Dethatcher and Scarifier. What is the Difference?

[@TAFrench-lx4jv]

Hi Matt, there seems to be a bit of confusion with regards to what is scarifying and what is dethatching, particularly between us Aussies and those over the pond. I recently bought the Predator HD scarifier (a great machine), it has the swing blades and adjustment to go well into the soil, so I would call this a scarifier and this is what it is marketed as. From what I understand dethatching is the broad term for removing thatch that can be achieved through a variety of activities including, scalping, grooming, verticutting, and scarifying just to name a few.

[@jmcclure07]

yep! same machines just a quite a few years apart. swing blades stops the damage to the machine from underground obstacles. Dethatcher's have spring tines to rake the surface. They sell 1 for the Ryobi online

[@jmcclure07]

oops!! and the swing blades make it far safer to use

[@TPGMatt]

Have you purchased the verti-mowing reel for it? I've got a HD unit on order, and looking at buying the verti-mowing reel for proper scarifying. Then for Buffalo, just raise the height so that im not going into the soil and ripping up stolons.

[@TAFrench-lx4jv]

@@TPGMatt I just bought the grooming reel from Yard Empire for the HD predator.

[@TAFrench-lx4jv]

@@TPGMatt the swing blade reel that comes with the Predator HD will do a ‘proper scarify’ bi annually/ annually, the grooming reel will be less aggressive, I will probably tickle the lawn with it once a fortnight or month.

[@peterhoz]

Great video, well explained

[@lawnporn]

@@peterhoz thanks mate 👌

[@forestharder5130]

Great video Matt. Can I use a Mow Master groomer for helping to reno a buffallo lawn? Just don't set it as deep? Or If not, and I only have the groomer, utility mower and corer how should I best do a buff reno?

[@lawnporn]

Thanks Forest! If you go over it lightly it may well work, That's the thing with Buffalo that I don't like, how to thin it out (the stolons - above ground runners) without totally brutalising it. if you destroy all the stolons the plant may not come back.

[@forestharder5130]

@@lawnporn Thanks Matt. Is the weibang dethatcher ok to use on a buffalo Reno? If I used the weibang and then mowed would that be safe?

[@restoblastrestoblast154]

You can always set the groomer up higher. Start at 20mm and do a test patch first. Like 2 metres long and assess it, before you go any further. I've used the weibang style on my place and others for 3 or 4 years, on couch and you can get aggressive and cause damage to the ground, but to be honest your better off starting light and going only to the surface of the ground, but doing more passes in different directions, or reverse the direction. Now that i own 1, the verti or groomer as double the price, because they are double as good, getter better results with less damage. If you can afford to buy 1, or hire 1, they are 100 % the best way to go, big investment, but really worth it.

[@anth1839]

I use the ryobi scarifier. Honestly it works very well for what it is on my tiff tuff. The whole neighbourhood borrows it every reno season lol

[@jmcclure07]

Dethatcher's have spring tines to rake the surface. They sell 1 for the Ryobi online

[@anth1839]

@@jmcclure07 yes i have this attachment also. Great tool for urban small yards

[@KateHarvey-i5c]

What are some brands that are true dethatchers rather than scarifiers? I’m trying to hire a dethatcher for my buffalo and can’t find a true dethatcher as everything seems to be a scarifier