV6E7PSh2WJ9TMbbQUaAvfZEALw_wcB
😀Believe me I have plenty of them! I don't generally use chemicals in my beds, so I use my electric trimmer and just keep blasting them down to keep them under control or pull some but I hate doing that.
I posit that $4000.00 is not a reasonable expense for the "average" homeowner. With good lawn maintenance practices dethatching will rarely be needed. For you do-it-yourselfers save money. Rent a machine. It would take many, many years for your rental costs to approach 4 grand.
Renting a machine can really let someone extend their budget but more and more people are buying expensive mower that don't have some of these benefits. I don't discount that the Swardman is inexpensive but it is more versatile and the cut is so high quality that nothing can match it in this space. You have to get what works for you in your situation and budget. I will be sharing some other videos showing that mower that may surprise you too. Thanks for watching.
Thank you very kindly for your reply. By same you have demonstrated a level of reader/subscriber sensitivity that I rarely witness from most "youtubers". Although I do agree that the Swardman offers tremendous versatility one can purchase a very decent lawn mower/tractor for considerably less money, rent a dethatcher when needed and still come out ahead. I love your channel because you offer extremely useful information without the excrutiating verbosity and self-aggrandizement that is all too common with many sties. Keep up the good wrok.
I really appreciate the kind words and feedback, I really value my subscribers and viewers and love engaging with everyone because I truly enjoy the things I am showing. Keep a close eye on my channel too for an announcement coming very soon for the 4th too. Thanks again
The only reason I usually don't is they change and people are even more pissed if I say something costs $20 and now its $40. Everything is in the description with links to the current prices, hope this helps.
@@MrRudyc I did a featured video just on that rake and at least 100 people that bought them or owned one told me incredible things about it. Now I know it's just a rake but see what you think it just handles so differently and my back doesn't hurt like it used to when I use it. Thanks and best wishes to you.
Silver Cymbal I have had it a week and I love it. I just wish I could afford all the wonderful toys that you have for your yard. Thanks for your work in making great videos
The past couple of seasons I used the de-thatching accessory on my Echo/Mantis cultivator and it made a huge difference. It’s a bit of work but it’s totally worth it.
Love the groundskeepee rake!!! I bought both sides late last year and they work great. I use them to dethatch the perimeter of each lawn I power rake. The other thing it works great on is brushing juniper bushes to remove pine needles and leaves!! Thanks for the recommendation brother!!!
I bought an electric de-thatcher for $130 on Amazon. Works great. Green works 14” 10 amp.
I’m going to get that one for next season!
This was so very informative & watching the last device was soothing & satisfying ... KUDOS👏🏾👏🏾, sir!!!! 🤩😊
Thank you! 😃
@@SilverCymbal 4 TRUE ... You were simultaneously inspiring & relaxing, as I'm ANXIOUS about personally attempting to transform the "yard" of my home🏡 into a "LAWN" 🥰😊
Thank you, I was considering the swordman, now I know I’m going to purchase.
Great video. I actually the rake you showed. It really gets the job done. It just takes patience and energy.
That machine is SLICK! I love it!
It is very cool. If Batman built a mower I think this would be it!
Unfortunately it's $4k 😳
I got to see thegrassfactor flip-flop mow with that thing, I'd love to have one some day!
@@SilverCymbal is your lawn kentucky bluegrass midnight, granite or wildhorse ......the light green color tells me it's rye grass.....rye grass looks very soft.....this one of the most beautiful lawns on all of UA-cam......is thIs the results of humic acid if so I'm sold ....which one works better pellet form or liquid
Need to add option of a pull behind tine rake for a riding mower. It makes dethatching easy and is relatively inexpensive. It works well and is pretty fast. It helps to make multiple passes with it. I also use it before seeding. It will put small grooves into any bare areas of ground that let the seed fall into instead of washing away.
I recommend this model: Craftsman 24315 40" Rear Mount Lawn Dethatcher. It costs about $90. I also use it in the fall when I am going to pick up leaves with my mower. A couple passes with this loosens any leaves that are matted down on the lawn and makes it easier to vacuum them up.
Good video I liked how you gave multiple options 👍
Swardman unit is really expensive for me its around 900 good dollars
But seriously its the only thing i want
Beautiful very informative useful video
I really appreciate. Allett is newer to the US and offers a better machine now at a lower cost this is worth checking out too: ua-cam.com/video/1Gzttrn9P0c/v-deo.html Still expensive but less than Swardman considerably.
That Swardsman Edwin is a BEAST!!
I went to the Swardsman website, spec'd out the Edwin machine I wanted but even when I agreed to compromise and deleted the leather-wrapped hand-grips, LED headlights, custom paint color and racing stripe, the wife still vetoed the $3000+ price tag.
I tried to explain that this was an important investment in the curb appeal of our home (the biggest investment we have) but she was having NONE of it.
Guess I'll just have to wait until Amazon delivers my Groundskeeper II rake either today or tomorrow. Now all the other guys on the block will laugh and laugh at me.
That's too funny. You can always wait until the wife approves but at least that rake is excellent and will hopefully serve you well for a long time.
@@SilverCymbal which is probably how long I'll be waiting, "a long, long time."
@Bob Hoffman Ever dealt with a kid or employee that messed everything up just so they could get out of doing it?
Yea, I married HER.
All kidding aside, my wife had a stroke in 2016 so all she really CAN do is watch and offer commentary... Just glad she's still here...
I just thatched my front lawn also. I do it about every year but I’ve got some moss issues I’ve been battling. But I picked up an electric SunJoe dethatcher and scarifier combo and it’s cheap. Maybe $110 on Amazon, I call it the Fischer price lawn care system lol. Looks like a cheap toy but it works really well.
Bayer-Z28 have you soil sampled the lawn recently? Moss is often a sign of acid soil. You might just need a good application of lime.
John McGeary I did last year and put down lime. I’ll test it again and see. It wasn’t off by much.
Worked great for me
I want one. Looks fun and therapeutic :)
Also note if you're running a de-thatcher machine try your best not to stop on the lawn with the blades down, or go onto hard surfaces with the blades down. If the maxhine sits in one spot it could dig in deeper than you want, & damage the lawn.
My husband was talking about thatch today and I thought he was making it up. Dang. I didn't know all that stuff was under the grass.
😀It is amazinh how much is there, a little is ok but like this it insulated the roots in a bad way blocking everything. Thanks for watching.
lol
Yeah.
This Fall I plan on getting the Rake Attachment for my Zero Turn and have The Blades Going. Return it back in a way finer cut so it can Finish Decomposing back into dirt. I don't know how well it will do but it's just a thought.
In an earlier video I showed dethatching on my Walker mower which is a non-powered rake and it did a very good job, especially considering you just drive it and the mower sucks it up. The tines are very rough though and it didn't seem to get as much material as these ways but it was incredibly fast so I think that you may be very happy with what you are getting and it's easy to use too. I hope it works out well for you but the important thing is that regular dethatching will greatly improve your lawn.
@@SilverCymbal I have been in this house 13 years, had it tilled with a humongous tiller, seeded it, and just been mowing it with my 42" Gravely Zero Turn Mower. Anyway my front yard looks great and I've never checked to see how bad it is. My back yard and not being able to put chemicals for weeds due to dogs has made it seriously go to pot. I just don't know what to do other then hearing about prodiamine so that they can't germinate. I'm just really lost.
@@DonaldAJr Check out my other video ua-cam.com/video/HWNM1Wafsvk/v-deo.html This is safe for kids and pets and I have both and this stuff has been a game changer for me. If you watch some of my other renovation videos you will see even more about what it did to turn my lawn around. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching.
Excellent video, friend!!
The last machine, boy what a bit of kit are they sold in the UK.
Best thatching action I've ever seen on the Swardman. Wonder if it works as well on uneven ground though.
I can definitely say yes to that. My lawn might seem level on the video but I have a LONG way tp go it's very bump and lumpy like al New England lawns.
@@SilverCymbal greetings how much does a swardsman cost/?
@@meandmsjones8755 It's well over $3k. I would recommend looking at this alternative ua-cam.com/video/1Gzttrn9P0c/v-deo.html - They have local dealers and they have been making these uin the UK for over 50 years
Great machine Swardman Edwin 2.0 but very expensive just like any good machine 😂 . I would try Greenworks 14 inch 10 amp corded Dethatcher
Hello....what should I do where the thatch comes right off and leaves bare soil? Is t OK to leave that way through the winter? I have about 1 1/2 acres of lawn and a few pretty large spots of I guess what is thatch. Where it is spongy everything just easily peels off and leaves bare dirt. Did I create this by mowing when the grass was too high and leaving it there? Thank you.
If doing a video on dethatching for any budget, the Greensworks dethatcher would surely need to be included in the conversation.
That's what I have, Joe- and it works just fine for dethatching.
Sun joe also makes a decent product like the Green works
I would like to try that sometimes My only concern is that there seemed to be a lot of posts saying that it worked well at first and failed quickly after. I would hate to recommend something like that without a long term test but I will see what I can do.
@@SilverCymbal Reference the reviews on Amazon and Home Depot. The failure rate is very slim, as a whole.
jOE Marchand three years with the Greenworks Dethatcher. Best $100.00 I ever spent!
Best lawn in the neighborhood. Five year warranty also.
I’m still trying to figure out why any one would do this, but I’m a farmer so what do I know. I got the greenest grass on the block. I learned long time ago, leave it 3 inches and leave it alone.
Scoop Yall you must have a cool season grass. With warm season grasses like Bermuda you must dethatch at least once a year. I keep mine at half inch.
Scoop Yall I’m with you. I live in New England. I have a mix of Kentucky blue and some other seeds. Some shade, some sun. I leave my lawn a little bit higher than my neighbors. I noticed, I don’t have to cut it as often and it burns less than my neighbors.
It really only needed with bermuda
The Groundskeeper looks nasty good.
Thanks for your video much appreciable !!!
Glad it was helpful!
I really hope one day I can get a Swardsman.
They are nice, but check out the Allett too, much less expesnive (still a lot) and I like the quality better. ua-cam.com/video/1Gzttrn9P0c/v-deo.html
Check out a SunJoe or Greenworks electric dethatcher if your lawn is small. I have one and it pulls an AMAZING amount of thatch. More than the Husky in this video and not far behind the Uber thatcher. About $125. Budget some extra $$ for a quality 12 gauge electric cord since they will pull 10 amps, about $50. If I hit the lottery I'm all in on the Uber Thatcher ;-)
Do you have recommendations on when to dethatching?
I just rented a power rake for 30 bucks for an hour. Picked it up with my mower.
Would a dethatching blade on a push mower be ok on a cheap budget? I've seen one with spring tines and another with what looked like weed trimmer line looped through holes in the blade and pointing down. Love the lawn advice. Just started watching your videos as I am in the process of improving my lawn ... finally.
Thank you very much for the nice words. You don't have to spend big $ or have a fancy machine. One mounted on a push mower could work or even buy one of these and just do small areas when you want to. It ends up with the same results and let's you control how much or little you do. amzn.to/2LpoyBM
Yes or Rent One for Ave of Only $30 for 1 hr..Only do it every 3 yrs at the most..Unless you have a Nice Big Shed to store all this Equpitment? ( I also ask my neighbors( Via Email) if they want to share and rent it for 3 hrs?
You could've mentioned a dethatching blade for a rotary mower, newer ones have multiple plastic tines, mine has two spring steel tines. They cost about $20 and the tines are easily replaceable. The result is about the same as the Swardman...minus the $2600 price tag.
I have tried those blades and found they wore out too quickly to be effective. The swardman is certainly an expensive machine and you may want to consider the stand alone dethatching machine rental as a economical option that can give great results.
Let's see a vid of you dethatching your yard with a "Rotary dethatching blade"...
@@wiredawg2005 I wish I could help but I have tried them and they just don't work. Or they do for a few minutes and wear out. I don't like them at all.
When do you dethatch ? What time of year?
I just released a brand new video that shows more dethatching and covers those tips too. Hope you can check it out: ua-cam.com/video/j3hMSKtcmxE/v-deo.html
What happens if you hit a rabbits nest? I live near the woods and constantly have rabbit nests in my yard. A few haven't made it through the mowing season. My yard needs to be dethatched but I think this machine would be brutal on some bunnies. Any tips to scare away rabbits?
My inner me would love to go buy one but the voice of reason (my wife) would kill me. I did buy a groundskeeper rake last year and fell in love with it. It dose a wonderful job and the wife is happy 😃. Thanks for the great video
LOL! Same
Hide the credit card bill, it always works for me! 😀
You just need to build the business case with her! Get quotes from professional lawn care companies, and compare costs to that!
I have ran one of those Huskavarnas 😊
what about if there is some rocky gravel beyond the grass? Are these machines good to use in such a situation?
SunJoe Bro, SunJoe
_Maze_ yes. That sunjoe is a beast! My father in law was skeptical also but he was floored how well it worked. 😁
Im totally getting the last one.
It works very well, one of my favorite tools!
How much do they cost? the swordman
Dexter Morgan they’re about four thousand dollars
4K wow that thing cost more than my car 🚗 😂
How much of the thatch layer do you wanna remove? 100% or leave just a little bit ? I don’t wanna over do it and cause damage to my grass because I have a damaged yard I’m trying to bring back to life.
Can any of these power machines be used on St Augustine grass?
just detached my lawn. i now have a large area of soil haha
guess it was mostly moss and crap.
Yeah. I have my own buissness where I mow and trim and ( a lawn buisnness) I should've just said lawn buissness lol but I found the groundskeeper rake and it was about the same price as an electric dethatcher but either one I don't care. I wanted an edger for a little while and I'm tired of edging now. I want that groundskeeper rake
great video, but in my personal opinion “thatch” is the spongy layer above the soil .what you are pulling up is dead debris. yes, it does pull up a tiny layer of thatch but if you want to truly remove a lot of the thatch layer if it’s too thick, use an aeration machine👍🏽
You should make a video on Next Dethatch liquid product
I would like to check that one! Let me see what I can do
Should you dethatch on a recently overseeded (3 weeks after germination) grass? Or would it be too stressful on the new grasses? This is with the rake.
I wouldn’t dethatch a newly seeded lawn, wouldn’t want to risk pulling those new grasses out. Just my opinion :)
Yes I would agree as well. You want to wait a while, I am not sure I would even do it in the first season unless the grass is very mature from a strong growing season.. The grass is too young.
Understood, thanks for the replies.
You only need to dethatch a lawn every 3 to 5 years depending on how well you mulch.
@@OrphanCrippler1 So I won't need to do it for quite a while haha. Thanks.
I have the Honda 110 Tiller Dethatcher attachment. Worked great but can't find replacement tines nor does Honda offer them. A search shows it's a common question but no responses of an after market tine that works. So can't recommend it
Dethatch in the fall in hot areas, otherwise you'll leave the roots unprotected from heat and drought.
i like this idea.
I have always, & still tell people i recomend Areoating in the fall, but they keep telling me iam nuts
What about in Florida? When in summer its hot but kind of rains at least couple of times a week?
Thatch is also a protective layer, like mulch, so you only need to do it when it becomes excessive. If your mower has a bag, it's even less frequent. Guessing I Florida as long as it stays watered you're okay. Aerating can be done spring or fall, usually when the roots are most active. If you have heavy dense soil like clay you can put sand down afterwards and rake in to fill the core holes.
Do all types of grass eventually need to be dethatched? Pretty sure I have CENTIPEDE GRASS
Very, Very, Very important question I have to ask. What type of grass was being dethatched?
Its a mix of northern cool grass types here, kentucky blue, tall turf fescue, and some other mongrels that gave been used over the years.
I just purchase the tenacity, I haven't done anything to my lawn yet should I dethatch before tenacity or after the tenacity?
No need for any of that. You can apply with your lawn as-is. I would see how it looks a few weeks later. The other things are fine to do but the weed control is truly #1
@@SilverCymbal I will keep you posted!
Ryan turf manufactures a power rake that makes swapping reels (flail, spring, fixed blades) a breeze. Not necessarily budget friendly but it’s a great machine
Do you recommend detaching this time of the year? I’d think it would be a bit rough on the lawn especially heading into the hot/dry season
Very interesting. I will have to check that one out. Thanks for sharing this and for watching.
What about the Greenworks model?
Absolutely! I had not tried it at that time. ua-cam.com/video/NnmaQKh4VWE/v-deo.html
Hi,
Just came across your channel and I am impressed with your beautiful lawn and living space.
Since your useing the sword man
What type of grass are you growing?
When is the best time to detach. Thanks
I like to dethatch when it's a bit cooler. But you can do it really anytime if you don't go too rough. The swardman has is thorough but doesn't seem to tear like the larger machines do. Plus if you own one you can do it more often when it's convenient for you.
What causes thatch? Not bagging?
On a lawn that is the first season with reel mower how often would I have to dethatch to get my lawn thick?
You mentioned first season with reel mowing but is the lawn new? If the lawn is brand new I would wait one season before dethatching but if the lawn existed prior and you are now just cutting shorter you can dethatch really anytime. Even in heat it is ok to do as long you are irrgating. I try to dethatch 2-3 times per year and it has helped a lot. I also get a ton of little sticks, needles and pinecones that get embedded without dethatching the lawn,
Silver Cymbal it’s not new. Prg and kbg and it was mowed with a rotary 2” and higher. This was first year with reel mower at 1”-1.5”
@@youme77324 Ok good to know, you can definitely dethatch it then and see what kind of material comes up. If its very heavy you can always do it again a month later but you will probably be shocked at how much is there smothering the lawn.
Great video. How heavy is the machine ? I would like to rent one. But if it’s like an aerator, I’ll get someone to do it.
The husqvarna is about 150# and the Swardman is about 180# - The aerator is probably double those weights. You can get one of these in a hatchback, much lighter than an aerator.
Silver Cymbal thanks
Love this mower, does anyone know if 2 inches the longest it leaves grass. Reason i ask is because my grass requires 3 inches.
If I just have weeds and dirt. Do I still need to do this step?
Watch this video instead, dethatching is really a step to do later on: ua-cam.com/video/c54WSOI-MMc/v-deo.html
When should you dethatch? And how often you think?
You can dethatch any time of year even in heat provided the lawn is properly irrigated. I like to do it at least once usually 2-3 times for best results, especially if you are improving the lawn. Thanks for watching.
Just did my front yard using greenworks. I ended up with 4 large cans of thatch. I use my lawnmower to pick the thatch up.
Very cool I keep meaning to try one of those. that could work nicely for a larger area.
I put down tenacity 2 weeks ago to my whole lawn, since I have a lot of weeds. Do you suggest detaching in another week, after tenacity has had its full effect?
If it's been 2 weeks detaching would not be a problem to do now. It is already working and won't be disturbed by dethatching. It will also help clean up some of the white blades too and make it look better also.
How often do you recommend de-thatching?
I do it in Spring 1-2 times, many times though I will only focus on problems areas.
My neighbor had a small cub cadet rider, circa 1995?? Maybe, anyway at the time cub cadet sold an accessory tine rake, that clipped onto the front of the mower, he de thatched my front lawn once for a case of beer, he got l about ten trash cans of thatch up in 30 minutes, from a 50 x 50 foot patch of lawn..and btw the cubby had a plastic tub "grass catcher" so all we had to do is disconnect the catcher and dump it. No raking, no bending over, fast as ever! Cub cadet please bring back that system!!!
Ben Stankiewicz I borrow my neighbors attachment. Drive tractor around to thatch, then drive around and bag dead grass. Works for me!
What if you have a really large yard? Does a tow behind dethatcher work well?
I have a tow behind and use it on my 2.5 acres. As long as you properly weigh it down, it works great. I use a lawn sweeper to then clean up the thatch.
Husqvarna looks just like a Bluebird unit. Do they buy them out?
What is your opinion on a de-thatching blade for a lawnmower?
I think they work great for a very short amount of time that's the problem. There are some units like this electric one that would be a better budget alternative: amzn.to/2NrtBVc
So if I don’t do any of these things will my grass still grow? Asking for a friend.
I had a bad thatch problem and my yard was still looking good. I pulled the grass apart and couldnt see the dirt but now I can
"Asking for a friend" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Kip Winger yes and so will your wallet.
Hey Cymbal! How often should I thatch my lawn? I just bought and used a pull-behind dethatcher to my midwestern lawn two weeks ago - the first time in 10 years. Is this a seasonal task? Does it depend on how thick the lawn is? Thanks in advance...
Deththatching can be scary, I say this because you can do it once, then do it again the next day and you will continue to get more and more out of the lawn. Since you have equipment to do it and can suck up the thatch with your rider (meaning less work than raking) I would try to do it 2x a year. Don't be shocked though that it just keeps coming up, you have to think of it that you are removing build up so anything removed is a big positive for the lawn.
@@SilverCymbal When do I re-seed? Do I need to?
@@patrickverda8926 Watch this one I just posted, this will help: ua-cam.com/video/c54WSOI-MMc/v-deo.html
Silver Cymbal, what time of year do you recommend dethatching? What months or seasons?
That thing looks great thanks for the video
Thank you
5:30 it’s the same material getting pushed around garden 🤣
Hahahahaha
Hello,
This is probably a dumb question. You can dethatch with a sprinkler system? I imagine you have one to keep that long looking amazing.
1/2 of my lot is irrigated and the other 1/2 has No water at all, you can the lawn there to: ua-cam.com/video/VT73LKxPiWo/v-deo.html
Sorry yes, you can dethtach, if you use the greenworks I just reviewed its fine to touch a head, rental units will destroy sprinkler heads, so avoid them.
Looks like the Husqvarna wasn't set low enough. If set correctly it will pretty much pull itself along. Albeit it may grab a little on uneven lawns.
Also any opinion on swardman Electra?
I really am interested in that one but haven't had a chance to even try one but I love the idea of being able to mow at 5am when I wake up and not wake my neighbors!
Silver Cymbal I want to buy one in next month we’ll see! I wish they had Canadian distributors it’s soo expensive
@@youme77324 They are really nice, I am hoping to find some way to get my hands on an Electra but they do seem amazing. My biggest thing is that I work late and often would mow super early or late but the noise is too much. This would solve that plus need less maintenance. The attachments make the value of this machine go up a lot for me. I hope it can work out for you.
What about them detaching blades for the lawnmower.????
I dont think they last more than a few minutes in real use.
If the box was on the Swardman it would fill in seconds. So you leave it off and RAKE.
Many people for dethatching large areas will use a rotary mower just for vacuuming. Heavy dethatching dislodges a lot of material
another great video. My lawn is in pretty good condition , green but I notice the beige cast underneath and it is an annoyance. I suspect that some mulching mowers do not work well and it builds over time especially cutting 2x per week . Then factor in stalks , some grass dying due to fungus/melting out (RAIN RAIN and more Rain) and various "lawn debris" (lawn ginga).
I did buy the Groundskeeper II based upon your recommendation , love the Swardman but price is a factor.Sticking with Timemaster for now . I plan on watching mulching effectiveness and will bag more.
I have never dethatched this time of year but im going to pull out the Greenworks this week
@@lsturbointeg overall look is pretty good but "lawn debris" is present. I plan on testing removal in one area. I have put down 2 fungicide apps already and another will be thrown down mid July.
Core aeration is better . De thatchers tear roots and does not aerate the soil . if your lawn is really bad aerate it twice !
Aeration doesn't remove much thatch at all, it's great for the lawn I recommend both.
How is it better? You need both do you even understand their purposes?
Will this disturb a pre emergent barrier?
Yes
Yes Rich G is correct. Some say that it won't cause issues but I would not recommend it within 3 months.of treatment for best results
Currently unavailable at Amazon
Would dethaching aid I’m getting moss out of lawn
Yes definitely it works great for that
I never detached I just overseed and fertilize and water
How do you know if your lawn needs dethatching?
If you never done it before, I would almost always say yes. You will usually get the type of material you see in the video and it really helps the lawn breathe a little easier.
@@SilverCymbal Thank you for your reply. I've never dethatched my lawn. After watching your video I want a Swardman so bad, then I looked up the price. Guess it's a rake for me lol.
@@Greg29 Nothing wrong with that, the rake is really good. Or you can rent a machine too. Thanks for watching.
You will often see brown/yellow/white patches which indicate poor growth due to thatch and dead material. Generally, virtually all lawns develop it because the grass leaf growth starts going sideways and forms a foliage effect rather than growing up. That’s why scarifying and verti cutting is essential.
Is this caused by not bagging your clippings?
Caused by mowing grass not often enough. You want to only mow the top 1/3 of the blade. So if you let your lawn get long mow higher. Smaller the clippings the easier it is decompose.
Big Kat
Ok, thanks. By the way , do you know how long I have to wait after spray my lawn for weeds to spread seeds? I have tenacity being shipped to me this week.
@@pouchy400 I'm not sure with Tenacity. I has to be in the label. I know Roundup is usually 14 days or so. But that is a completely different chemical.
Big Kat
I'll look it on there website or something. Thanks again
The amazing news with Tenacity is that you don’t have to wait at all, the seed can go down before during or after, it has no effect on seed at all. Truly a remarkable product for weed control and different than any other. Everything you need to be weed free: Tenacity Weed Control: amzn.to/2JM4APm - Surfactant: amzn.to/2Xz6dod - Dye/Colorant: amzn.to/2Jta4yh
2 Gallon Sprayer: amzn.to/2xBJP3k
4 GRAND?? It does look like it’s worth it though
Yes, it is an amazing machine. You can order the basic machine for a lot less than that but it's hard to not want the accessories but you can always buy them over time.
If you’re into reel mowers and are shocked by the Edwin price. Check out California Trimmer. Super great reel mower for a lot less.
www.mowersdirect.com/California-Trimmer-RL207H-BS550-Lawn-Mower/p62067.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwtLT1BRD9ARIsAMH3BtVWgTxvrQ2I8U0PeNhFlny2SVOVm1aKfpYWUoV6E7PSh2WJ9TMbbQUaAvfZEALw_wcB
Can you typically find those machines at rental companies?
Yes they will have units like the husqvarna. Sometimes they are sold as the brand bluebird also. Rental can be a great option.
When will all this equipment be on Craigslist?
J D 😀 or maybe Home Depot for 70% off 🤪
Swardman no longer available :/
I would strong look at Allett reel mowers. They are available across the US and have been made since the 70s ua-cam.com/video/1Gzttrn9P0c/v-deo.html
How do you not have ANY weeds in your gardens?
😀Believe me I have plenty of them! I don't generally use chemicals in my beds, so I use my electric trimmer and just keep blasting them down to keep them under control or pull some but I hate doing that.
When is a good time to dehatch ?
Spring and Fall are perfect. I avoid very hot weather
@@SilverCymbal thank you! I did little with just my rack probably at the end of fall, but next time am getting one of those machines
Have you ever tried to hit a golf ball out of thick green rough nearly impossible ! Never Dethatched no fertilizer no plugging .
99.99% of please should just rent a machine. You should only need these every couple of years.
None of these methods will work with BUFFALO LAWN (a.k.a. St. Augustine grass). It will just destroy the runners and kill the grass.
I posit that $4000.00 is not a reasonable expense for the "average" homeowner. With good lawn maintenance practices dethatching will rarely be needed. For you do-it-yourselfers save money. Rent a machine. It would take many, many years for your rental costs to approach 4 grand.
Renting a machine can really let someone extend their budget but more and more people are buying expensive mower that don't have some of these benefits. I don't discount that the Swardman is inexpensive but it is more versatile and the cut is so high quality that nothing can match it in this space. You have to get what works for you in your situation and budget. I will be sharing some other videos showing that mower that may surprise you too. Thanks for watching.
Thank you very kindly for your reply. By same you have demonstrated a level of reader/subscriber sensitivity that I rarely witness from most "youtubers". Although I do agree that the Swardman offers tremendous versatility one can purchase a very decent lawn mower/tractor for considerably less money, rent a dethatcher when needed and still come out ahead. I love your channel because you offer extremely useful information without the excrutiating verbosity and self-aggrandizement that is all too common with many sties. Keep up the good wrok.
I meant good "work". Sorry.
I really appreciate the kind words and feedback, I really value my subscribers and viewers and love engaging with everyone because I truly enjoy the things I am showing. Keep a close eye on my channel too for an announcement coming very soon for the 4th too. Thanks again
Can you dethatch your lawn in July?
Rent one
Please add prices next time.
The only reason I usually don't is they change and people are even more pissed if I say something costs $20 and now its $40. Everything is in the description with links to the current prices, hope this helps.
Too expensive for the average homeowner
Maybe the power equipment but the rake works very well. I used to use it on a smaller lot I had with great results. Only $30
I bought one as per your recommendation
@@MrRudyc I did a featured video just on that rake and at least 100 people that bought them or owned one told me incredible things about it. Now I know it's just a rake but see what you think it just handles so differently and my back doesn't hurt like it used to when I use it. Thanks and best wishes to you.
Silver Cymbal I have had it a week and I love it. I just wish I could afford all the wonderful toys that you have for your yard. Thanks for your work in making great videos
@@MrRudyc I appreciate that and thank you for the very nice comment. More videos coming soon!
Shit does,t work on st Augustine