18V ONE+ HP BRUSHLESS DETHATCHER/AERATOR KIT - RYOBI Tools (2023)

FAQs

Does Ryobi have a Dethatching Blade? ›

The RYOBI 18V ONE+ HP Brushless Dethatcher/Aerator is the perfect tool for maintaining a beautiful, healthy lawn. The powerful brushless motor, (2) 4Ah 18V ONE+ batteries, and dual active battery ports provide maximum performance, power, and runtime.

While dethatching removes the layer of thatch above the soil surface, aeration removes actual plugs of soil from your yard. With looser, more nutrient-rich soil, root systems can spread out and grow deeper into the soil. Holes in your yard may not be glamorous, but they'll quickly fill in with dense, healthy grass.

A power rake is a machine that uses blades similar to a roto-tiller to remove thatch and debris that can build up on a lawn. Power raking is gentler than dethatching since it only removes debris at the soil level (whereas dethatching also pulls and removes healthy root systems).

Dethatching blades use either metal springs or nylon plastic trimmer line to remove dead grass and other debris from the lawn without damaging the healthy grass. Spring tines attach to the blade and dig into the thatch layer as the blade spins to remove the dead grass.

After dethatching, rake up the debris and then aerate the soil. An aerator pulls cores of soil from the surface, loosening it and allowing moisture and oxygen to penetrate.

Before dethatching, mow a little shorter than normal. Also, you'll achieve better results if you do it after a light rain or watering.

If you plan your dethatching when the grass is growing vigorously, it will recover much faster than if you try this move when it's dormant. So, ideally, early spring or when it starts to cool in the late summer are great times for dethatching.

Remember that you should only dethatch your lawn a maximum of once per year for warm-season grass and between once and twice a year in early spring and autumn for cool-season grass. Warm-season grass should be dethatched in late spring or early summer.

Dethatching is important because it helps prevent problems like compaction, thatch build-up, and unhealthy grass. By removing thatch, you're allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach the root zone of your grass. This helps promote a healthy lawn.

Dethatchers do not control weeds or poor grass varieties, both of which can remain after dethatching if you leave them behind without first dethatching.

What is the best height to dethatch a lawn? ›

You want to remove thatch that is right above the soil without tearing it up. A height of about a quarter-inch (6.35 millimeters) above the soil may work -- adjust the blades while they are on a smooth surface. They may need to be slightly higher for delicate grasses. First, mow the grass about half as high as usual.

After dethatching your lawn it is a great time to aerate your lawn. After aerating, overseed and fertilize with Milorganite®. It should take about 3-4 weeks for the lawn to recover and show signs of new growth.

After dethatching, rake up the newly exposed thatch. Mowing your lawn will also help to clean things up. Fertilizing at this time is also important. This will help your lawn recover and get much needed nutrients.

Use a trowel or spade to remove a wedge-shaped layer of grass and soil about 3 inches thick, or just pry up a small section of turf. Look for the thatch layer lying directly on top of soil. Measure the thickness. A layer thicker than ½ inch signals it's time for dethatching.

A dethatcher can be as simple as a rake, towed behind your tractor, or even motorized for commercial jobs. A dethatcher uses metal blades or tines to comb across the grass and pull thatch up to the surface of the lawn.

Leaf rake: An average manual fanned leaf rake is the simplest tool but all manual rakes can be laborious to use when dethatching an entire yard. Rigid garden rake (bow rake): A manual rigid garden rake (bow rake) with a metal head and tines can be sturdier than a leaf rake to use for dethatching.

Using 2 x 5.0Ah batteries (not included), the Ryobi RY18SFX35A-0 can scarify a lawn up to 525m² on a single charge.

Mow your lawn to half its normal height before you begin dethatching. (FYI: Don't fertilize before dethatching.) Use a dethatching rake like you would a regular rake. Dig the tines into the thatch and pull it upward, helping to loosen and remove the buildup.

'Using a dethatching rake, such as this one on Amazon is best for light thatch and general thatch maintenance,' Rachel Crow suggests. 'Push the rake tines thorough the grass until it penetrates the thatch layer below. Rake the grass as you would rake leaves to loosen the thatch and tear it apart. '

Thatch builds up over time, so it's not necessary to dethatch every year. Plan on dethatching every five years or so if your lawn needs it. You might want to give your lawn a quick check every year just to see how much thatch has accumulated.

Will grass grow back after dethatching? ›

After dethatching your lawn it is a great time to aerate your lawn. After aerating, overseed and fertilize with Milorganite®. It should take about 3-4 weeks for the lawn to recover and show signs of new growth.

Rake Your Lawn (Or Use A Leaf Blower/Vacuum)

Using a simple leaf rake is enough to get the job done. If you have a lot of thatch—or a big yard—you can also use a leaf blower to help get all the thatch into manageable piles.

Dethatchers do not control weeds or poor grass varieties, both of which can remain after dethatching if you leave them behind without first dethatching.

The parent company behind Ryobi Power Tools is Techtronic Industries (TTI). Founded in Hong Kong in 1985, TTI includes the following brands: Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp.

This Ryobi 18-Volt ONE+ cordless trimmer is a nice product for small to medium size yards. It's lightweight and can be used as a trimmer and/or edger. It has good power and does a nice job trimming the grass.

Ryobi Products are intended for DIY (Do It Yourself) use only. This Ryobi replacement product warranty is only applicable to purchases from Bunnings or via Ryobi (Australia) and Ryobi (New Zealand).