You can’t have a beautiful lawn without hard work, but at the end of the day, you will be rewarded. Unfortunately, most homeowners forget about one simple rule: If your lawn is dying or dead, it needs to be aerated and dethatched.

The entire surface of your lawn has an intricate network of roots. Some roots absorb water and some roots pull out nutrients for the grass. These processes must occur simultaneously, and this is why it’s crucial to aerate once or twice a year along with dethatching (at least three times per year).

To have a healthy yard you need to have a healthy root system. When you attend to these matters, your lawn will always be brown free and lush green all summer long.

What is Lawn Dethatcher and Aerator?

It’s a machine that digs up your lawn and pulls out the grass from the roots. This way, it creates more oxygen in the soil and allows water to get absorbed by soil better. As for dethatching, you can use a special rake or any other tool to pull out those dead grass strands (they don’t take much time). With every pass over your yard, you’ll be able to remove more dead grass which means your tool will have less clumps of dirt attached to it as you go faster. Lawn Dethatcher and Aerator is very effective on dry patches found on golf courses and sidewalks where people walk frequently, but it works well on all lawns regardless of how healthy they already are.

How Often Should You Aerate?

This is determined by the type of soil you have in your yard. However, if you want to maintain a healthy lawn, then it’s recommended for homeowners to aerate twice or three times per year: Spring and Fall . During summer time, your grass will be thirstier so there’s no need to do this during that period (some people think that hot weather reduces grass growth but not true!).

When Should You Dethatch Your Lawn?

It’s highly recommended to dethatch your lawn once a year especially during spring before transitioning into summer. It allows grass to be able to absorb water better and grow faster.  In fact a lot of landscaping companies make money during this time of the year because a lot more lawns are getting dethatched which results in higher revenue for them…. But if you want your grass to have that ‘just mowed look’, then scheduling it once per month is definitely worth doing!

Lawn Dethatcher and Aerator comes in two forms: Push model and Corded/Battery models. For large properties, you’ll need the cordless/battery model because it will save you a lot of time that you would have spent walking back and forth with the machine. Corded version only works for small lawns such as large front or side yards. For medium to large sizedproperties, you should choose a mulching mower with dethatching capabilities.  Check out our list of the Best Lawn Dethatcher and Aerator for 2021:

1. VonHaus 12.5 Amp Corded 15″ Electric 2 in 1 Lawn Dethatcher Scarifier and Aerator 

2 IN 1 – with separate dethatcher and aerator drums included, this multi-functional tool with 12.5A motor lifts organic debris from your lawn and perforates soil to promote healthy grass growth 15” Working with – well-suited to small and mid-sized lawns, with a thermal cut-out and 2-stage safety start ensure safe operation Adjustable height depth – use the manual lever to select between 5 operational heights (-0.47”/ -0.35”/ -0.24” / -0.12” / +0.24”) for all-season lawn maintenance  45L Capacity collection box – no need for manual raking, attach the collection box to easily gather and dispose of lawn debris Compact for storage – folding soft-grip handle and removable grass box for convenient storage with a built-in carry handle for easy transportation.

Review:

This is honestly the best investment my fiancé and I made. We recently bought a house and our backyard was basically yellow. We thought we’d have to spend tons of money landscaping, but we found out that the grass was being suffocated by grass clippings left by the previous owner. We have a 1/2 acre so it’s taken awhile to dethatch the yard. Totally worth every penny. The machine is very lightweight (although it was a little confusing to put together). The bag is amazing and I I love that it has multiple settings.

Check Price

2. Earthwise DT71613 13-Amp 16-Inch Corded Electric Dethatcher, Green

The Earthwise Power Tools by ALM 16-inch corded electric dethatcher ensures your lawn health by loosening up layers of entangled grasses and yard debris. It is ideal for yards of all sizes. There are adjustable piano wire spring pins that adjust from -4.0″ to 0.4″ to effectively dethatch your lawn with ease. In addition, this power dethatcher has 5 adjustable depth positions for the ideal working depth in your yard. Unlike a gas dethatcher, this corded electric grass rake is planet-friendly because it does not require gas or oil to function, so it does not emit harmful fumes. The Earthwise dethatcher also has a 10-gallon collecting bag for your convenience. It is the perfect power dethatcher for your home.

Review:

Took a chance on this product as there was only a few reviews at the time and everyone was purchasing the Sun Joe version, and the additional width is what caught me first. Having this extra width versus the 10″ sunjoe really made a difference and I did 12k Sq ft of lawn in just about 1.5 hours with this. The bag is very small so it’s about pointless, however it does catch (had to test). It is very light and easy to maneuver, as I weighed it at 21 lbs. Ran this on a 200ft 12g extension cord and had no issues. Filled up an 8ft truck bed with thatch and debris, couldn’t be happier.

Check Price

3. LawnMaster GV1314 Scarifier and Lawn Dethatcher 15-Inch 12.5AMP

Take back the yard with LawnMaster’s 14″ Electric Scarifier and Lawn Dethatcher capable of 19 positions adjustable cutting height (-0.39 – 0.19 inch for Scarifier Cylinder, -0.19 – 0.39 inch for Aerator Cylinder), it features a powerful 12.5 Amp motor, 14-inch cutting width. The simple to start system and one touch height adjustment lever make it an easy solution for all your needs.

Review:

Great machine! Easy to use, everything is as expected. My grass that I sowed myself looks like a thick carpet; my neighbors think I had ready sod placed. Very pleased with the purchase. Thank you!

4. Sun Joe AJ801E 13 in. 12 Amp Electric Scarifier + Lawn Dethatcher 

LET YOUR LAWN BREATHE. Get your lawn in top green shape with the Sun Joe Dethatcher Joe AJ801E 12.6-inch electric scarifier + lawn dethatcher. Powered by a robust 12-amp motor, the Dethatcher Joe rakes a 12.6-inch wide path in a single pass to get your job done fast. Enhancing its raking ability is Airboost technology, which maximizes thatch pickup with spring steel tines that stay sharp longer for reliable performance. Use the 5-position depth control knob to tailor the raking depth from -0.4 in. (10 mm below the soil) to 0.4 in. (10 mm above the soil), depending on your lawn’s scarifying or dethatching needs. Scarifying your lawn at regular intervals cuts grass roots and encourages growth for thicker, healthier turf. Thatch is a dense mat of roots, stems and grass clippings that accumulates on lawns over time, blocking the flow of water, oxygen and vital nutrients. It is important to periodically remove thatch in order to keep your lawn green and healthy. While ordinary manual rakes are tiresome to use and not very effective, the electric Dethatcher Joe starts instantly with the push of a button and easily gets the job done without polluting the atmosphere with toxic carbon emissions. No gas, oil or tune-ups make the Sun Joe Dethatcher Joe your green choice for greening your lawn. ETL-approved. 2-year warranty.

Review:

This thing works really well. It’s better than most dethathers because it also has a Scarifier blade. It has 2 interchangeable blades, one for scarifying (cutting up the lawn, aerating it and getting rid of moss) and one for dethatching (scraping and loosening debris, dead grass and thatch from last season) It also has a bag – but I used mine without the bag … the bag was filling up too fast. You would be surprised how much detritus this thing will find in your lawn…bags and bags and bags of dead thatch. It’s best to seed after you scarily / dethatch … this is the first season I’ve dethatched out of 8 years I’ve lived in my house. My lawn has never been greener than this year.

Check Price

5. Goplus 2-in-1 Lawn Dethatcher 12Amp

The powerful 12-amp motor rakes 13” wide to effectively solve the problems of trimming and scarifying. In addition, 40L grass collection bag can gather the lawn debris automatically to save your time and energy. Our electric corded dethatcher has 3 depth positions to choose and level 4 for transport, which can meet to your different needs of garden tidiness. You can adjust the lever to a comfortable depth of grass removing and scarifying, which can prevent soil compaction and dispose of lawn debris easily. Dual security switch increases your safety while using. You should adjust the cylinder and depth lever well, and then to start the machine. Press the safety button first and pull on the lever to control the operation. Moreover, the ergonomic grip can relieve the fatigue in long working hours. The large-diameter front wheels can turn at will and lightweight rear wheels are flexible and labor-saving. Plus powerful motor and refined cylinders, this ripper gives you an efficient cutting experience. So this dethatcher is specifically designed for time-saving work in garden or yard. This scarifier is constructed by wear-resistant cover and solid metal frame, which ensures durability and high temperature resistance. Since the smooth surface, our trimmer is easy to clean with a dry cloth. And you should check the weeder frequently to ensure it in safe operation condition.

Review:

The bag is a joke if you have heavy thatch, literally will fill up completely in a couple of feet, that being said, it works amazing. Ignore the bad review with the person trying to use it as a lawnmower because it clearly isn’t and says so in the description. For the price it’s absolutely worth it. Leave the bag off and leaf blow the thatch when you’re done

Check Price

In Conclusion:

Finding the right mower for your small yard can be a tough decision with all of the available options. It might be a good idea to see how long it takes to mow your lawn. You may need more or less run time for some of the options above. The purchase of an additional battery could save you a lot of head ache and wasted time by adding the extra power you will need for your small yard.