Mow the Bermuda grass with the lawn mower blades at their lowest setting, or at the setting that cuts as close to the ground as possible, in early summer when the grass grows vigorously. Attach the grass collection bag to your mower, if possible.
Rake the yard vigorously and remove the clippings. Raking vigorously also helps loosen the thatch covering the soil surface. You can add the debris to your compost pile, if you wish.
Water your lawn just enough to moisten the soil about 1/2 inch deep. A little moisture makes dethatching the yard easier.
Pull a dethatching rake across the yard in rows in one direction. Lift the dethatching rake every few feet, pull the collected thatch from the tines and place it in a pile. Pull the dethatching rake across the yard a second time, this time in rows perpendicular to the first. Dethatch using a verticutter or powered dethatcher if you have a large lawn or if manual dethatching is too difficult. Space the verticutter or dethatcher blades 1 inch apart and adjust them so they cut 1 inch deep in the soil. Run the dethatcher or verticutter across the yard in rows and again up and down the lawn.
Rake the yard vigorously and collect the loosened thatch, using a yard rake for the job. You can also add these to the compost pile or put them in the garden waste trash can. Put them in the trash if your area doesn't have garden waste collection.
Water the soil to moisten it to a depth of 1 inch. Moistening the soil surface helps keep the plugs from sticking in the hollow tines of the aerator.