Dethatcher and Core Aerator Advice?

[SylvanLakeWH 25,503]

I am thinking about getting a tow behind Dethatcher and/or a core aerator to pull behind my ‘s…

 

Wondering if they work well? Are worth the investment? Recommended brands? Other Advice?

 

Pics of your set ups appreciated.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Pullstart 62,812]

Seems Greasy Pete has some monster spike aerators?  @peter lena  golf courses use ‘em, they have the best lawns I know.  I’d say they are worth it!

[pfrederi 17,685]

I have a core areator that I used some on a small lot in Virginia.  (Pulled with my Lawn ranger)..  Not as fast as the self propelled rental one I had use other years but worked ok.  moved up her and tried it.. no go.  Clay soil lots of rocks it just bounced along even with several cement blocks on it.  Been siting in the barn for 20 years now...  Depends on your soil...

[squonk 41,040]

Nothing like changing the spike blades over to the core aerator's on a golf course unit without power tools! 

[peter lena 8,589]

@Pullstart  since the long drought  we have had  has easily turned my thoroughly , spiked lawn back into a hard surface lawn . was all grassed in looking great , then a rainless month . recent rains were heavy , over night . but we need regular wet. ,regularly used to tow my spikers , hopefully fall will bring rain / softer ground , perfect for aeration . usually add about 100 lbs to each  spiker , pete 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,503]

12 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@Pullstart  since the long drought  we have had  has easily turned my thoroughly , spiked lawn back into a hard surface lawn . was all grassed in looking great , then a rainless month . recent rains were heavy , over night . but we need regular wet. ,regularly used to tow my spikers , hopefully fall will bring rain / softer ground , perfect for aeration . usually add about 100 lbs to each  spiker , pete 

Any pics?

[Pullstart 62,812]

4 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Any pics?

 Greasy Pete’s thread

 

 

[peter lena 8,589]

@Pullstart  the clay in my lawn soil , requires regular aeration / spiking . without regular rain , it quickly goes to a hard  soil. this heat / dry period  turned it  brown fast  if I  had more shade trees  I would be good , my back lawn looks  good , lots of shading  . front lawn gets sun most of the day  , spiky pete 

[ineedanother 1,369]

24 minutes ago, peter lena said:

spiky pete 

 

The ground here in NC where I am is clay/sand and gets cement-like but the moles can still tunnel through it  I think they're after the cicadas.  

[Goldnboy 910]

I run a front thatcher on my horse works quite well. It still is not been repainted to the forum approved colors 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,503]

Got a pic?

[Handy Don 12,177]

16 hours ago, Goldnboy said:

I run a front thatcher on my horse works quite well.

I like the front thatcher in combination with a mulching blade. It pulls up the long blades of dead grass and then mulches them right away. 

Hasn't been used since early spring this year, since two months with no rain left most of the vegetation near death.

On thing that surprised me on its first use was the extra power needed to drive it.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,503]

36 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

I like the front thatcher in combination with a mulching blade. It pulls up the long blades of dead grass and then mulches them right away. 

Hasn't been used since early spring this year, since two months with no rain left most of the vegetation near death.

On thing that surprised me on its first use was the extra power needed to drive it.

Pic? Brand?

[Goldnboy 910]

Here is one front thatcher I used last two years.

 

I have another that uses the mounting brackets form JD 200 series. They are a bit heavier built too than a snapper.

I will be using it this coming weekend this post reminded me I needed to dig it out of storage. 

[c-series don 8,676]

After years of looking, I finally found one for sale in Lawn and Garden Collector magazine. I had it shipped through Fastenall from Illinois. It’s an E-Z Rake dethatcher. They did make them to fit Wheel Horses, but this one was made for a Cub Cadet I believe. I adapted it and restored it. It works way better than I thought it would! 

[Lee1977 6,649]

Takes a lot of weight to spike holes in red clay.  Mines just a spiker, no core, have 375 pounds on it and it still needs to be some what wet. 

 

[peter lena 8,589]

@c-series don  like the looks of your shop ,  love the elevated tractor set up . BTW the elevated set up ,is the best way to detail in a plow , so you are stool looking at its function , went after every hang up point , steering quadrant  detailing , slide pin / spring , lubrication . used elastic lock nuts / longer bolts to hold sweet spot lever swing points , moves effortlessly.  pete 

[Goldnboy 910]

I got out the front thatcher today and here it is after reassembly. 

I had issues with the original color...

[Goldnboy 910]

Here are some pictures of how I mounted to the horse and in use Picture.

 

Removes by two bolts maybe able to swap to clevis pins