Power Raking - When you are driving around the neighborhood undoubtedly there is one or two houses that stand out from the rest. Not necessarily because of how they are built, but usually because of the way their yard looks. There is something about a green lush lawn that is so inviting. A beautiful lawn can make any home and yard look like a showplace.
But, a gorgeous lawn just doesn’t happen. It takes work and one of the things you need to do to help ensure your grass is healthy is to power rake. Now power raking isn’t a task you will need to do all the time, usually just once or twice a year is sufficient. But the results that you will see are well worth the effort!
Why Power Rake?
Every lawn gets a build-up of thatch. Thatch is the dying plant material that falls down around the roots of the grass. It is usually made up of grass clippings and grass blades that have died. Now having this organic material around the grass roots isn’t necessarily a bad thing, in fact many people use a mulching lawn mower so they will be able to add the organic material back into the soil. However, when there gets to be too much organic material it creates a thick mat like surface that is difficult to penetrate. As a result water and other nutrients have a hard time getting to the soil. In addition, the thick thatch tends to choke off the grass blades. So it is important to remove the build-up at least once per year through power raking.
When to Start Power Raking
There are differing opinions about power raking and when to do it. Some experts recommend spring and others suggest the fall. Some even think you should take care of power raking in both seasons. Personally, I prefer to start power raking in the spring to get the lawn off to a great start for the summer months. Regardless of when you decide to power rake, there are a few definite recommendations you should follow.
Rake before it is too hot. Now this doesn’t mean too hot in the day, but too hot in the season. Heat can stress the plants and so if you are doing a rough activity such as power raking you will send the grass into a tailspin! You want to choose mid spring or fall when the weather is pleasantly warm, but not scorching hot. If you feel like you are going to wilt in the heat then it isn’t a good idea to power rake!
On the flip side, you don’t want to do it in cold weather either. A good rule of thumb is to wait to start power raking until after the ground temperature has reached at least 55 degrees for best results.
Rake when the soil is dry. Think about how easily it is to weed your garden when the soil is wet. Well if you start power raking while the soil is wet you will pull up the grass sprouts as easily as you do those weeds! Wait until the ground has dried out before you start to pull up the thatch to protect the grass.
Rake before adding seed. Often people want to add more grass seed to their lawn in the spring or fall. Before you do this, make sure you do some power raking over your lawn. This will help to prepare a bed for the seeds so they can take root and sprout.
Don’t rake too much! Don’t panic if there is thatch in your lawn. A little bit is beneficial for the grass since it helps retain moisture and nutrients. Only worry about power raking if the thatch layer becomes excessively thick or dense. This organic layer is good to have during hot summer months or times of drought. Only become concerned if it becomes thicker than about three quarters of an inch.
Power raking is a yard task that is necessary but so rewarding. The beautiful green grass you grow is worth the time it takes to remove the thatch! Power raking is a must!
Buy Power Raking Accessories:
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Arnold 490-100-0056 21-Inch/22-Inch Universal 6-N-1 Power Rake Lawn Mower Blade |
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Maxpower 330100 16-Inch Universal Power Rake/Dethatcher Lawn Mower Blade |
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Arnold Corp. 490-100-0012 Power Rake |