LAWN DETHATCHING AND OVERSEEDING IN TORONTO
LAWN DETHATCHING VS. POWER RAKING
Should you dethatch your lawn or should you power rake it? Wait, there’s a difference?
As you explore online, you might notice that the terms 'power raking' and 'dethatching' are frequently mentioned as if they were the same. Dethatching and power raking include two terms which cause a lot of confusion for lawn care enthusiasts just wanting to take care of their lawn. Most of that confusion comes from the truth that these services work on the exact same issue: removing thatch and debris from the lawn. However, there’s a difference. And the choice you make (or the service you request from your landscaping professional) will have distinct effects on your lawn.
Many homeowners and landscapers often use the term 'dethatching' when what they actually mean is 'power raking.'
Dethatching a lawn involves the use of a specific machine known as a dethatcher power rake, vertical mower or verticutter. This equipment features a dethatching blade that has rotating flails. Flails are blades that rotate and cut into the soil, effectively removing what is known as 'thatch,' and occasionally grass roots as well. Dethatching and power raking can also be carried out using the same machine, but the key differences between these two services lie in the depth setting of the cutting knives and the specific types of cutting knives used. For dethatching, flail type blades are employed, which are designed to aggressively remove excessive thatch. The machine is adjusted to a lower setting so that the blades can penetrate the surface of the soil, effectively reaching and removing the thatch layer.
This set-up is particularly beneficial for lawns with an excessively thick layer of thatch or those that require renovation.
Dethatching your lawn in the spring using flail type blades is generally not advised due to the stress it places on the turf. This stress can lead to a prolonged recovery period, during which the lawn may struggle to bounce back as we head into the drier months.
Power raking, on the other hand, is a less intensive process designed for lawns with a lighter layer of thatch. Power rakes use rotating tines to comb through the grass and lightly pull up thatch without significantly disturbing the soil or healthy grass roots. This makes power raking more suitable for annual lawn maintenance to prevent thatch, dead grass and other debris buildup, rather than correcting a severe thatch problem.
When to use a power rake and when to use a dethatcher?
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Dethatching is best reserved for situations where the thatch layer is more than 2-3 inch thick and is seriously impacting the health of the lawn. Because dethatching is more aggressive, it's important to do it at a time when the lawn can recover well, typically in early fall or late summer for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses.
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Since dethatching causes a lot of stress on the lawn, it creates a lawn that is thin, brown, and beat up. For this reason, we highly advise pairing our dethatching service with overseeding and a good amount of topdressing. By incorporating overseeding, you introduce new grass to swiftly cover any patches harmed by dethatching, preventing weeds from taking root in these vulnerable spots. Topdressing is also essential, as it accelerates the establishment of new grass seeds and encourages the rejuvenation of existing grass, ensuring a rapid and healthy recovery from the dethatching process.
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The optimal time for dethatching is in late summer or early fall. Scheduling dethatching for this period provides your lawn with ample opportunity to heal before the onset of winter, while also sidestepping the challenges posed by summer's heat and drought conditions. Undertaking dethatching in late summer minimizes competition from a host of weeds that typically sprout in the spring, ensuring a more effective recovery and healthier growth of your lawn.
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Power raking is an effective method for clearing away the dead debris and crust that accumulates on a lawn during winter. It's also a gentle way to remove a small amount of thatch from the lawn, without causing the significant damage associated with dethatching.
It is more suitable for regular lawn maintenance, helping to prevent thatch from becoming a problem without the more extensive disruption caused by dethatching. It's best done when the lawn is actively growing and can recover quickly.
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How is power raking performed?
Power raking is carried out using a light-duty dethatching machine that uses spring tine blades (sometimes also called "tine based dethatcher") 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 and the tine blades gently slice the thatch instead of ripping it out (whereas dethatching also pulls and removes healthy root systems). This type of blades just lightly skim the surface and do a good job of lifting up dead grass and debris, but it’s not going to slice up your turf’s thatch layer like a verticutter.
Consequently, power raking minimizes extensive damage, allowing the lawn to recover quickly and retain its density.
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When is the best time to power rake my lawn in Toronto?
In Toronto, it is recommended to perform power raking in the Spring, when new growth has begun or is about to start. However, power raking can be done at any time during the growing season, as it is not as stressful for the lawn compared to dethatching.
Power raking and overseeding.
Power raking is especially effective combined with overseeding, as it opens up the lawn surface, allowing new seeds to establish better. If you're planning to combine power raking with overseeding, it's recommended to do so in early Spring. This timing gives the new seedlings ample time to establish themselves before the summer drought and heat. However, late Summer or early Fall is the optimal period for overseeding alone, as this avoids the summer's harsh conditions and the new seedlings won't have to compete with spring-germinating weeds.
So, what’s thatch?
Thatch can be defined as the layer of debris, dead grass, and other organic matter that lies between grass blades and the soil’s surface that we ideally want to remove. Thatch is known as the organic debris consisting of living and dead plant parts, often gathering around the base of your lawn. While this layer does typically break down/decompose over time, it often does not happen at a rate fast enough to make room for new thatch which can be harmful to your lawn in the end.
Thatch isn’t bad if it’s not too thick. A thin layer of thatch can actually increase how resilient your lawn is too heavy foot traffic. But if the thatch layer is too thick—1/2 to 3/4 inches deep—it can restrict the flow of air, water, and nutrients to the roots.
Thatch is harmful for your lawn because it can block water and nutrients from penetrating the soil, leading to poor growth and health of the grass. Because of this restriction, a lot of thatch can cause your turf to dry out faster. As the layer of thatch absorbs (and thus restricts) the movement of water and nutrients to root systems, grass roots itself within the thatch in an attempt to survive. Overall, thatch is a poor medium for turf growth, and if it dries out it’s difficult to rewet. If thatch does stay wet, it can harbor insects or funguses.
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Thatch buildup is also a normal byproduct of lawn maintenance like the mowing you do, especially if you normally mulch grass clippings and leaves in your lawn.​
LET'S TALK NUMBERS
*The pricing above is an approximation based on typical yard sizes and is not guaranteed. Final pricing will be provided in a customized quote provided by the JNB Landscaping team.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
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Power raking services are offered during spring time.
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Every project starts with a thorough site assessment and a written, detailed quote. Once the quote is approved, we will arrive on the scheduled day at your property in a pick-up truck with a trailer, fully equipped with all the required tools. Our team exclusively employs top-tier, commercial-grade equipment for all our power raking services, ensuring precision, safety and reliability in every project.
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We will issue an invoice at the completion of work. We accept credit cards, cheques, Interac e-transfer or cash as methods of payment.
HOW DO I GET STARTED?
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Want to get started? Call us or fill out our online form. We reply to all quote requests within 1 business day and schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience. Then if you are ready to go ahead, we schedule your service for the next available timeslot.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
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At JNB Landscaping, a common question we encounter is about the cost of power raking in Toronto. The price varies based on several factors, including the size of your lawn, accessibility and current condition. The above pricing serves as an example of the typical cost to power rake a lawn of that specific size.
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To ensure an accurate quote, we first assess your property and offer a free consultation before quoting any power raking projects. We will then provide a written, no obligation quote, free of charge within 1-2 business days. Simply give us a call or contact us using our online form and we'll schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
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All services are provided with clear upfront pricing, quoted as individual jobs, without the uncertainty of hourly billing. This ensures you know the exact cost of the project from the start.
Professional Lawn Dethatching Near Me
We’re here to help! Request a free, no obligation quote for lawn dethatching and power raking.
We provide professional and reliable power raking and lawn dethatching services in North York, Scarborough, East York, Markham (south), Richmond Hill (south), Etobicoke, Downtown Toronto and York.
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Our professional power raking services are available in the following areas:
North York
East York
Downtown Toronto
Etobicoke
Markham (South)
Richmond Hill (South)
We limit our service area to ensure rapid response times and heightened efficiency. This way we minimize time spent in transit, avoiding the hassle of traffic congestion. This allows us more time to dedicate to the meticulous care of each property. Our clients benefit from this as they receive our undivided attention and a higher standard of service, ensuring that we provide the absolute best service to each and every customer in these areas. Our goal is to spend valuable time caring for your lawns and gardens, rather than racing against the clock or getting caught in traffic.
