How to Dethatch Your Lawn

view of a scarifier removing moss from the lawn

Dethatching is great for your lawn because it improves airflow, prevents soil compaction, promotes stronger roots, and increases water absorption. Learn how to dethatch your lawn with tools like a manual dethatcher, an electric dethatcher, a power rake, a vertical mower, or a tow-behind dethatcher. Each tool caters to different needs and budgets.

What is dethatching?

Dethatching is removing the layer of thatch (dead grass, roots, and other organic material) that forms between the soil and your lawn. When this layer grows thicker than ½ inch thick in warm-season grasses or ⅓ inch thick in cool-season grasses, it stops air, nutrients, sunlight, and water from reaching the soil and roots.

To assess your thatch thickness, the University of Minnesota Extension suggests cutting out a 2-inch thick piece of lawn and measuring the thatch layer with a ruler or measuring tape. You should see three layers: the grass on top, the thatch layer in the middle, and the soil and grassroots at the bottom. Measure in several places to get an average.

Tools for dethatching your lawn

person using a vertical mower, or verticutter, to remove thatch from a lawn
Paul Maguire | Adobe Stock

To dethatch, you have several tool options available:

  • Manual dethatcher
  • Electric dethatcher
  • Power rake
  • Vertical mower
  • Tow-behind dethatcher

You can buy or rent dethatching equipment based on:

  • Your budget
  • How often you want to use the tool(s)
  • The storage space you have
  • The maintenance skills or time you have

Your local garden center or home improvement store will carry the various tools mentioned and offer rental services. Professional dethatching services range from $145 to $247.

What to do before dethatching your lawn

To make it most effective, here are some things you should do before dethatching your lawn:

  • Mow your grass a bit lower than normal (to about half its regular height). This makes it easier to reach the thatch layer, reduces stress on the grass as the mower blades target the thatch, and ensures effective thatch removal.
  • Water your lawn lightly a day before to make it easier for the tools to penetrate and lift the thatch. 
  • Always wear protective gear: gloves, safety glasses, and long-sleeved clothing.

How to dethatch with a manual dethatcher

Best for: Small lawns with a mild thatch problem (one-half to an inch of thatch buildup).

Manual dethatchers (also known as thatch rakes) have short, curved blades designed to slash into your thatch and pull it up. They’re the least expensive dethatching option but also the most labor-intensive. Manual dethatchers have different blade angle settings, so you can choose how deeply the rake penetrates your lawn (depending on the depth of your thatch).

How to use

  • Like using a normal rake, apply firm pressure to ensure proper thatch penetration. 
  • Move the rake across the lawn in a back-and-forth motion.
  • Pull upward to loosen and remove thatch.

DIY tool options:


Rental cost: Approximately $35

How to dethatch with an electric dethatcher

Best for: Medium-sized lawns with a mild to medium thatch problem.

Electric dethatchers are lightweight, compact, easy to use, and look like miniature lawn mowers. They have spiny rotating tines that you can set to different levels. The tines penetrate the thatch layer and pull it up to the surface, allowing air, nutrients, and water to reach the soil and grassroots again.

These tools can be powered either through an outlet or via rechargeable batteries, making them more eco-friendly than gas-powered ones. 

How to use:

  • Refer to the instruction manual to set the electric dethatcher to the appropriate depth setting for your lawn. You’ll want to start with a shallow setting and test out a small area, adjusting the depth gradually to grab more thatch.
  • Like a lawn mower, make two to three passes across your yard in different directions. This method will make your lawn look like a grassy checkerboard. 

DIY tool options:


Rental cost: Approximately $75 to $80

How to dethatch with a power rake

metal lawn scarification tool
Silberkugel66 | Pixabay

Best for: Larger areas with a severe thatch problem and dense grass that can withstand tougher treatment.

Power rakes are similar to lawn mowers. They have steel, knife-like tines (flail blades) on the underside that rotate perpendicular to the ground, cut through the thatch layer, and pull it up to the surface for removal. You can adjust their height to ensure proper thatch penetration without damaging healthy grass or soil.

Power rakes are generally heavier and more robust than electric dethatchers and can be powered by gasoline or electricity. They cut thatch more aggressively and can remove a row of thatch in a single pass, which is why they’re also suitable for commercial use.

How to use:

  • Make two or three passes (perpendicular to each other) across your lawn to dethatch the area thoroughly. Do this in straight lines, overlapping each pass slightly.
  • On your first pass, set the blades at the highest level to prevent accidental damage to your lawn as you learn to use it. It’s important not to scalp your grass and tear out the roots as you go. 

DIY tool options:


Rental cost: Approximately $80

How to dethatch with a vertical mower

Agri-Fab tine dethatcher pulled by a lawn tractor
Agri-Fab, Inc. | Wikimedia Commons | CC0 1.0

Best for: Large lawns with a severe thatch problem that could benefit from overseeding.

Vertical mowers/cutters (or verticutters) have flat, vertical discs that slice through the thatch and soil, creating grooves. Unlike a power rake with horizontally rotating tines, a verticutter uses vertically rotating tines to remove thatch.

The blades dig deep, uprooting thatch to give roots an extra dose of air, water, and nutrients from the soil surface. This is also called verticutting.

How to use:

  • Set the blades to the proper spacing (2 inches or more) and depth (based on your thatch level). 
  • Turn on the verticutter and move it across the lawn in straight lines, much like mowing.
  • Overlap each pass slightly for even coverage and switch directions for added aeration.

DIY tool options:


Rental cost: Approximately $110

How to dethatch with a tow-behind dethatcher

Best for: Medium to large lawns with a severe thatch problem.

A tow-behind dethatcher is an attachment for lawn tractors or riding mowers that makes it easier to dethatch larger areas. 

It features flexible metal tines or blades that penetrate the soil and pull up thatch from the lawn as it moves across the surface. Many tow-behind dethatchers include a weight tray, allowing you to add bricks or other weights for deeper thatch penetration (as needed).

How to use:

  • Attach the dethatcher to your riding mower or lawn tractor, following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Set the tines to the appropriate depth (around ½ inch deep) to effectively reach and remove the thatch.
  • Drive your mower or tractor across the lawn in straight lines, overlapping them slightly to ensure even coverage. Maintain a consistent speed to reach all areas.
  • Once in a while, stop and check the tines for accumulated debris. If it’s substantial, clear it before continuing.
  • Make gentle turns to avoid damaging the dethatcher or the grass.

DIY tool options:


Rental cost: Approximately $40 to 350

What to do after dethatching your lawn

illustration explaining thatch on grass
Infographic by Juan Rodriguez

When you’re done dethatching, you may want to:

  • Rake up the debris. For an eco-friendly approach, try backyard composting instead of disposal.
  • Aerate the lawn to improve soil structure. This is a good time to overseed your lawn and fill in bare patches (if any).
  • Since dethatching isn’t the gentlest process, apply fertilizer and water your lawn to help the grass recover.
  • Avoid heavy foot traffic to prevent stress on the grass.

FAQ about how to dethatch your lawn

Why does excess thatch form?

Excess thatch can happen for many reasons, including:

  • Overwatering or frequent watering
  • Too much nitrogen fertilizer that promotes excessive growth and a rapid buildup of organic matter
  • The absence of microorganisms (to break down organic matter) as a result of pesticides
  • Compacted soil due to foot traffic, home improvement activities, and not enough lawn aeration
  • Nutrient-poor soil with a high clay or sand content
  • Acidic soil with low beneficial microbe levels
  • Removing more than one-third of your grass as a result of infrequent mowing
  • Leaving excessive grass clippings on the lawn without proper mulching

What are some signs that I need to dethatch?

If your lawn is due for a deep, powerful raking, it will display signs such as:

  • Grass that is spongy and springy to the touch
  • Grass blades that are weak, thin, or dull
  • Weeds that grow in the grass
  • Runoff that happens when the soil isn’t absorbing much water
  • Minimal grass growth

What’s the difference between dethatching and core aeration?

These lawn care tasks both aim to improve lawn health. You can perform them one after the other: dethatching first, then core aeration.

As mentioned, dethatching removes organic buildup between the soil and grass blades, allowing better air, nutrient, and water flow to the grassroots. It also exposes the soil for overseeding if necessary.

Core aeration reduces soil compaction and improves soil texture, while also helping air, water, and nutrients reach the roots.

Which grass types are more prone to thatch?

As the Texas Agricultural Extension Service says, grasses that spread by rhizomes (underground stems) and stolons (aboveground stems) form thicker thatch layers. This happens because they continually form new shoots, stems, and roots at a faster rate than organic material decomposition can occur.

The Extension adds, “Most lawn turfgrasses in the southern United States are perennial grasses that spread in this manner and, therefore, form thatch.“

A pro can handle the heavy lifting

Dethatching can greatly improve your lawn’s health, but it takes time and effort. To achieve a standout lawn, you have to combine dethatching with good lawn care practices.

If you have a lot of thatch or a large yard, consider hiring a local Lawn Love lawn care professional. They can save you time, effort, and equipment costs, helping to rejuvenate your lawn for the long term.

Lawn Love participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other retailer affiliate programs. Lawn Love may earn revenue from products promoted in this article.

Main Image Credit: AUFORT Jérome | Adobe Stock / License

Andie Ioó

In my free time, I enjoy traveling with my husband, sports, trying out new recipes, reading, and watching reruns of '90s TV shows. As a way to relax and decompress, I enjoy landscaping around my little yard and DIY home projects.