A Complete Best Dethatcher Review In 2021 And Buying Guide

The best dethatcher can help you get a lush green lawn. You can loosen the thick thatch sitting between the grass and the ground soil with a great dethatcher, preventing new seedlings from growing.

By removing that thatch, you can let sunlight penetrate and water soak in for a greener and thicker lawn. An ideal dethatcher can also remove moss to an expected degree.

To help you get the best machine, we have combined a list of dethatchers for your consideration. Of which, we consider the Greenworks 10 Amp 14-Inch Corded Dethatcher as the best overall option.

Before we start our reviews, please look at our complete buying guide to know some crucial elements when choosing a dethatcher.

A Complete Review On The Best Dethatcher

Greenworks 10 Amp 14-Inch Corded Dethatcher – Best Overall

The first spot comes to Greenworks 14-inch Corded Dethatcher for its excellent performance in all aspects.

First, it boasts a powerful 10 Amp engine, along with an adjustable handle and padded ergonomic grip for optimal comfort.

Plus, this Greenworks dethatcher can get your work done quickly, thanks to a 14-inch dethatching path. We also like this product because it boasts three-position tine depth adjustment, providing better control by taking away the matted layers to boost your lawn health.

The manufacturer also equips the tines with stainless steel materials, delivering high durability and more reliable performance.

Moreover, as soon as you plug the machine into a powerful electric supply, it can deliver smooth operation and less noise.

We don’t have any complaints about this suggestion.

What We Like

• Sturdy 10 amp engine
• Adjustable handle
• Padded and ergonomic grip
• 14-inch path for fast performance
• Three-position tine depth
• Stainless steel tines

What Can Be Improved?

• None

Agri-Fab 40-Inch Tine Tow Dethatcher – Best For Lawn Health

We consider the Agri-Fab 40-Inch Dethatcher as our runner-up for its ability to enhance healthy lawn growth, outweighing most other products out there.

The machine can help uproot matted and dead grass swathes up to 40 inches in length. Moreover, it comes with 20 heated-treated, replaceable, and rust-resistant tines, delivering optimal durability and performance.

Two 7-inch free wheels that come along with this product provide smooth transport and mobility. You will also love its easy-to-use cantilever handle for effortless lowering and raising of the tines.

Plus, we are impressed with its 40-inch weight tray that can hold 70 lbs for better thatch removal.

On the downside, this machine can cost you a small fortune.

What We Like

• Help uproot dead and matted grass swathes
• 20 durable spring tines for optimal durability
• Two 7-inch freewheel
• Cantilever handle
• 40-inch weight tray

What Can Be Improved?

• High price

WORX WG850 14 Inch Corded Electric Dethatcher – Best For High Technology

If you seek a model with high technologies, the WORX WG850 Dethatcher might be the right one for you. It boasts tools equipped with cutting-edge technology. Accordingly, you can get cost-effective equipment designed to last.

Also, this electric dethatcher wins our hearts thanks to its 3.500 rpm speed without load, helping you finish your job faster.

Notably, it features an ergonomic design with 14-inch cutting width, 18.9 lbs in weight, and 0.9 bushels of capacity, providing you optimal comfort when using.

There is also a collection bag, keeping you from blowing dead roots, grass shoots, and stems all over your yard.

Thanks to a lock-off switch, you can stop it whenever needed without any hassle. It can also keep power-efficient and things safe.

However, you can find it slightly difficult to assemble even with the instructions as it comes with many components.

What We Like

• Feature high-tech tools
• 3.500 rpm speed for fast operation
• Ergonomic design
• Collection bag
• Lock-off switch

What Can Be Improved?

• Difficult to assemble

Hattomen Lawn Dethatcher & Scarifier – Best For Safety

We highly appreciate the Hattomen lawn dethatcher for its safety system, outweighing those of other competitors. The machine comes with a double safety switch, ensuring a safe start.

Plus, this suggestion comes with an easy-to-grasp level handle so that you can maneuver or manipulate it easily.

The Hattomen dethatcher also stands out for its core height adjustment system with four working depths of 0.12 inches, 0.12 inches, 0.24 inches, and 0.35 inches. These four work heights can perfectly adapt to the lawns of various heights.

It is also a powerful machine with an 11-amp engine and a 12-inch sturdy blade, providing efficient cutting. Lastly, the dethatcher features an 8-gallon big-capacity collection bag for heavy-duty jobs with a 95% grass harvest rate.

Any cons? We have to say Yes. It is slightly tricky to clean, meaning you cannot remove the grass stucking in the dethatcher altogether.

What We Like

• High safety system with double safety switch
• Four work heights
• The powerful motor of 11 amp
• Big-capacity collection bag

What Can Be Improved?

• Difficult to clean

Sun Joe AJ801E 12 Amp Lawn Dethatcher – Best For Powerful Engine

We cannot forget to mention Sun Joe AJ801E Dethatcher on our list. It comes with the most powerful motor of up to 12 amp while other options come with 11-amp engines, helping you complete your jobs faster.

There is an adjustable deck with tailored raking depth and five-position control in-depth for you to maneuver the machine easily.

It also impresses us with its exclusive Scarified function that can completely cut the grass root system for healthier lawns and thicker growth.

Lastly, the manufacturer equips this sun joe dethatcher with an air boost tech, springing steel-made tines for optimal thatch pickup.

Nevertheless, it is not an ideal option for an expansive yard as it only ranks as a 12-inch path.

What We Like

• The powerful motor of 12 amp
• Adjustable deck
• Scarified function for a healthy lawn
• Air boost technology

What Can Be Improved?

• Not ideal for wide yards

A Complete Buying Guide On How To Choose The Best Dethatchers

What Is A Dethatcher?

A dethatcher is simply a machine that can effectively remove thatch from your lawn. It uses its metal blades to go across the grass and then pull thatch up to the lawn surface before turning into compost.

What Are The Types Of Dethatcher?

Tow Behind

If you get a riding mower and an expansive yard, this kind of dethatcher might be an ideal addition to your lineup of lawn care.

This dethatcher attaches to the hitch on the rear of a side-by-side, a tractor, a four-wheeler, or a lawnmower. As one of these machines can pull the dethatcher across your lawn, it quickly and easily loosens up the thatch.

A tow-behind dethatcher is relatively easy to use, demanding little effort once they are correctly attached.

You can drag them behind riding lawn mowers to perform two tasks within just half the time. However, it can be slightly tricky to store as this kind of dethatcher is often four feet wide.

Motorized

A motorized dethatcher is perfect for those with small yards. It is similar to a small lawnmower and comes with engines spinning small dethatching tines that loosen and dig the thatch.

This kind of dethatcher is corded electric. Accordingly, it needs a long extension cord or an outdoor power source nearby.

Another plus point is that it only requires walking back and forth, so it’s pretty easy to use. Besides, it is relatively low maintenance.

Manual

If you are not afraid of hard work, you can buy a manual dethatcher to save money. This dethatching machine looks similar to a basic yard rake, allowing you to put the entire effort into small spaces to guarantee they can entirely access the thatch.

As they come in the same size and shape as a rake, manual models take up small space and are a perfect choice for low-space workshops and small garages.

They require more effort, so they are suitable for smaller properties and compact thatch’s small patches.

Attachments

Like a tow-behind dethatcher, an attachment can turn other tools like lawnmowers into an occasional dethatcher. However, it can require a bit of work as the users have to alter mower blades with a dethatching blade.

Most attachments for the mowers match 20-inch decks. Therefore, it pays to check attachment info coming from the blade manufacturer for optimal results.

After utilizing the push mower to dethatch your lawn, alter the blades with an original mowing blade. Accordingly, you can be ready for conventional lawn maintenance until the following requirement of dethatching a lawn.

Remember to buy a thatching attachment to save on storage space, as it is more affordable than purchasing a thatching machine.

How To Choose The Best Dethatcher

There are several factors when considering a yard dethatcher. This section will list some crucial considerations to remember when looking through various options, helping you find the best dethatcher for your lawn.

Lawn Size

The lawn size is the most crucial consideration when buying a dethatcher. Specific machines are designed for a small area, yet they can fall short easily when dethatching one or two acres.

A manual model is a way to go for small yards as it is pretty easy to store. In addition, there are not likely to be many thick thatches, so it’s sufficient for removing the dead leaves and grass.

For mid-size properties of up to one or two acres, a motorized variant is just the ticket since it can quickly and effectively dethatch a lawn. As most are electric, you will need a nearby power supply.

For wide properties, motorized and manual dethatchers will not do. However, a pull-behind model attaching to a tractor or a mower is considerably more efficient at scraping up the thatch if you own a large piece of land.

Tines

The tines are tiny prongs digging into your thatch and loosening it. They rely on your machine’s width. As they rotate around the shaft, they can dig into your thatch to lift and break it up.

Their material also matters as thatch is regularly damp and leads to the corrosion of materials. Spring steel and stainless steel tines are the best choices as they are strong and can handle the impact of corrosion.

Moreover, stainless steel is undoubtedly the material for those who prefer a tool with low maintenance.

Motor Power

Dethatching isn’t a heavy-duty task, and it doesn’t need a powerful motor to get it done. The grass and leaf litter layer is easy for a dethatcher to disturb so that a standard electric engine will work.

These motors come with 10-15 amps. If your yard borders on a broader side of small, choose a higher amperage to cool the motor better while operating.

That said, a small property doesn’t demand over ten amps.

Dethatcher Width

The dethatchers come with various widths, ranging from 12 to 48 inches. The wider the width, the fewer passes the dethatcher will need to do to cover your property.

Yet, if there’re narrow paths through your property, it can become challenging to maneuver a bigger dethatcher through. That’s why you need to consider the property’s most limited parts before buying a dethatcher.

Weight Capability

You might occasionally want a dethatcher to dig slightly deeper into a thatch. For example, it might be suitable if you forget to dethatch in the autumn or winter when the tree needles, grass clippings, small twigs, and leaf litter form into a dense and thick mat.

In such cases, additional weight will give your dethatcher more bite. In addition, several tow-behind models can come with added weight to drive the tines into the tough thatch deeper.

If a low-duty dethatcher can’t get the task done, you had better consider a two-behind version with extra weight.

Additional Features

There are many features on a dethatcher model that can help you make the decision much easier. For example, many dethatchers come with adjustable heights to make their tines run smoother and higher over thin grass or sink deeper into the thick thatch.

It is a great benefit, particularly if there’re different thatch thicknesses throughout the lawn. In addition, several two-behind models feature levers lowering and lifting the tines to the grass.

It’s a handy feature when crossing over pathways or driveways. The tines might be lifted without you having to get off your tractor and lowered back down when clearing from the concrete and pavement.

Although dethatching your lawn is wonderful, it can be very expensive and time-consuming. Here is a solution that is CHEAP, FAST & EASY:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea1wG2iLJFA

Conclusion

So you have gone through the best dethatcher for your lawn reviews. In short, all suggestions mentioned above can primarily meet your requirements of cutting grassroots while still ensuring your lawn stays healthy.

Of which, the Greenworks 10 Amp 14-Inch Corded Dethatcher is our best dethatcher for its high overall performance in providing a comprehensive dethatching lawn path and smooth operation.

That said, you still need to consider the right dethatcher for your lawns based on your preference and demands. Don’t forget to look at the key elements mentioned above, such as the motor power or the dethatcher width, before making the final decision.

Anyway, we hope our article is helpful for you. Thank you for reading!

Last update on 2024-03-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API