Does the turf actually need to be dethatched?

 

A new customer is requesting it. I have to go see what they have going on. Around here a good hand raking is all most lawns need in spring. But I think he's looking to dethatch / seed & fert.

 

I use the jrco set up while bagging every spring. Here the winter creates havoc on the grass, winter mold, and compaction. The tine dethatcher does excellent work removes just right amount of thatch and makes lawn look freshly raked, but much faster of course.

 

If you are using the front mount JRCO and a bagger on the back of the mower does it essentially dethatch and bag the thatch at the same time?

 

From one of my jobs last year, I noted 8000 sq ft dethatching and bagging took 45-60 minutes. I think I charged $175 and he was happy with that price. I did another property, dethatching and plug aerating. 14,746 sq ft, 2.5 hours $375

Edit: I did these with my 50" zero turn. If I did again, I would add additional charge for each bagger filled. For my zero turn, I usually charge an extra $2.50 each.

 

I have a customer that wants it done every Spring. I charge $150 for 3500 sq ft & it takes about 1 man hour total & if you rent the machine & only do one lawn, $150 sucks since you have the rental cost, & the time picking up & returning. One of the reasons I bought a used Exmark seeder , since it also dethatches.

He was a new customer & could not find someone to do this, & maybe I could of charged more, since many do not want to do dethatching.

 

I also use the jrco 60 in dethatcher, go over one direction and then in 45 degree angle in other direction with collection system running. It does a nice job standing up grass after winter snow or a lawn that gets a lot of foot traffic. It does improve the spring look immediately!! Then aerate in the fall.

 

I don't have a JRCO on my lazer, but do have a similar unit. I usually charge $2 a minute for dethatching. As someone else mentioned I usualy go over it once , then hit at a 45 degree or 90 depending on what will yield longer passes and less turns with the vac running and it comes out really nice. I usually estimate on the higher side. So if I think it might take 60 minutes, im usually in and out in 45, and the customer is usually very happy for $120. Now if I am seeding as well that gets a little trickier.

 

My least favorite service. I actually took it off my website. Will only do it for established customers if they specifically ask. Because of this I only do a couple year. Rental cost + 1000lb of bulky debris to collect and dispose.

 

I do minimum of 3 yards when I rent a dethatcher to offset rental expense then it's Lawn bags at curbside pick up for my area..But I may be buying a mower with dethatcher attachment so no more rental costs and running around. Dethatcher machine does much better job then attachment but not sure all lawns need that

 

Jrco is really in its element when it's atteched to a machine with a bagging unit,
Thatch/mow north south and then east/west and then yes, it's just as good.
But not if you just run it once.
I could go over the yard three times and still do it in less than half the time pushing around a blue bird.

There are some extremely dense, messed up lawns that your blue bird/Ryan will be better at but by that time it's not really "maintenance" any more, it's light renovation.
Old school dethatchers work great on moss.

 

A new customer is requesting it. I have to go see what they have going on. Around here a good hand raking is all most lawns need in spring. But I think he's looking to dethatch / seed & fert.

Woah
That's very 1988, like before I knew what a detached was.

Look around you, you're neck deep in 30 plus year old established companies, I don't think "around here a good hand taking..." really describes what most landscapers are doing on the connnecticut shoreline.
This probably means you don't understand the dethayching process or why it's needed.
You should be able to you tube that easily enough however.
Not all lawns need it, especially if they're bagged or mulched regularly as part of the cut.