Proper way to Power raking?

Question

Am going to rent a power rake and was wondering if it is wise to power rake my lawn in the direction of my last mow. Would this be more efficient for hte power rake to pick up the underlying thatch or would it be best to go perpendicular to my last mow?

Ever1Wolf: Thanks veyr much for the response.. No i don't mow i the same direction each time i mow (i found out that the grass will grow healither when i change it up each time i mow -- all i do right now is mow my lawn perpendicular to the last mow).

My type of grass i believe is a Fescue or possibly a ryegrass...Cant remember..

Answer 1

Pitchforks and rakes have long been a mainstay in lawn and garden owners’ arsenal of tools. While these tools can turn garden soil, dig up transplants and harvest potatoes, their use in lawns to aerate the soil or tear out thick layers of thatch is labor-intensive. Machines now found in rental stores and garden supply catalogs do the exact same job, while requiring less time and energy.

Both tools and machines have important limits, however, according to turfgrass horticulturists at Kansas State University.

Spiking with solid tines is the easiest, cheapest way to aerate soil, they say. Because it removes no soil, spiking is safe to do at any time. Compared to core aeration, it also allows turf to heal more quickly.

But, spiking’s effects are short-term. Plus, as a spike pushes soil to the side, it compacts it further.

Power raking – sometimes called vertical mowing – is a great way to reduce thatch, particularly in such warm-season grasses as bermuda, buffalograss and zoysia. Plus, its results look less disruptive to growing grass than core aeration’s.

But, other than removing thatch, power raking does little to improve air, water and nutrient access to turf roots. So, it’s no substitute for a core aerator when soil compaction and/or heavy soils are also a problem.

A core aeration machine both loosens the soil and helps to reduce thatch buildup. It’s biggest limits are that it’s large and it always should be used when the lawn is actively growing, so the aeration holes heal up more rapidly.

Answer 2

Great first answer but may not directly relate.

The fact that it's a POWER rake will determine rather quickly in using it, that it won't matter much, what direction you choose,,,hopefully it's a decent one.

I've always used a hand held. long handled "Thatching rake" but that's labor intensive.

You don't state the type of grass you have. Here in Central Florida for example, if one uses a thatcher on St. Augustine, (a shallow root, above ground trailing grass) then some damage will be done to the live grass itself, in any method of thatching. The direction is of little consequence no matter.

By the way, no offense meant, but do you always MOW in the same direction, as previous?

I suspect that no matter, the thatching will accomplish the intended goal.

Rev. Steven