Started following about a month ago. Recently retired and now have the time to take better care of my lawn. It’s looking better this year just from a better feeding and weed control effort. Not perfect, but better. I like your vids for two main reasons: 1. Your methods are simple. Explanations are clear and demonstrations are thorough. 2. You use equipment and materials that are available and priced in a range that even I can afford. Thanks for keeping it real for us guys just trying to present a decent lawn in the neighborhood.
Awesome Video. Thanks for explaining the difference between dethatching and removing dead grass from the surface. Most people, including myself, get caught up in terminology glitches from time to time. They think that they need to dethatch when, in fact, what they really want/need to do is remove accumulated dead grass from mulch mowing or side discharge mowing, via a machine like this.
I guess that at least part of the problem is that we occasionally 'mulch' while the grass is too long, leading to build-up, and this muddies the distinction. Then you get the 'mulching leads to thatch buildup' mindset. Then you get fertilizer sales increases.
Got similar sort of machine with same attachments and people knock me for not having expensive equipment but my scarifier is brilliant little machine and lawn recovers so quickly after using it, the only disadvantage that I see over the expensive machines is the electric cord, amount of times I've nearly de thatched the cord is silly lol
Trusting the reviews, after a bad experience with the SunJoe electric mower, I paid the high cost and got the SunJoe Dethatcher version 2. I was AMAZED that my 50' x 30' front yard yielded slightly over 1 cubic YARD of thatch! This thing is awesome!
I got one of these Sunjoe devices this year and I couldn't be be happier with the way my lawn looks. It pulls A LOT so be prepared! I "scarred" by backyard, used the de-thatch device, then used Scotts Lawn Rescue 911 and yeah my back yard looks a million times better this year.
Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower ruclips.net/user/postUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.
I first saw these machines and thought they were basically a bad joke. Your review convinced me that they were worth looking at. Imagine my surprise over the weekend when Amazon had this thing available for 80 bucks! Yoink.
@@pestandlawnginja Holy carp, what a ridiculous amount of stuff my lawn releases. I did just one little section during some free time and... I need more free time.
I bought that scarifier for my zoysia, does a great job. Thanks for sharing on that, made a huge difference in the color and growth patterns like you said ginja. I don’t think my lawn had been dethatched in years by the previous owner. Good stuff, great results!
I'm feeling what you're saying when you talk about getting strips without a striping kit. After my Zoysia went dormant I came back and mowed about 1/2 inch lower and it has left some amazing stripes all winter long without any striping kit. I was about to buy a Sun Joe and happened to think to come back here and follow up, and I'm glad I did. I almost forgot to use your link so you get a little cash in your pocket for all the help you have given me and so many others! I sent people to your channel frequently. You know what you're talking about and you can get it across with pretty plain speech that most people can understand. I figured I'd use the dethatching tines to pull up debris and give me a clean soil palette for my pre-emergent. See, some people out here are paying attention. Because of your help my lawn only has a SINGLE dandelion and a few sprigs of wild garlic to knock out when it warms up some, and the rest is pure Zoysia!
One small tip for you. Now that your lawn is breathing and the shallow roots cut with the thatch, get some high Phosphate fert in there to jump start your rhizome root growth to thicken the heck out of it. I’ve been doing it with mine this season and everyone who sees it always comments on how crazy thick it is. :) The overseeding & compost lay down afterwards may have helped as well. ☺️ Looks great buddy and thanks for the great videos!
Gingaaa, you are by far One of The greatest when it comes to lawn issues. Yet we all fall into the terminology of using so many words for such a common thing like lawn care. I’m a native Romanian living in The Netherlands and by now I thought scarifying was the one with the little springs tines. Here they speak about “verticuteren” which is commonly the same as power raking. Your videos are great! Kind regards, M
Thanks! I find these terminologies get mixed up here in the united state of america too. I found a similar issue in the UK. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I bought it last year. My lawn had 30+ year thatch. I dethatched spring and fall and what a difference. It's mighty scary at first lol!! But yeah...in 4 weeks it's night and day. I'll prol skip it this year though because last year I went hardcore. I'll double aerate in the fall. FABULOUS machine. Looks so flimsy and yet it gets the job done.
Thanks for your feedback I will definitely keep the watering to early mornings , I haven’t had to water due to lots of rain, irrigation is set to water every 3 days. Hopefully it will grow out it seems to be growing fast , be sure to bag clippings for now . Thanks again
did the same process on specific spots in my lawn and i can't keep up with the growth this year. I used to use a slit seeder as my scarifier, sold that and got the sun joe. if i could make it cordless it would be just as good if not better because I've used the "dethatching tines" several times on 0 just to clean up the lawn and get some brown grass out. I have the darkest lawn in the area and I'd say it's got to be this method because my neighbor and I both use the same fertilizer and micro treatments.
@Pest and Lawn Ginja If i put down a PreEmergent a few weeks ago (Barricade Granules) can I Scarify? will it nullify the PreEmergent? And what setting do you suggest? Zone 6B NJ. I really like your channel. Clear and very informative. Thank You!!
Just found your channel - Lawn Ginja. Too funny. Great vid, and content. Clear, concise, straightforward info and to the point. Also some great additional tips below in the comment section. Thanks amigo!
Yes! Great video as usual. Love my SunJoe. Pulled 250L of dead grass and thatch off my small 1800sq ft yard this spring with it! 2 passes with the tines and 3 with the scarifier. It looks amazing now. 😍
Love the way the GINGA thinks never settle For mediocre this is why this MAN is a NATURAL at what he does and the saying goes if you love what you do every day you will never call it work and this is why I love following the GINGA the guy is a LEADER by example its shows GINGA, all the time BRO ,your Successful in all you do.
Rapidly becoming the best lawn channel for homeowners on a budget! One request: Can you work on your audio? Us old guys can barely hear, and when you turn away from the camera, the audio drops out. I turned up the volume to hear, but then you turned back around and I got a big 'ol Ginja blast of sound. My wife was startled. Thank you in advance.
@@pestandlawnginjaSweet! I tend to watch on my big TV/sound system while working up the nerve to head outside, and it's the wind noise that really nails me.
Been in my house for a couple years and it was infested with weeds and just a huge lack of maintenance. First year weed n feed did amazing with knocking out the weeds and the native bermuda took over. But the ongoing issue is that it wont green up properly. Its more of a neon green than dark green color. Fertilizers dont do hardly anything and the soil is high clay and dark colored much like yours. I have noticed that where the soil gets disturbed it comes green. ie, I drove my truck through the yard when raining and ended up with dark green grass in tire tracks so I aerated with a pitchfork to the point of pushing it 8 inch in and pulling back breaking the soil a bit but it didn't do much. On the other hand I went and pulled up weeds in an area yesterday leaving the soil disturbed and it immediately greened up in one day after night time rain. Appears to have heavy thatch and old runners in top 3/4 inch. I think I need this machine but just not sure about quality. Do the tines break? Easy to order and replace? Should I just rent more professional quality machine?
What steps would be best to get grass to grow in a pretty shady area that is growing moss and not much grass? Love your info and insight just nervous about trying to do this and don't know where or how to start.
You'll need to use a dethatcher like the sun joe dethatcher weekly. after it's under control drop some perennial rye grass in those areas. If you have time to introduce some playground sand to help drain the excess water that helps a ton.
I bought a sun joe dethatcher online from walmart and I am anxious to use it. My question was do you scarify/detach or detach/scarifier? But I saw your comment that you prefer detach/scarify. My other question is what about sprinklers in the lawn? Or some pebbles in the lawn? I walked around my lawn picking up pebbles to toss them away.
these machines don't commonly break sprinklers. I never worry about them. you are correct. I prefer to dethatch first and then scarify and you can do it all the same day. the dethatcher won't have issues with pebbles either. it will up root the pebbles and make it easier to pick them out of the lawn if they're sitting on the surface.
clicked the link on the Sun Joe, not bad at all at under $150; I'm really considering one now for before I over seed, and then for years after to maintain the growth just a little deeper into the soil than I can get with a rake ...bet its great at working soil amendments down in, as it might really help with top dressing and leveling - and parts of my yard get a very hard top compacted dirt where that could keep the soil open and loose for better growth and watering - I bet you've already sold a few of those for them
So it’s going to be thunder storming today here in Minnesota,so what better way to learn more about lawn work and issues to get caught up in watching a ton more of your awesome videos and info 👍👍😎😎
In the past two or three weeks the price of the sun joe scarifier has almost tripled on Amazon. It kinda crazy. I was waiting for a paycheck to come in to get one. Looks like I'll have to keep on waiting.
Thank you for this video! 3 questions! 1. What setting did you use for the scarifier? 2. About the dethatcher head: can I use it also as a power rake for fall and spring clean up (for raking the lawn)? 3. How many times a year max can I use the dethatcher head?
I use -10 for the scarifier. I use 0 for the dethatcher. you can use the dethatcher weekly. I've been testing it out this season and its working awesome.
Pest and Lawn Ginja Thank you for this info and thank you again for your lawn videos! They’re very helpful! I’m glad I discovered your channel. All the best!
Used the SunJoe to revive a very awful looking lawn that we thought might be “too far gone”. Definitely looked even worse after dethatching and scarifying, but we seeded anyway. It’s doing great now with the exception of one spot that runs right next to the concrete drive. The dirt has appeared very compacted since before we started and remains nearly barren. My gut wants to till it!! Should we scarify it again? Don’t want to wreck the good thing we’ve got going for most of it.
Fall is best. However, it can be done anytime of the year while the grass is actively growing. The difference is the amount of time it takes to recover.
Is there anything I can do to help with clay soil? Our house was built on an old cow pasture and they put down minimal soil when they landscaped it. My back lawn is sloped and more water runs off than soaks in. Thank you, as always, for sharing your knowledge with us! I greatly appreciate you Sir.
Do you recommend power rake/ “debris remover” before using the “scarifier” if you have a dense layer of debris (Eg. hard to visualize soil)??? My plan is to do both as well as Then aerate and finally over seed with Barenbrug!!!!!
I felt the same way , I have less than you at 1.25 acres, and granted I haven’t finished yet but I took a wheel measure and sectioned it off in to rectangular sections and am working one section at a time maybe like one a week, just treating each section as a separate lawn, scarify weed control and fertilize, not so bad I’m working with maybe 2500 square foot sections, it’ll be done someday but it makes it seem less tedious , trying to do the whole thing at once would be crazy
@@rustyfan89 I am now looking at trying N-ext D-Thatch. I'm liking what I am reading about it. I have a 45-gallon tow behind boom sprayer on the way and this would be easy.
Hey Ginja your videos are awesome. I really like how you walk thru the process and make it easy for us DIY guys to understand. I just bought a SunJoe today since it was on sale on Amazon based on a comparison video you did. I already have the greenworks one. Anyway quick question, installed KBG sod May 31/2019 should I be worried about a thatch later with new sod?
@@pestandlawnginja awesome thanks. I do have some areas that have thinned out over the summer from the heat and stress. I'm thinking I would go over those areas with it and then throw some seed down and get some new growth. I havent seen the KBG rhizomes shoot out much Not sure if it was just from the summer heat.
You’re wild Ginja 😂😂😂. But I can vouch for you BECAUSE after seeing your review of the GreenWorks electric dethatcher, I bought one and used it this spring on my lawn. I know for a fact that it did help a lot ... so much came up it was unreal. My had a much better start because of it. Thinking of getting that scarifier now !!!
@@pestandlawnginja Exactly... hard work always pays off. Grass is a resilient plant and bounces back quickly when you take care of it, I sure learned that this year. And not to mention that I received so many compliments this season so far from so many people on how my lawn looks, and no bragging here, I am dominating!!!
I’m really wanting to use my new VonHaus scarifier/dethatcher (er, clean up tine) on my Tall Fescue lawn (even though Bermuda is rapidly trying to take over). Is it possible to cut the Tall Fescue low enough right now to use the new machine, when it’s almost July? Will the middle TN sun and heat be too hard on the shortened Tall Fescue? Or should I just wait until Fall? What can I, and my lawn, get away with right now, if anything? Thanks...and for another great video!!
depends on your lawn goals. I'm still in prep mode so i'm not hyper focussed on maintaining the "best" lawn for this year. July can be a tough month because the plant will naturally slow the growth. You can force some with fertilizer. it will be less stressful on the lawn in the fall.
I live in PG and just seeded (last fall) about an acre on 9” of good topsoil, I had it laser graded to 2% and installed a drainage system installed to try and create a sports field for a premier sports playing surface. It has come in well but I want to make it perfection and willing to invest whatever time and money is necessary. How do us local clients work with you on a project like that?
Love your channel and your delivery. It’s awesome. I’m moving to a house with a garden so your lawn are tips are great - I know my lawn has problems with weeds and moss. Why did you decide to scarify now, in the middle of summer, as temperatures are going to start hitting their maximum? In the UK, we usually only scarify before the growing season (spring) or towards the end (autumn). When I move in. I’m planning to lay down some moss killer and weed killer towards the end of the season, wait 3 weeks, then scarify it hard to get the moss and weeds out, maybe repeat, then overseed for the winter period and feed it to promote new growth. We don’t have particularly hard winters and I have a chalk base, which drains freely.
I decided to scarify in the heat (it's 90 degrees today) because I wanted to show that you can. I also have a few lingering spots that are suffering from melting out and leaf spot fungus that I need to slightly dehydrate. sounds like you have a good plan of action. It should go very well for you
Pest and Lawn Ginja thank you! You are clearly the King of Lawns! Will keep you posted on how my English Cottage lawn looks and keep up the great work! I’ve learnt a lot from your channel and KBG. If you ever fancy moving to Old Hampshire (in Great Britain) let me know!
Which setting would you recommend using for detaching and scarifying? I'm thinking of starting out at zero for detaching and adjust as needed -5 scarifying and adjust as needed. Scarifying and aerating I plan on scarifying first. Then aerating (and possibly using scarifer on the plugs) -- your thoughts? As always great videos and I use your videos as knowledge and as reference points.
I'm a big fan of your knowledge, skills, and videos. I just bought a Sun Joe beast thanks to your video. Question regarding the BioNutrients 9-0-9. I've found BioNutrients 9-0-9 available in 8oz, 5lb or 40lb quantities. I have a quarter acre lawn in Michigan. Should I try out the product with an 8oz supply (for estimated 3-4 applications)? Or should I go all in and get the 5lb supply? Is there a shelf life for this product that I should consider?
Great questions. wish i would have seen this earlier. I use the bio nutrient pack to aid in root development for new seed or sod jobs. I use it for 2 months. put it down every other week. Total of 8 applications. I keep some on hand for stress areas and mix it with essential plus 1 0 1. great way to do it.
Update - I wish you had links to 12 gauge extension cords in 50 ft. lengths. It is SO much easier to detangle (2) 50' extension cords than a single 100' extension cord. Same for water hoses.
Hey Ginja! Another great informative video. I had a question. I laid KBG sod in April 2021 and ran into melt out issues. I think I got it under control now but the dead grass is still there. Can I use the Sun Joe to clean the debris and then scarifiy or should I not do that yet to a fairly new sod? Thanks for your advice!
I understand the need to scarify for breathing and root growth etc but what I don't quite understand is why the "waste" isn't good for decomposition and nutrients? Just curious, all the videos say the same thing as you so I know you're all right can you give a reader digest version of why mulching "waste" back into turf = bad?
not sure why you would get that impression. the thatch is super nutrient dense. i removing the plugs so i can top dress to decrease the thatch products. I also don't leave the nutrient dense thatch waste because it clouds the color of the grass.
Heya, Ginja! "It's just grass." Them's fightin' words! Quick question, do you recommend dethatch and/or slitting when it's needed instead of seasonally? Thanks for yet another great vid!
well...... it all depends on the situation. The scarifying is working so well to manage new growth it's my new favorite option. Time will tell. My future plants are to scarify 2x per year or more on my own lawn. 1 to 2 times for healthy lawns. I use the tine dethatcher to remove debris almost as if you would use a vacuum. I'll use it at the +5 to +10 setting periodically just to clean out debris in the grass.
@@pestandlawnginja Thanks for clearing that up for me. I missed the spring debris removal because of wet conditions, and have been regretting it. Got some thin spots that could use help, but didn't want to massacre my lawn.
@Pest and Lawn Ginja, great video. This might sound like a stupid question but, can the scarifier be considered as an alternative for aerator or are both completely different?
@@MatthewSmith-uf6tr I just bought a Sun Joe. I'm going to dethatch and then aerate and then do an overseeding just before the first good snowfall. I was also going to put down milorganite just before that first snowfall also. Would you change anything? I live in Iowa and I have Kentucky bluegrass and I always mow pretty high. Obviously I'll mow it low before I do the detaching
@@MatthewSmith-uf6tr mushroom manure, I guess I haven't heard of that. Sounds like just another form of a natural manure, like milorganite is. Is there a certain brand? Or is it something that you make somehow?
@@kentwells4488 mushroom manure is compost made from mushrooms and other organic material. It’s used to cover the seed up and protect it and keep it moisturized after you put the seed down after aerating and dethatching
Hey ginga I believe I have a fungus problem in my lawn , at first glance it appears to be drought stress and it is definitely more noticeable when I cut the lawn. Most of the blades are green and healthy and others are brown,I applied propiconizole and Scotts disease ex as a preventative a while back and it did not seem to prevent it . Front yard is mostly KBG and back is perennial rye and both have the same problem. I’m starting to think it’s the mowing height, been at 4.25” for a few months and I’m wondering if it’s too long for the type of grass seems like the first 3” aren’t getting enough sunlight especially when it grows out. We have been getting a ton of rain and it usually looks good after lots of rain but not so much after the cut been mowing 3 times a week. Any suggestions thanks
One of my recent videos I did a comparison. The sunjoe gets closer to the ground and po pulls more debris out with the dethatcher attachment. It also includes the scarifier
Sir, thank you for all your great advice, I have learned a lot since your videos have much more info than many others. I liked to know what are your thoughts on St Augustine and Zoysia, I have heard that dethatching and scarifying can really hurt them a lot?
Hey ginga took me a while to figure out how to get those pics to you I had to use my wife’s Facebook , not to familiar with all these high tech gadgets thanks
@@pestandlawnginja Just like the comment above, I Just used the power rake/"dethacter" this afternoon and plan on using the scarifier before I put down some KBG and peet moss. My lawn is no where as thick as yours and is thin. What setting should I use on the SunJoe for the scarifier? Is there i recommended depth for seedplanting?
Hey lawn Ginja good work with that sun joe dethacher. By the way should I use both attachments like you did, but in my case is for reseed. I will really appreciate your advice in this. Thank you.
Hello from Slovakia. I sow my lawn this fall september/october 2022. My lawn is quite new and fresh. I wanted to ask if i can safely dethatch next spring or is it to early for my lawn to be dethatched and scarified? I was also thinking about aerating my lawn in the spring? Can i safely do all these steps or will it be too much stress for my new lawn? Thank you for your opinion.
Great video! I have some brown spots in my celebration Bermuda and noticed a lot of old dead grass on top on the soil. I think it’s limiting water to those spots. Would you recommend to dethatch and then fertilize? Is it okay to dethatch in 95° heat? Thanks
Hi! I have a Sun Joe. When's the best time to use it on my lawn? It's late March in MA and my grass hasn't greened up yet. Should I wait until it greens up or is it ok to use it now when I do my spring cleanup? Thanks for your help!
Just started watching tonight and Love your vids! I’m going to do the SunJoe dethatcher/scarifier for the first time this weekend and I have an irrigation system. Do you know if using -10 (as you recommend) will be high enough to not interfere with the tubing?
Ginja, cool season lawn outside chicago, 55-65 degs last 2 weeks. If is dethatched on SJ setting 0 2 weeks ago. Can i do it once more where i still have matted dead grass, maybe one setting lower? Lawn is green, healthy and about to take off growing soon. Thanks buddy. #neddoescare
Love the videos- I’m in central TX with a new St Aug lawn (laid last fall) that is starting to go brown on me. There is a lot of shade and compaction due to walking areas. I was going to buy a hand core aerator like the lawn butler and need to Dethatch as well, curious if this Sun Joe Dethatcher/scarifier would mean I don’t need a core aerator as well? Thanks
The scarifier doesn't do the same job. It scuffs the top .25" at best. aeration is for plugging down 3". I love the sun joe don't get me know but it wouldn't be an apples to apples comparison.
Don't forget the dethacher option is great for removing wood mulch within the lawn, that tends to overflow from the surrounding beds, plus it will take care of your worm casting issues. For the last couple years, my neighbors made fun of me, for shop vac'ing my lawn, in order to pick up all these wood mulch pieces each season. Now I must figure out a way to hide the SunJoe from the wife. 2 different mowers, 2 different sprayers, 2 different kinds of "spreaders", think she might be catching on. lol
Hey man! I have watched about 5 videos of yours and you have a new subscriber! If you have the time, I hope you wouldn't mind answering these questions. I tried looking through your videos to see if I could find the answer, but I wasn't able to. 1) I recently purchased the Sun Joe Scarifier, but the instructions say to only scarify in the spring and fall. I live in Omaha, and we are approaching our 100 degree days here. Do you recommend waiting until fall to start any of this work? Tall fescue seems to be growing really well in my yard. I am not sure what the other grass is, it may be KBG, but when it is time to mow the Tall Fescue side of the yard, I need to increase my mower to the tallest setting, or it boggs up. But for the other side of the yard I need to lower the mower a substantial amount otherwise it is very difficult for me to see where I have mowed. Then, when I am done mowing I can clearly see two different heights in my yard and it doesn't look good at all. Typing this out, I realize I could do two passes on the Tall Fescue side. 2) On to my question, is it possible to have Tall Fescue just take over the yard? Would over seeding on top of the other stuff (after I power rake/scarify) cause the Fescue to grow, or is it possible that scarifying would just cause the other grass that is already there to fill in before the seed has a chance to mature? I would love to see a video on how to have one type of grass take over a lawn (by intention)
Hey Craig. Kentucky bluegrass is the dominant grass between the two. If your blue isn't growing we need to figure out why. Check the debris levels. Use the sun Joe dethatcher and check to see how much pulls up. Clean that lawn litter than hit it with some nitrogen.
@@pestandlawnginja Ok cool! Thank you for taking the time to respond, I will try that. Any way to get the KBG to grow as tall as the fescue so when I mow I won't have to use two settings? I'm assuming just more growth (because of less debris) will allow it to grow taller and thicker?
It's all about the PH and what the soil needs really. You won't be too far off from what I do. It's all about increasing the low nutrient values to keep balance.
@@pestandlawnginja great to hear. I'll go back through your videos to review your process. Just got my tenacity in the mail today. May have to wait for the fall when it's cooler for an application.
I just purchased the Sun Joe, haven't used it yet, have never dethatched before. Plan to use it before overseeding next month. Would you recommend scarifying then power raking?
I like to do the dethatcher then scarify. The thatch is more dense than the lawn debris so I find it's easier to pickup the debris left from the dethatcher.
I’m a local guy and have a similar-looking lawn. Does it damage the lawn at all to power rake and dethatch during the heat of the summer? I think my lawn could use it, but it already seems stressed out.
great question. IMO it doesn't cause any additional damage if the lawn is already stressed out. Since the lawn naturally doesn't grow as much during the hot month it will take a little longer to recover.
hey ginga ! is it a good idea for stolon grasses such as- st aug and bermuda? does it do too much damage to these types in sandy soils of florida ? thx to u im using essentials 1-0-1 seams to help, from all the crap i used ,to try and clean up this year.
I would suggest using a flail based power rake as opposed to the tine dethatcher. with that said if you use the sun joe and don't go too deep you might be ok.
Hey ginja! I just snagged the sun Joe and I'm pretty excited to use it for the first time.. I've got a guy doing aeration so I'm going to use the Thatcher attachment first then my plan is to overseed. Should I scarifier after aeration or just throw the seed down after my guy does the core aeration?
@@pestandlawnginja I didn't get to it before aeration so I just waited a couple weeks then detached, scarified, overseeded then winterized. Will see in the spring how it turns out! Really appreciate your insight...
Since centipede grass grows on those "runners", would running the scarifier over it do any damage? I'm buying the Sun Joe because I am in desperate need of dethatching, but was wondering about any benefit, or harm, from scarring.
@@pestandlawnginja Thanks so much. Your vids have helped me not only understand the diff between thatch and litter(of which I realize I have a HUGE problem with in my centipede). But also convinced me to drop a little $$$ on the Sun Joe. Actually looking forward to this PITA project.
So you should use scarifier attachment to remove buildup moss and aerate the lawn instead of using the dethatcher attachment? Most other machine only comes with dethatcher.
Thanks for these videos!...So! I just want to make sure I understand what is going on here... the sun joe "dethatcher" isn't really a dethatcher right? more accurately it has a scarifier attachment which cuts into the grass up to 10mm which removes debris and the top section(?) of thatch to 10mm but no more. The dethatching attachment just removes the debris and loose top 10mm of thatch that the scarifier attachment has produced? Have I got that right? so by definition what exactly is scarifying then? i think im tying myself in knots here but i really want to understand the differences! : )
@@pestandlawnginja haha I have a wood stained fence so I really try to be careful but it take me FOREVER. My neighbors probably think I'm the slowest trimmer ever.
I finally figured out safer whacking. WEED whacking, get your mind out of the gutter. Along a fence (we have chainlink in the back) or the shed (I really need to replace that siding) or a tree, damage is a huge problem for me. It was pretty recently though that the real answer clicked for me. Control that throttle! As long as the string is out there to a good length, even just a bit off of idle my trimmer will cut grass. It will also make its way between the chain links, it carries a lot less energy so it doesn't eat up bark or walls. Direction of travel is also important, and I know that with my Echo I want to go from right to left along the fence for the best effect.
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Thanks for watching today's video. Check out the description to see the products I used today. If you're looking for the best treatments for your lawn, check out my favorite products:
Fertilizer
🛒 Propeat Fertilizer
(Home Depot): tinyurl.com/vfmrs480
Yard Equipment
🛒 Sun Joe Scarifier and dethatcher (REQUIRES 12Gaugae Extension Cord)
Amazon (PAID LINK): amzn.to/2MPTHQG
🛒 12gauge 100ft extension cord
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🛒 Thatch Rake
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🛒 Spyker hand held spreader
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🛒 Levelawn
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🛒 Rain Gauge 10 pack
Amazon (PAID LINK): amzn.to/3dWEoQU
🛒 Thermometer (Taylor digital thermometer)
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Started following about a month ago. Recently retired and now have the time to take better care of my lawn. It’s looking better this year just from a better feeding and weed control effort. Not perfect, but better.
I like your vids for two main reasons:
1. Your methods are simple. Explanations are clear and demonstrations are thorough.
2. You use equipment and materials that are available and priced in a range that even I can afford.
Thanks for keeping it real for us guys just trying to present a decent lawn in the neighborhood.
Thank you so much for the feedback! Doing my best to stay true to the audience. This helps a lot.
Awesome Video. Thanks for explaining the difference between dethatching and removing dead grass from the surface. Most people, including myself, get caught up in terminology glitches from time to time. They think that they need to dethatch when, in fact, what they really want/need to do is remove accumulated dead grass from mulch mowing or side discharge mowing, via a machine like this.
You're welcome Joe. It does get confusing for sure
I guess that at least part of the problem is that we occasionally 'mulch' while the grass is too long, leading to build-up, and this muddies the distinction. Then you get the 'mulching leads to thatch buildup' mindset. Then you get fertilizer sales increases.
@@JDLuke Haha. Fair enough
Dethatched my 15 year old lawn yesterday. What a difference. Can't raise my arms today. But it was worth it. Thanks for the videos.
You're welcome! Nice job slayin that lawn
Got similar sort of machine with same attachments and people knock me for not having expensive equipment but my scarifier is brilliant little machine and lawn recovers so quickly after using it, the only disadvantage that I see over the expensive machines is the electric cord, amount of times I've nearly de thatched the cord is silly lol
for sure. great and valid points. I'm pretty impressed by the little sun joe and greenworks products
Trusting the reviews, after a bad experience with the SunJoe electric mower, I paid the high cost and got the SunJoe Dethatcher version 2.
I was AMAZED that my 50' x 30' front yard yielded slightly over 1 cubic YARD of thatch!
This thing is awesome!
that little machine is a workhorse!!!
I got one of these Sunjoe devices this year and I couldn't be be happier with the way my lawn looks. It pulls A LOT so be prepared! I "scarred" by backyard, used the de-thatch device, then used Scotts Lawn Rescue 911 and yeah my back yard looks a million times better this year.
Nicely done! Way to put in the hard work
Lightweight is good and what did I use it for it’s a lawnmower ruclips.net/user/postUgkxTPN04aT-Qdjr_KS3ql7ng8wnU3wwsCqk also recommend Yes it is lightweight so hence not as robust as our old one. But if you take care it does the job really well.
💯
I first saw these machines and thought they were basically a bad joke. Your review convinced me that they were worth looking at.
Imagine my surprise over the weekend when Amazon had this thing available for 80 bucks! Yoink.
Dude! Nice job getting on that deal! Jelly
@@pestandlawnginja Holy carp, what a ridiculous amount of stuff my lawn releases. I did just one little section during some free time and... I need more free time.
@@JDLuke crazy right!?
I bought that scarifier for my zoysia, does a great job. Thanks for sharing on that, made a huge difference in the color and growth patterns like you said ginja. I don’t think my lawn had been dethatched in years by the previous owner. Good stuff, great results!
Great to hear Jake!
I'm feeling what you're saying when you talk about getting strips without a striping kit. After my Zoysia went dormant I came back and mowed about 1/2 inch lower and it has left some amazing stripes all winter long without any striping kit. I was about to buy a Sun Joe and happened to think to come back here and follow up, and I'm glad I did. I almost forgot to use your link so you get a little cash in your pocket for all the help you have given me and so many others! I sent people to your channel frequently. You know what you're talking about and you can get it across with pretty plain speech that most people can understand. I figured I'd use the dethatching tines to pull up debris and give me a clean soil palette for my pre-emergent. See, some people out here are paying attention. Because of your help my lawn only has a SINGLE dandelion and a few sprigs of wild garlic to knock out when it warms up some, and the rest is pure Zoysia!
Rad! And thank you for using my links! Makes me extremely happy when people apply my principles and win 🏆
One small tip for you. Now that your lawn is breathing and the shallow roots cut with the thatch, get some high Phosphate fert in there to jump start your rhizome root growth to thicken the heck out of it. I’ve been doing it with mine this season and everyone who sees it always comments on how crazy thick it is. :) The overseeding & compost lay down afterwards may have helped as well. ☺️ Looks great buddy and thanks for the great videos!
great suggestion. I've been phophorus stacking since april and that's why i didn't worry about the macros on this round.
Gingaaa, you are by far One of The greatest when it comes to lawn issues. Yet we all fall into the terminology of using so many words for such a common thing like lawn care. I’m a native Romanian living in The Netherlands and by now I thought scarifying was the one with the little springs tines. Here they speak about “verticuteren” which is commonly the same as power raking. Your videos are great! Kind regards, M
Thanks! I find these terminologies get mixed up here in the united state of america too. I found a similar issue in the UK. Thanks for watching and commenting.
I just brought one a week ago getting ready to cut, sun joe, top soil, fertilize, overseed and peat moss for a lawn rehab
Rad!!!
I bought it last year. My lawn had 30+ year thatch. I dethatched spring and fall and what a difference. It's mighty scary at first lol!! But yeah...in 4 weeks it's night and day. I'll prol skip it this year though because last year I went hardcore. I'll double aerate in the fall. FABULOUS machine. Looks so flimsy and yet it gets the job done.
Nice Wanda! Way to put in the work!
Thanks for clarifying the difference between scarifying and debris removal
You bet! Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for your feedback I will definitely keep the watering to early mornings , I haven’t had to water due to lots of rain, irrigation is set to water every 3 days. Hopefully it will grow out it seems to be growing fast , be sure to bag clippings for now . Thanks again
Also I have been looking into a better fungicide preventative for next time, which one would you recommend Thiophanate methyl or Azoxystrobin 50wg
The one I use the most is propiconazole. Doesnt mean it's better than what you mentioned. Works well in my area.
did the same process on specific spots in my lawn and i can't keep up with the growth this year. I used to use a slit seeder as my scarifier, sold that and got the sun joe. if i could make it cordless it would be just as good if not better because I've used the "dethatching tines" several times on 0 just to clean up the lawn and get some brown grass out. I have the darkest lawn in the area and I'd say it's got to be this method because my neighbor and I both use the same fertilizer and micro treatments.
It's a great homeowner tool. I'm shocked at how well it works
Power cords bug me but I don't think my collection of six Milwaukee M-18 batteries would be enough to cover anwhere close to my little quarter-acre.
Great video. Have one sitting in a box in my garage and looking to scalp and the scarify and top dress for some late summer recovery.
Great idea!
I’m glad that you enjoy putting time into making your lawn look good but also realize that it’s just grass and you can always grow more.
For sure!!!! After all it's not the most important thing in the world..... maybe 2nd thing ;)
@Pest and Lawn Ginja If i put down a PreEmergent a few weeks ago (Barricade Granules) can I Scarify? will it nullify the PreEmergent? And what setting do you suggest? Zone 6B NJ. I really like your channel. Clear and very informative. Thank You!!
Just found your channel - Lawn Ginja. Too funny. Great vid, and content. Clear, concise, straightforward info and to the point. Also some great additional tips below in the comment section. Thanks amigo!
Welcome aboard!
Yes! Great video as usual. Love my SunJoe. Pulled 250L of dead grass and thatch off my small 1800sq ft yard this spring with it! 2 passes with the tines and 3 with the scarifier. It looks amazing now. 😍
crazy how well it works and how much it helps!
Did you start with the Scarifier or the Dethatcher attachment first? Also did you do all your passes in one day or over months?
Hate Phantom dog spots also.!! "We can settle and be mediocre or we can keep working and have the best lawn ever" ! LOVE it keep it up
Thanks!!!! I look forward to it
In this great video what height did you have the scarifier on? Thanks so much and love your video's
-10
Love the way the GINGA thinks never settle For mediocre this is why this MAN is a NATURAL at what he does and the saying goes if you love what you do every day you will never call it work and this is why I love following the GINGA the guy is a LEADER by example its shows GINGA, all the time BRO ,your Successful in all you do.
SUPER KIND thank you. made my day! That's right. we do small things to one day have the best.
It’s looking good. Big improvement since spring.
Thanks appreciate you noticing
Rapidly becoming the best lawn channel for homeowners on a budget! One request: Can you work on your audio? Us old guys can barely hear, and when you turn away from the camera, the audio drops out. I turned up the volume to hear, but then you turned back around and I got a big 'ol Ginja blast of sound. My wife was startled. Thank you in advance.
Great feedback! I'm saving my pennies as we speak to fix this problem. Couldn't agree more.
@@pestandlawnginjaSweet! I tend to watch on my big TV/sound system while working up the nerve to head outside, and it's the wind noise that really nails me.
@@JDLuke I'm a huge audio guy. Makes perfect sense to me! I'm working on it.
Been in my house for a couple years and it was infested with weeds and just a huge lack of maintenance. First year weed n feed did amazing with knocking out the weeds and the native bermuda took over. But the ongoing issue is that it wont green up properly. Its more of a neon green than dark green color. Fertilizers dont do hardly anything and the soil is high clay and dark colored much like yours. I have noticed that where the soil gets disturbed it comes green. ie, I drove my truck through the yard when raining and ended up with dark green grass in tire tracks so I aerated with a pitchfork to the point of pushing it 8 inch in and pulling back breaking the soil a bit but it didn't do much. On the other hand I went and pulled up weeds in an area yesterday leaving the soil disturbed and it immediately greened up in one day after night time rain. Appears to have heavy thatch and old runners in top 3/4 inch. I think I need this machine but just not sure about quality. Do the tines break? Easy to order and replace? Should I just rent more professional quality machine?
The tines wear down after about 5 to 6 heavy uses. They sell replacement tines for $20 or less. Super reasonable imo
What steps would be best to get grass to grow in a pretty shady area that is growing moss and not much grass? Love your info and insight just nervous about trying to do this and don't know where or how to start.
You'll need to use a dethatcher like the sun joe dethatcher weekly. after it's under control drop some perennial rye grass in those areas. If you have time to introduce some playground sand to help drain the excess water that helps a ton.
Sunjoe is a beast!
Its shocking
@@pestandlawnginja Only if you run over the cord
@@JDLuke good call!
I bought a sun joe dethatcher online from walmart and I am anxious to use it. My question was do you scarify/detach or detach/scarifier? But I saw your comment that you prefer detach/scarify. My other question is what about sprinklers in the lawn? Or some pebbles in the lawn? I walked around my lawn picking up pebbles to toss them away.
these machines don't commonly break sprinklers. I never worry about them. you are correct. I prefer to dethatch first and then scarify and you can do it all the same day. the dethatcher won't have issues with pebbles either. it will up root the pebbles and make it easier to pick them out of the lawn if they're sitting on the surface.
clicked the link on the Sun Joe, not bad at all at under $150; I'm really considering one now for before I over seed, and then for years after to maintain the growth just a little deeper into the soil than I can get with a rake ...bet its great at working soil amendments down in, as it might really help with top dressing and leveling - and parts of my yard get a very hard top compacted dirt where that could keep the soil open and loose for better growth and watering - I bet you've already sold a few of those for them
It's a handy tool for cultural control. Ive enjoyed trying to break it lol
So it’s going to be thunder storming today here in Minnesota,so what better way to learn more about lawn work and issues to get caught up in watching a ton more of your awesome videos and info 👍👍😎😎
👊😁 love it!
Awesome video. That was awesome when you said we could settle or work and have the best lawn 👍👍👍👍
Thanks mr bill
Great video man, very helpful. Keep up the great content!
Thanks Adam!
In the past two or three weeks the price of the sun joe scarifier has almost tripled on Amazon. It kinda crazy. I was waiting for a paycheck to come in to get one. Looks like I'll have to keep on waiting.
Lawns looking damn good dude. Especially by desert standards.
Thanks Daniel! Been working my tail feather off.
Would it be ok to use the scarifier vertically and horizontally (to make small square cuts) through the lawn to over-seed it?
absolutely! Exactly how I do it
Thank you for this video! 3 questions! 1. What setting did you use for the scarifier? 2. About the dethatcher head: can I use it also as a power rake for fall and spring clean up (for raking the lawn)? 3. How many times a year max can I use the dethatcher head?
I use -10 for the scarifier. I use 0 for the dethatcher. you can use the dethatcher weekly. I've been testing it out this season and its working awesome.
Pest and Lawn Ginja Thank you for this info and thank you again for your lawn videos! They’re very helpful! I’m glad I discovered your channel. All the best!
Used the SunJoe to revive a very awful looking lawn that we thought might be “too far gone”. Definitely looked even worse after dethatching and scarifying, but we seeded anyway. It’s doing great now with the exception of one spot that runs right next to the concrete drive. The dirt has appeared very compacted since before we started and remains nearly barren. My gut wants to till it!! Should we scarify it again? Don’t want to wreck the good thing we’ve got going for most of it.
Try using a screw driver and see how compacted it really is. Chances your gut is spot on.
Pest and Lawn Ginja -yep, it’s tough to get a screwdriver in there - now what????
Try and get water it in. If you can't then it's time to aerate
Pest and Lawn Ginja it takes water very slowly so I guess we’ll try aerating that area extra well! Crossing my fingers. 🤞🤞
Good luck!
My yard was aerated last year and I just bought the sunjoe. Is it safe to dethatch in spring?
Those are not spots from a "phantom" dog. They are from that damn Leprechaun the neighbors saw running around this Spring.
👊😂 touche my friend touche'
Ginja. How tall do you recommend KBG to be when dethatching and scarifying? Following the 1/3 rule when cutting, of course 😊
I like it best at 1.5" to 2"
How often and at what time(s) of year do you recommend dethathing the lawn? I am in Massachusetts.
Fall is best. However, it can be done anytime of the year while the grass is actively growing. The difference is the amount of time it takes to recover.
@@pestandlawnginja Do you do it every year?
@@sourenmn I commonly scarify 2 to 3x per season. Spring fall and mid summer
Is there anything I can do to help with clay soil? Our house was built on an old cow pasture and they put down minimal soil when they landscaped it. My back lawn is sloped and more water runs off than soaks in. Thank you, as always, for sharing your knowledge with us! I greatly appreciate you Sir.
Calcium and aerification help with clay.
HarryManI3ack try throwing pelletized gypsum at it. That helped mine but time. It also puts calcium in the soil.
Awesome videos and great info
Thanks Tim!
Do you recommend power rake/ “debris remover” before using the “scarifier” if you have a dense layer of debris (Eg. hard to visualize soil)??? My plan is to do both as well as Then aerate and finally over seed with Barenbrug!!!!!
I prefer to dethatch first and scarify second.
I cannot imagine trying to do this on my 2 acres of grass. It certainly needs it but the time/work factor would be a killer.
I felt the same way , I have less than you at 1.25 acres, and granted I haven’t finished yet but I took a wheel measure and sectioned it off in to rectangular sections and am working one section at a time maybe like one a week, just treating each section as a separate lawn, scarify weed control and fertilize, not so bad I’m working with maybe 2500 square foot sections, it’ll be done someday but it makes it seem less tedious , trying to do the whole thing at once would be crazy
@@rustyfan89 I am now looking at trying N-ext D-Thatch. I'm liking what I am reading about it. I have a 45-gallon tow behind boom sprayer on the way and this would be easy.
They have pull behind machines or commercial machines you can rent.
Have you ever used this on St. Augustine grass? Would you recommend using this on St. Augustine?
It works as long as you don't go too low. there is also a machine called a verticutter that works well too.
Hey Ginja your videos are awesome. I really like how you walk thru the process and make it easy for us DIY guys to understand. I just bought a SunJoe today since it was on sale on Amazon based on a comparison video you did. I already have the greenworks one. Anyway quick question, installed KBG sod May 31/2019 should I be worried about a thatch later with new sod?
Not yet, to be determined. Focus on proper watering and we check the thatch levels next spring
@@pestandlawnginja awesome thanks. I do have some areas that have thinned out over the summer from the heat and stress. I'm thinking I would go over those areas with it and then throw some seed down and get some new growth. I havent seen the KBG rhizomes shoot out much Not sure if it was just from the summer heat.
you may want to put some top soil on it to help encourage the roots. sometimes they get too hot.
You’re wild Ginja 😂😂😂. But I can vouch for you BECAUSE after seeing your review of the GreenWorks electric dethatcher, I bought one and used it this spring on my lawn. I know for a fact that it did help a lot ... so much came up it was unreal. My had a much better start because of it. Thinking of getting that scarifier now !!!
awesome Denis!!!! It's amazing what a little hard work will do
@@pestandlawnginja Exactly... hard work always pays off. Grass is a resilient plant and bounces back quickly when you take care of it, I sure learned that this year. And not to mention that I received so many compliments this season so far from so many people on how my lawn looks, and no bragging here, I am dominating!!!
@@denisbrisebois7658 That's awesome!
I’m really wanting to use my new VonHaus scarifier/dethatcher (er, clean up tine) on my Tall Fescue lawn (even though Bermuda is rapidly trying to take over). Is it possible to cut the Tall Fescue low enough right now to use the new machine, when it’s almost July? Will the middle TN sun and heat be too hard on the shortened Tall Fescue? Or should I just wait until Fall? What can I, and my lawn, get away with right now, if anything? Thanks...and for another great video!!
depends on your lawn goals. I'm still in prep mode so i'm not hyper focussed on maintaining the "best" lawn for this year. July can be a tough month because the plant will naturally slow the growth. You can force some with fertilizer. it will be less stressful on the lawn in the fall.
I live in PG and just seeded (last fall) about an acre on 9” of good topsoil, I had it laser graded to 2% and installed a drainage system installed to try and create a sports field for a premier sports playing surface. It has come in well but I want to make it perfection and willing to invest whatever time and money is necessary. How do us local clients work with you on a project like that?
Sounds awesome. Dm me on facebook
Aeration vs dethatcher?? I think you mentioned in a previous video that aeration is better?
yes. I have a video on it. check my videos list
Love your channel and your delivery. It’s awesome. I’m moving to a house with a garden so your lawn are tips are great - I know my lawn has problems with weeds and moss. Why did you decide to scarify now, in the middle of summer, as temperatures are going to start hitting their maximum? In the UK, we usually only scarify before the growing season (spring) or towards the end (autumn).
When I move in. I’m planning to lay down some moss killer and weed killer towards the end of the season, wait 3 weeks, then scarify it hard to get the moss and weeds out, maybe repeat, then overseed for the winter period and feed it to promote new growth. We don’t have particularly hard winters and I have a chalk base, which drains freely.
I decided to scarify in the heat (it's 90 degrees today) because I wanted to show that you can. I also have a few lingering spots that are suffering from melting out and leaf spot fungus that I need to slightly dehydrate.
sounds like you have a good plan of action. It should go very well for you
Pest and Lawn Ginja thank you! You are clearly the King of Lawns! Will keep you posted on how my English Cottage lawn looks and keep up the great work! I’ve learnt a lot from your channel and KBG. If you ever fancy moving to Old Hampshire (in Great Britain) let me know!
@@ColinHarvey78 I'm dying to travel over seas and get to know a bunch of you guys.
Pest and Lawn Ginja you’d be very welcome to visit! Just let us know. You clearly live in an amazing and beautiful part of the world too!
@@ColinHarvey78 Thanks Colin!!!
Awesome vid. I always get a ton of info from everything you put out.
One question. Do you recommend using the scarifier or the de-thatcher first?
I prefer to use the dethatcher first if I'm planning on a ton of lawn litter coming up. If not I cut to the chase and use the scarifier
Pest and Lawn Ginja sounds good. Thanks Brother.
@@chrisfossum1499 You're welcome
@@chrisfossum1499 You're welcome!
Which setting would you recommend using for detaching and scarifying?
I'm thinking of starting out at zero for detaching and adjust as needed
-5 scarifying and adjust as needed.
Scarifying and aerating
I plan on scarifying first. Then aerating (and possibly using scarifer on the plugs) -- your thoughts?
As always great videos and I use your videos as knowledge and as reference points.
for the sun joe i use 0 for dethatching and -10 for scarifying
@@pestandlawnginja thank you for your reply.
I'm a big fan of your knowledge, skills, and videos. I just bought a Sun Joe beast thanks to your video. Question regarding the BioNutrients 9-0-9. I've found BioNutrients 9-0-9 available in 8oz, 5lb or 40lb quantities. I have a quarter acre lawn in Michigan. Should I try out the product with an 8oz supply (for estimated 3-4 applications)? Or should I go all in and get the 5lb supply? Is there a shelf life for this product that I should consider?
Great questions. wish i would have seen this earlier. I use the bio nutrient pack to aid in root development for new seed or sod jobs. I use it for 2 months. put it down every other week. Total of 8 applications. I keep some on hand for stress areas and mix it with essential plus 1 0 1. great way to do it.
Update - I wish you had links to 12 gauge extension cords in 50 ft. lengths. It is SO much easier to detangle (2) 50' extension cords than a single 100' extension cord. Same for water hoses.
Great feedback. I’ll see what I can find. Thank you
Hey Ginja! Another great informative video. I had a question. I laid KBG sod in April 2021 and ran into melt out issues. I think I got it under control now but the dead grass is still there. Can I use the Sun Joe to clean the debris and then scarifiy or should I not do that yet to a fairly new sod? Thanks for your advice!
yes you can. great way to do it.
I understand the need to scarify for breathing and root growth etc but what I don't quite understand is why the "waste" isn't good for decomposition and nutrients? Just curious, all the videos say the same thing as you so I know you're all right can you give a reader digest version of why mulching "waste" back into turf = bad?
not sure why you would get that impression. the thatch is super nutrient dense. i removing the plugs so i can top dress to decrease the thatch products. I also don't leave the nutrient dense thatch waste because it clouds the color of the grass.
Heya, Ginja!
"It's just grass." Them's fightin' words!
Quick question, do you recommend dethatch and/or slitting when it's needed instead of seasonally?
Thanks for yet another great vid!
well...... it all depends on the situation. The scarifying is working so well to manage new growth it's my new favorite option. Time will tell. My future plants are to scarify 2x per year or more on my own lawn. 1 to 2 times for healthy lawns. I use the tine dethatcher to remove debris almost as if you would use a vacuum. I'll use it at the +5 to +10 setting periodically just to clean out debris in the grass.
@@pestandlawnginja Thanks for clearing that up for me.
I missed the spring debris removal because of wet conditions, and have been regretting it. Got some thin spots that could use help, but didn't want to massacre my lawn.
@@tinpony9424 can't blame you
@Pest and Lawn Ginja, great video. This might sound like a stupid question but, can the scarifier be considered as an alternative for aerator or are both completely different?
You should do both. The aerator pulls plugs out of the yard.
@@MatthewSmith-uf6tr I just bought a Sun Joe. I'm going to dethatch and then aerate and then do an overseeding just before the first good snowfall. I was also going to put down milorganite just before that first snowfall also. Would you change anything? I live in Iowa and I have Kentucky bluegrass and I always mow pretty high. Obviously I'll mow it low before I do the detaching
@@kentwells4488 I did mine a little earlier in the year and topped it with mushroom manure and it turned out amazing.
@@MatthewSmith-uf6tr mushroom manure, I guess I haven't heard of that. Sounds like just another form of a natural manure, like milorganite is. Is there a certain brand? Or is it something that you make somehow?
@@kentwells4488 mushroom manure is compost made from mushrooms and other organic material. It’s used to cover the seed up and protect it and keep it moisturized after you put the seed down after aerating and dethatching
Hey ginga I believe I have a fungus problem in my lawn , at first glance it appears to be drought stress and it is definitely more noticeable when I cut the lawn. Most of the blades are green and healthy and others are brown,I applied propiconizole and Scotts disease ex as a preventative a while back and it did not seem to prevent it . Front yard is mostly KBG and back is perennial rye and both have the same problem. I’m starting to think it’s the mowing height, been at 4.25” for a few months and I’m wondering if it’s too long for the type of grass seems like the first 3” aren’t getting enough sunlight especially when it grows out. We have been getting a ton of rain and it usually looks good after lots of rain but not so much after the cut been mowing 3 times a week. Any suggestions thanks
Send me a dm with pics on Facebook.
How would you compare the sun joe to the greenworks dethatcher since you have both
One of my recent videos I did a comparison. The sunjoe gets closer to the ground and po pulls more debris out with the dethatcher attachment. It also includes the scarifier
Sir, thank you for all your great advice, I have learned a lot since your videos have much more info than many others. I liked to know what are your thoughts on St Augustine and Zoysia, I have heard that dethatching and scarifying can really hurt them a lot?
Great questions. Yes it is true that you can hirt the grass. Use a flail based power rake and so it during the heavy growing periods in the spring.
Hey ginga took me a while to figure out how to get those pics to you I had to use my wife’s Facebook , not to familiar with all these high tech gadgets thanks
Got it. I'll keep in touch
👍
A few questions. Start of season here. Do I mow first then Scarier 1st followed by detached followed by now clean up or???
Dethatch and scarify
I prefer to dethatch then scarify
First time on my lawn using a sun joe. Would you recommend using the Scarifier or the Dethatcher attachment first. Thanks
Dethatcher first. If you have a thatch problem use the scarifier second.
@@pestandlawnginja Just like the comment above, I Just used the power rake/"dethacter" this afternoon and plan on using the scarifier before I put down some KBG and peet moss. My lawn is no where as thick as yours and is thin. What setting should I use on the SunJoe for the scarifier? Is there i recommended depth for seedplanting?
Love your enthusiasm!
Thanks Yard Mama! Lawning is life
Hey lawn Ginja good work with that sun joe dethacher. By the way should I use both attachments like you did, but in my case is for reseed.
I will really appreciate your advice in this. Thank you.
for the reseed i would scarify for sure. I use the dethatcher periodically to remove dead matter to improve color.
Hello from Slovakia. I sow my lawn this fall september/october 2022. My lawn is quite new and fresh. I wanted to ask if i can safely dethatch next spring or is it to early for my lawn to be dethatched and scarified? I was also thinking about aerating my lawn in the spring? Can i safely do all these steps or will it be too much stress for my new lawn? Thank you for your opinion.
spring maintenance is best completed as the lawn starts to grow vigorously. I would wait until then.
Do you have to worry about weeds coming up in thinned out areas after dethatching in the fall. Should i put down a granular weed control.
absolutly. I like to overseed and do a tenacity app to minimize it.
Great video !! May i please have your advice on the best time to start..i live in el paso TX we get real ugly dry heat .. the month is July
The time is always NOW . fall time is a great time to start.
Great video! I have some brown spots in my celebration Bermuda and noticed a lot of old dead grass on top on the soil. I think it’s limiting water to those spots. Would you recommend to dethatch and then fertilize? Is it okay to dethatch in 95° heat? Thanks
for bermuda I recommned using a verticutter. make sure you scalp it twice a year to control the runners and height of the grass
Hi! I have a Sun Joe. When's the best time to use it on my lawn? It's late March in MA and my grass hasn't greened up yet. Should I wait until it greens up or is it ok to use it now when I do my spring cleanup? Thanks for your help!
as soon as the grass is actively growing. works great.
Just started watching tonight and Love your vids! I’m going to do the SunJoe dethatcher/scarifier for the first time this weekend and I have an irrigation system. Do you know if using -10 (as you recommend) will be high enough to not interfere with the tubing?
It's not super deep. I would guess between an 1/8th" to a 1/4" max
Ginja, cool season lawn outside chicago, 55-65 degs last 2 weeks. If is dethatched on SJ setting 0 2 weeks ago. Can i do it once more where i still have matted dead grass, maybe one setting lower? Lawn is green, healthy and about to take off growing soon. Thanks buddy.
#neddoescare
Love the videos- I’m in central TX with a new St Aug lawn (laid last fall) that is starting to go brown on me. There is a lot of shade and compaction due to walking areas. I was going to buy a hand core aerator like the lawn butler and need to Dethatch as well, curious if this Sun Joe Dethatcher/scarifier would mean I don’t need a core aerator as well? Thanks
The scarifier doesn't do the same job. It scuffs the top .25" at best. aeration is for plugging down 3". I love the sun joe don't get me know but it wouldn't be an apples to apples comparison.
Don't forget the dethacher option is great for removing wood mulch within the lawn, that tends to overflow from the surrounding beds, plus it will take care of your worm casting issues. For the last couple years, my neighbors made fun of me, for shop vac'ing my lawn, in order to pick up all these wood mulch pieces each season. Now I must figure out a way to hide the SunJoe from the wife. 2 different mowers, 2 different sprayers, 2 different kinds of "spreaders", think she might be catching on. lol
soo true! Great feedback!
When did you do this video? is it too hot to be scarcifying or verticutting this late in the season?
Two days ago. I do it in the heat to prove a point.
Interesting. I bet you'd be put down enough water to keep it so it stays moist. I would think you would shock the grass for about 2 to 4 days???
Sometimes longer.
I always thought you can only dethatch in the Fall?
Nope. It's an old wives tails brought on by landscapers that like to work in cool weather.
@@pestandlawnginja Would extra water need to occur in order to aid the grass recovering from being too "stressed"?
@@craigrs1989 if and only if the soil didn't already have enough in it.
@@pestandlawnginja So the best way to know would be to test the soil?
@@craigrs1989 always! No guess work with domination
Hey man! I have watched about 5 videos of yours and you have a new subscriber! If you have the time, I hope you wouldn't mind answering these questions. I tried looking through your videos to see if I could find the answer, but I wasn't able to.
1) I recently purchased the Sun Joe Scarifier, but the instructions say to only scarify in the spring and fall. I live in Omaha, and we are approaching our 100 degree days here. Do you recommend waiting until fall to start any of this work?
Tall fescue seems to be growing really well in my yard. I am not sure what the other grass is, it may be KBG, but when it is time to mow the Tall Fescue side of the yard, I need to increase my mower to the tallest setting, or it boggs up. But for the other side of the yard I need to lower the mower a substantial amount otherwise it is very difficult for me to see where I have mowed. Then, when I am done mowing I can clearly see two different heights in my yard and it doesn't look good at all. Typing this out, I realize I could do two passes on the Tall Fescue side.
2) On to my question, is it possible to have Tall Fescue just take over the yard? Would over seeding on top of the other stuff (after I power rake/scarify) cause the Fescue to grow, or is it possible that scarifying would just cause the other grass that is already there to fill in before the seed has a chance to mature?
I would love to see a video on how to have one type of grass take over a lawn (by intention)
Hey Craig. Kentucky bluegrass is the dominant grass between the two. If your blue isn't growing we need to figure out why. Check the debris levels. Use the sun Joe dethatcher and check to see how much pulls up. Clean that lawn litter than hit it with some nitrogen.
@@pestandlawnginja Ok cool! Thank you for taking the time to respond, I will try that. Any way to get the KBG to grow as tall as the fescue so when I mow I won't have to use two settings? I'm assuming just more growth (because of less debris) will allow it to grow taller and thicker?
@@craigrs1989 those two species do grow at different increment. My suggestion is to hit the blue with more nitrogen.
can I use the Scarifier to help with over seeding? (instead of renting an aerator or some other machine)
💯 and I highly recommend it
Did you use the bag attachment that it comes with for power take or scarifier?
NEVER it's way too small
Looks incredible ginga! Do you happen to have an outline/regemine that you would reccomend for hot/humid climates in the the midwest? Thanks
It's all about the PH and what the soil needs really. You won't be too far off from what I do. It's all about increasing the low nutrient values to keep balance.
@@pestandlawnginja great to hear. I'll go back through your videos to review your process. Just got my tenacity in the mail today. May have to wait for the fall when it's cooler for an application.
@@kylelowe6625 I hear yah. keep me up to date on the process
I just purchased the Sun Joe, haven't used it yet, have never dethatched before. Plan to use it before overseeding next month. Would you recommend scarifying then power raking?
I like to do the dethatcher then scarify. The thatch is more dense than the lawn debris so I find it's easier to pickup the debris left from the dethatcher.
@@pestandlawnginja Thank you I'll do that.
You're welcome Greg. Thanks for being apart of what I'm doing
Do u used first the sacrifier and after the dethacher? Or dorectly the dethacher? Thanks
I use the dethatcher first and the scarifier second.
I’m a local guy and have a similar-looking lawn. Does it damage the lawn at all to power rake and dethatch during the heat of the summer? I think my lawn could use it, but it already seems stressed out.
great question. IMO it doesn't cause any additional damage if the lawn is already stressed out. Since the lawn naturally doesn't grow as much during the hot month it will take a little longer to recover.
hey ginga ! is it a good idea for stolon grasses such as- st aug and bermuda? does it do too much damage to these types in sandy soils of florida ? thx to u im using essentials 1-0-1 seams to help, from all the crap i used ,to try and clean up this year.
great feedback!
I would suggest using a flail based power rake as opposed to the tine dethatcher. with that said if you use the sun joe and don't go too deep you might be ok.
what height do you run the scarifier on?
Great Video per usual ;) What kind of Grass is that? and where do you Live? Do you get Fungal issues?? Thanks ;)
I live in Utah. Good old Kentucky bluegrass. Super prone to melting out and leaf spot fungus.
Hey ginja! I just snagged the sun Joe and I'm pretty excited to use it for the first time.. I've got a guy doing aeration so I'm going to use the Thatcher attachment first then my plan is to overseed. Should I scarifier after aeration or just throw the seed down after my guy does the core aeration?
totally up to use. I prefer to use the scarifier to help increase seed to soil contact. works great for me.
@@pestandlawnginja I didn't get to it before aeration so I just waited a couple weeks then detached, scarified, overseeded then winterized. Will see in the spring how it turns out! Really appreciate your insight...
@@jaredroy5735 how did it turn out?
@@mxbigd17 pretty good I think!
Since centipede grass grows on those "runners", would running the scarifier over it do any damage? I'm buying the Sun Joe because I am in desperate need of dethatching, but was wondering about any benefit, or harm, from scarring.
centipede grass is very sensitive. I would suggest running the dethatcher first and seeing how it reacts. the scarifier will disrupt the runners.
@@pestandlawnginja Thanks so much.
Your vids have helped me not only understand the diff between thatch and litter(of which I realize I have a HUGE problem with in my centipede). But also convinced me to drop a little $$$ on the Sun Joe. Actually looking forward to this PITA project.
You'll love that sunjoe such a great tool to have
So you should use scarifier attachment to remove buildup moss and aerate the lawn instead of using the dethatcher attachment? Most other machine only comes with dethatcher.
Dethatcher for moss, scarifier for breaking surface tension
What would you use to get rid of heavy weed areas and bold spots? Would dethatcher help?
I commonly spray the weeds first and then do overseeding later once the weeds are under control
@@pestandlawnginja Ok great. I'll give it a shot. Thanks
Thanks for these videos!...So! I just want to make sure I understand what is going on here... the sun joe "dethatcher" isn't really a dethatcher right? more accurately it has a scarifier attachment which cuts into the grass up to 10mm which removes debris and the top section(?) of thatch to 10mm but no more. The dethatching attachment just removes the debris and loose top 10mm of thatch that the scarifier attachment has produced? Have I got that right? so by definition what exactly is scarifying then? i think im tying myself in knots here but i really want to understand the differences! : )
Nailed it! Dethatcher removes debris and the scarifier removes thatch
How do you trim along the fence without messing it up?
Weed wacker and not caring 😂😂😂
@@pestandlawnginja haha I have a wood stained fence so I really try to be careful but it take me FOREVER. My neighbors probably think I'm the slowest trimmer ever.
@@lilstubthumb man. I feel you
I finally figured out safer whacking.
WEED whacking, get your mind out of the gutter.
Along a fence (we have chainlink in the back) or the shed (I really need to replace that siding) or a tree, damage is a huge problem for me. It was pretty recently though that the real answer clicked for me. Control that throttle!
As long as the string is out there to a good length, even just a bit off of idle my trimmer will cut grass. It will also make its way between the chain links, it carries a lot less energy so it doesn't eat up bark or walls.
Direction of travel is also important, and I know that with my Echo I want to go from right to left along the fence for the best effect.
Does the dead grass have to be picked up or can I mow it?
I prefer to blow it. The mower gets clogged fast and it’s harder to keep emptying the bag