How Does a Thatcher Go on a Lawnmower?

Attachable Tines

• Attachable tines are flexible metal tines, similar to those found on a rake. You can buy them and attach them to the blades of your mower. They come with clamps and brackets so you can lock them in place along each blade of your mower (while the power is off and there is no fuel or oil in the mower that could spill). These tines are easy to take on and off, but they do the poorest job of actually dethatching a lawn. For a better job, you may need to buy a separate unit.

Separate Unit for Riding Lawnmowers

• Driving lawnmowers can be used with thatchers that act like mini-trailers, hauled behind the mower where they use blades designed to cut into the thatch. These units come with a hitch bar that has a two-pin coupler you can attach to the back of your riding mower. They receive stability from a series of bolts that holds the framework together and concentrates strength at the coupler sector.

Front-Mounted Attachments

• Front-mounted thatchers are designed to be affixed to the front portion of the mower so the lawn is dethatched before the blades reach the grass. This version can be used with push-based mowers as well and are often designed to fit over expanded mower decks used in large units. Some are bolted onto the framework of the mower, bar by bar, while others come with dedicated clamps that fit over a specific mower deck.

Thatcher Alternatives

• If you do not want to attach a thatcher to your mower, there are many stand-alone options to choose from. Some are basic push units with tines that are not driven by a motor. Weightier versions use blades driven by an engine that cut through thatch completely. Bladed versions are more effective at solving thatch problems, but are also more expensive to purchase.