Can you Dethatch with a tiller?
No, using a tiller would turn the sod under the oil. Assuming your thatch layer is thick enough to warrant removing it (the books say more than about half an inch, but given what a hassle dethatching is, I myself wait until about an inch) consider renting a dethatching machine.
What is the difference between a tiller and a dethatcher?
Dethatching is less aggressive and removes small amounts of thatch from a lawn that is mostly healthy. Power raking is more aggressive and usually reserved for lawns with a large amount of thatch. Dethatchers are smaller, residential-grade machines that may look like a push mower or may attach to a mower or tiller.
When should I Dethatch my lawn?
The best time to dethatch is from late October to early December, after giving the grass some time to recover from winter. Do not dethatch too late in the growing season or your lawn may not be able to recover over the winter. Certain types of dethatching methods are not recommended for cool-season grass.
Is a power rake the same as a Dethatcher?
A dethatcher is a light-duty tool used to remove thatch that is up to 1/2-inch thick. A power rake is a heavy-duty garden tool primarily used by professional landscapers to lift and remove thatch that exceeds 1/2 inch in thickness.
Is it better to power rake or dethatch?
Both power raking and dethatching aim at removing excess thatch in the lawn. A power rake is good for getting rid of the thick layer of debris lying on top of the soil while a dethatcher is good for removing a thin layer of decomposing organic matter that forms the topmost part of the soil in the lawn.
Does raking the grass help it grow?
In short, raking the grass will not have much of an effect on the growth of your grass but this does not mean that raking is an unnecessary task. Indeed, while raking doesn’t stimulate growth, it can remove certain obstacles that might be in your way when you’re trying to get your lawn nice and green once again.