Power rake for a healthier lawn

Old and dead makes way for lush and lovely

Greenlawn often recommends power raking — sometimes called “dethatching” or even “thatching” — as one way to address an excessive buildup of thatch in your lawn. Let the pros at Greenlawn Landscape Management diagnose whether your lawn requires power raking.

The other method to address excessive thatch buildup, along with compacted soils, is core aeration.  Greenlawn is frequently hired for power raking or core aeration of lawns in St. Clair County, Sanilac County, Macomb County and the Grosse Pointe communities.

Neither power raking nor core aeration is a job for do-it-yourselfers. Available rental equipment can’t compare with the Greenlawn’s specialized equipment and the skill of our trained staff.

What causes thatch?

The buildup of thatch is a natural occurrence as dead and decaying organic matter mingles with living grass near the surface of the soil.

Thatch is not inherently a bad thing. In times of high heat or drought, it serves as an insulating layer.

But when thatch builds up to a thickness greater than a half-inch, it may start to deprive the soil and the roots of your grass of sufficient moisture, air and nutrients, including the fertilizers applied by Greenlawn.

A suffocating environment favors the development of fungi and lawn diseases and is a breeding ground for insect pests.

Power raking is the most efficient method of dethatching a lawn and is a job best left to the pros of Greenlawn and our specialized equipment.

Best time for power raking

The best time of year for power raking is spring or fall, when temperatures are cooler and rainfall more plentiful, because under those conditions your lawn will recover rather easily.

If you think it’s time to dethatch, ask a Greenlawn expert to inspect your lawn and provide a free, no-obligation quote.