Home Outdoors Lawn
ByRebecca Winke and Jenna Clark
Updated: Jun. 05, 2024
Keep your greenery healthy by eliminating thatch buildup in your yard with the best manual and tow-behind dethatching rakes.
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If you’ve noticed an excess of thatch in your lawn, it might be time to add a dethatching rake to your yard tool collection. Many homeowners rent or buy lawn dethatchers to remove buildup and allow adequate water and nutrients to sink deeply into the roots of their grass. Although some leaf rakes may be rigid enough for dethatching, having a specific rake on hand for all your dethatching needs is wise.
“This tool looks much like an iron rake, but each of the tines is very thin and sharp,” says Bob Mann, an agronomist and lawn care expert who works for the National Association of Landscape Professionals. “When pulled across a turfed area, it digs in and will remove thatch.”
If you need to dethatch a small yard or a patch of lawn, a dethatching rake is the best option if you’re up for a vigorous upper-body workout. However, to remove a dense thatch layer across a large yard, you should opt for a tow-behind rake, which is a lawn mower attachment hitched to a small tractor or riding lawn mower.
If you’re ready to rid your yard of organic debris, here’s our guide to a variety of the best lawn dethatching rakes and tow-behinds.
Ames Adjustable Self-Cleaning Thatch Rake
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Wolf-Garten Multi-Change Moss Removal Rake
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Wolf-Garten Dethatching Roller Rake
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Ames True Temper Dethatching and Tilling Rake
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Agri Fab Extra-Wide Tow-Behind Lawn Dethatcher
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Bully Tools Bow Rake with Fiberglass Handle
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Front Mount Dethatcher for Ryobi Electric Riding Mower
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With two rows of straight-edged and flared-edge tines, this multi-purpose thatch rake will have you cleaning up your lawn in no time. You will appreciate this rake’s hardwood 54-inch handle and 15-inch self-cleaning rake head, as these features will make it easier for you to maneuver and clean (and that’s always a bonus when it comes to yard work).
With 10 hooked spring-steel blades and a swing head to adjust the angle of motion, the Wolf-Garten Moss Removal Rake tops the next generation of manual rakes.
The head, with a nearly 16-inch wide working width, helps cover an area with fewer passes. Reviewers appreciate this dethatching rake’s lightweight construction and effectiveness in pulling a great deal of moss and thatch. Please note that the rake head is sold separately from the Wolf-Garten universal long and short handles.
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Wolf-Garten Dethatching Roller Rake
Wolf-Garten’s Dethatching Rake will smoothly roll around your lawn while combing through tough thatch. The wheels add stability and maneuverability, making for an easier time dethatching and removing moss. Plus, the wheels keep the blades at a consistent height throughout the process. It is worth noting that the rolling rake head is sold separately from the Wolf-Garten universal long handle.
If you’re looking for a dethatching and tilling rake, this 2-in-1 Ames True Temper should be added to your cart. Its double-sided, 15-inch rake head with curved dethatching blades on one side and straight tilling blades on the other will do the trick to cultivate your garden. The sturdy 54-inch hardwood handle is topped with a cushioned end grip for comfort. Plus, the rake head is adjustable via two wing screws to better control the angle of motion.
If your yard is on the larger side, the Agri Fab Tow-Behind Lawn Dethatcher is a wonderful option. Its extra-wide 48-inch span and tow-behind functionality make dethatching quick and effortless. We’re also impressed with its 24 rust-proof spring tines, which comb through lawns like a manual rake.
Plus, they’re easy to raise and lower via the cantilever transport handle. Its two wheels make it simple to cut across a variety of grounds, and the weight tray can hold up to 70 pounds for deeper thatching. Additionally, this dethatcher can be towed behind any lawn tractor or rider with its universal hitch.
You’ll be impressed with the strength of the Bully Tools Bow Rake when dethatching your lawn. The rake’s extra-thick steel (in addition to its 16-tine steel head) will do the trick to clean your lawn efficiently. Spend more time relaxing and less time worrying about thatch contaminating your greenery. Additionally, you can rest easy knowing your purchase comes with a limited lifetime warranty (yay!). Your hands will also appreciate the rake’s comfortable grip.
Suppose you own a Ryobi electric riding mower. In that case, this front-mounted dethatcher will convert your riding mower into a rake dethatcher, eliminating the hassle of cleanup by gathering the thatch and debris in a single pass.
The pivoting single front wheel makes for easy maneuverability, and the 38-inch working width and 20 double-spring tines allow it to make its way through even the largest of lawns quickly. Plus, its design and precision allow this dethatcher to fit through gates and tight spaces, so you don’t have to worry about missing these important yet often overlooked areas.
Originally Published: December 31, 1969
Author
Rebecca Winke
Rebecca is an Italy-based lifestyle and travel writer who is originally from the United States. She’s written more than 50 articles for Family Handyman on gardening, DIY home improvements and budgeting. She has experience in home remodeling from working at her family’s business, as well as gardening and raising chickens from time spent living o...
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Author
Jenna Clark
Jenna Clark is a freelance writer for The Family Handyman. She specializes in lifestyle and commerce content. She's a lover of DIY projects and interior design. If she's not at a store buying new decor pieces for her apartment, she's usually browsing them online. Jenna also writes freelance pieces for other outlets including Insider, Women’s Heal...
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