Time frame for dethatching

[AllSeasonsAllReasons]

I know that it is a hard thing to try to guess somethings with all the different variances there are but could some one tell me maybe how long it would take them to dethatch say a 1,000 sq ft of lawn including cleaning it up? Just trying to get a feel for the time i would need! This would be just one person doing it! Thank you Cory

[Acute Cut]

The variance i think that would make a big difference is equipment. Thatcher and rake only? ZTR? billy goat or like vacume?

What equipment do you have or will you be using?

5,000 sf might take 3-4 hours to do by your self. Also, will you be cross thatching? Seeding? Fert? etc.

Hope you can find some sort of help in this. I cant. lol
good luck
acute cut

[AllSeasonsAllReasons]

well i am just going to try it out for the first time this year! So i am just going to rent a thatcher from a rental yard first to see if i want to offer this service on a long term basis! No fert the three i have to do just want dethacthing no fert aps. Thanks again

[LScom Addict]

On a 3,000 sq. ft. property with one laborer from start to finish is approx. 45 minutes. This is unloading, re-loading equipment, running a thacther one direction, hand raking the thatch onto tarps and hauling them to the truck.

[lawrence stone]

Originally posted by AllSeasonsAllReasons
well i am just going to try it out for the first time this year! So i am just going to rent a thatcher from a rental yard first to see if i want to offer this service on a long term basis! No fert the three i have to do just want dethacthing no fert aps. Thanks again

Don't be a big green lacky. Demand that if you dethatch that
the customer buy your complete lawn care package.

If they balk then charge 2-4X the normal rate but of course since you have not done any time studies you have no clue of what your production rates therefore (proper spelling LakeGas) you have idea of how to price the job at 1x.

[DBM]

Although it's my first year at this I've been doing nothing but power raking for the last 3 weeks. Here's how long it takes me on my own:
Per 1000 square feet

For thatch removal: approx. 1/2 an hour
For moss removal:moss killed beforehand: approx. 1hr
moss not killed first:1 to 1.5 hrs

First I run the power rake over once, rake thatch or moss onto a tarp, repeat, in case of moss there is also alot of hand raking to remove moss from areas inaccessible with power rake. I do a very thorough job when compared to others around here and I average at least one referral per job. Neighbours like to check out and see what you're doing.

Good Luck

Doug

[Runner]

For those that rake, just use your blowers. It's much more efficient, and faster too. Just don't try to push too much at once. (depending on blower - you get a feel for your blowers efficiency capacity) Just make several smaller piles. Now, this doesn't mean neat little tight piles, either. Just rough round pools. You can gather it when you pick it up on the tarp. It's not necessary to have "tight piles - wasted time. We usually just use a push blower or the mowers to wind row it. The mowers can move the stuff faster than you can rake. Utilize your equipment!

[MOW ED]

I'm gonna be in a little different category here and I guess I have the right equipment for the job. I can honestly do 1000 sqft in less than 10 minutes.
Thatched, vacuumed and dumped.
The Walkers aren't the fastest mowers but they are unreal when it comes to thatching.
The business is very profitable here also. I was just at my dealer and he sold a 13k gas w/c Walker to a guy that is using it JUST for thatching.

[Acute Cut]

what the heck kind of machine do you use? Walker, i know. I mean, what type of walker? 10 minutes is unreal!

[MOW ED]

A 10x 100 strip of lawn can be dethatched with my Walker 26EFI GHS with a 42" deck extremely fast. If I want to I can dethatch and pick the debris up at the same time. I usually go over the bad lawns 2 times and the bad areas can get extra attention but this machine is made for collecting debris. The dethatcher snaps on and off in 20 seconds. It is a great time of year and I'm going outside to play with it right now.

[LJ lawn]

i think this guy was talking about power raking.i want to get that attachment for the front of my walker,but i've never used one so i don't know how that compares to using a regular walk behind powerrake.let me know, thanks.

[lawnboy82]

i believe that this subject has been brought up before on here. all you should need for this job is some kind of rake, a power rake in my mind should only be used if there is a problem with thatch accumulation, or if you have chinch bugs. otherwise just run over a lawn with a regular rake, or you can get a jrko? rake for the front of your machine, that will do just fine, get the debris up and everything. when you have moss you cant just remove it. you have to treat the soil so it doesnt come back in the future. this may mean cutting back some trees, or improving soil PH but by just going with a power rake and saying ok see ya later that doesnt cut it.

[Kirt Shore]

I am a one man show and find that the time it took me to do a 12000 sp ft lot which was mine on Saturday took me about 1 hour to power rake and about 2 hours to pick up the thatch with a 36 bobcat and grass gobbler.

Heads up if this your first time. Most power Rakes that are rented are really a power flail. It has metal bars that strike the sod and they are adjustable for heighth. If you go in too low now you have bought yourself a sod job.

I use a true power rake called Easy Rake made in Lebonone IN. This unit uses springs that comb the sod and will not do the damage that the flail will unless you fall asleep in one spot.

I get after it as soon as possible as this is the first money maker of the season. If you have a place to haul it for a good price, then your money ahead. If not figure the recycle bags in as well or tell you customer to provide them for you. I filled 9 bags off my own this weekend. Now I have to wait for the recycle truck the first week of April.

Good Luck.

[4 Saisons]

Dethatching....be careful.

if there is too much thatch, there is probably a soil failure. Too much pesticide or chemical fert. usually kill micro-organic willife. Power Rakes dammage grass, so use it only on bad case. Other way, spread compost to stimultates micro-organism and your thatch will be eat by them.

To really solve the problem, check aeration and fert program.