How to Use a Power Rake

Power rakes are very simple to use. But there are a few pointers I will share with you on how to use a power rake correctly so you don't tear up your lawn. A power rake is a machine powered rake. There are three main types of tines on a power rake. There are spring tines. These are very thin rods hooked onto springs that dig out thatch from the soil. However, since they are so thin they are mostly just used on golf courses and other continuously manicured lawns that really don't have much thatch in them. It is used as more of a maintenance. These tines are the most delicate and should be treated as such. A second type is called a slicer reel.

This is a rod with a continuous spiral blade winding around it that is about two and a half inches in width. It is very thin however, and is also only for minimal to average amounts of thatch. This is the best reel to use with a seeder attachment on the power rake. It slices nice long cuts into the soil in perfect preparation for seed. The last reel is called a flail reel. This has the thickest tines on it. These are about an eighth inch thick and hang loosely from a double rod off the main rod. These are the best for pulling out a lot of thatch or moss, so are best suited to lawns that have a lot of thatch in them.

A power rake is self propelled by the tines as they turn and will pretty much do the work for you. First you need to decide what depth you want to set it to. You will need to lift up the lever, turn the knob on it or move it to the desired setting and push it back to the base of the machine. Next turn the machine on and test a small area to be sure that it is set to the right depth. To make the reel turn pull up the lever at the handle. That's basically all there is to it. The only other thing is that you need to thatch in straight lines or it will tear up your lawn. Also, when you come to the end of a row you can do one of two things, push the lever up so the tines come up and then turn the machine, put the lever back down, engage the reel, and move forward. Or you can do it the cheater's way which is much faster and push down on the handle picking up the front wheels and therefore the tines from the grass and make your turn. A word of caution however, this can be dangerous and so do this at your own risk. It is possible to throw a rock or stick and cause harm to anyone within several feet in front of the machine when you do this.

Most people do not own their own power rakes and will need to get a power rake rental. Power rake rentals cost 40 to $60 a day to rent.