Dethatching St. Augustine with a cheap Sun Joe dethatcher.

I have the exact model and it works really good.

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I have the exact model and it works really good.

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Thanks. Do you use the tines or the blades?

Did you rake up the thatch after or bag it with the mower?

I've got that exact model and highly recommend it.

Here's a modification I did to make it easier to use and in my opinion was a significant improvement. Warning: Use this modification at your own risk as this super simple modification is altering a safety component (technically making it less safe). With that said I didn't feel any threat of a rock or debris being thrown at me under the guard. I still wore safety glasses and advise anyone to use them whether they decided on their own to use this modification or not.

1) Forget using the bag. This machine works so great it will fill up the bag way too fast.
2) Use the tines.
3) Take a bungy cord, open the rear hinged safety guard and wrap and hook the bungy cord around the guard close to the hinge. This holds the safety guard open very slightly allowing the thatch to exit the machine easier while you push it.

As I walked across my lawn with the above modification, it was like it left a blanket of thatch on top of perfectly thatched grass. I then "sucked up" that thatch with another pass from my rear bagger lawn mower which is much easier to bag than the SunJoe. Then just repeat this process one more time in any areas that need it.

I have a thick wide blade Empire Zoyzia grass and the SunJoe dethatches it easily. I think it will work on any lawn.

I would only use the scarifier blades if I thought the lawn needed aerating.