Best Lawn Sweeper and Electric Dethatcher Reviews

Lawn maintenance is one of the necessary activities required from a homeowner. In order for us to enjoy a great looking lawn, we need to use the right tools to promote proper grass coverage and growth. One of the things that hamper this process is yard debris. This is where the best lawn sweeper and an electric dethatcher can come into play.

A yard sweeper uses brushes or tines to pick up loose grass clippings and fallen leaves from the lawn. It is also capable of lifting material that is matted into the soil. The best lawn sweeper will offer features that make this process effective and fast.

Thatch is essentially decaying organic matter, a dense mat of moss, grass clippings, stems, clumps, overcrowded grass roots, and lateral weed growth, or debris that accumulates on lawns over time, blocking the flow of water, oxygen, fertilizers, and vital nutrients. 

This is where an electric lawn dethatcher comes into play, easing the task of promoting lawn health and reducing the manual effort required for cultivating a robust and thriving lawn.

Scarification or de-thatching of lawns or turf is a mechanical process whereby the surface and subsurface of the lawn, green, or sports pitch are rigorously abraded by penetrating metal blades, tines, or prongs (source).

In case of serious moss buildup on your lawn, it’s a good idea to use a good quality moss killer a few days before running through it with a lawn sweeper or electric dethatcher.

These tools allow us to maintain our yards without having to over-work ourselves with traditional hand tools like a leaf rake. What follows is a closer look at these devices, highlighting design elements and product features that make these tools a worthwhile investment. Five product reviews follow afterward.

Why Would You Need a Lawn Sweeper or Electric Dethatcher?

General Usage

A lawn sweeper is used to collect debris from a lawn. Grass clippings, fallen leaves, and even pine needles or small twigs can prevent sunlight from shining on the lawn as well as blocking oxygen and water. This can cause the grass to become discolored. Worst case, it can also cause the grass to die eventually, leaving a yard with bald spots.

A lawn sweeper collects the debris and prevents these issues from happening in the first place. The brushes that a lawn sweeper uses to collect materials are also safer to use on a lawn. A leaf rake can damage the grass as its prongs are dragged through the lawn. A lawn sweeper uses brushes that rotate at an even height and their bristles do not damage the roots on blades of grass.

A leaf sweeper is able to collect materials into a hopper. Even a mower that collects trimmings leaves behind tiny clippings that must be raked and bagged.

Lawn Sweeper vs Leaf Rake

The advantages a lawn sweeper has over a leaf rake boil down to convenience and ease of use. A rake requires a lot of work to use effectively, especially one heavy or matted lawn debris. A power dethatcher or lawn sweeper can clear the same materials without overworking arms and shoulders. Raking a lawn requires a minimum level of physical ability and fitness to use, while almost anyone who can walk is able to push a leaf sweeper.

Generally, the best leaf sweepers are effective, as they can collect debris faster than a leaf rake is able to. A rake may be able to collect dry clippings and leaves, but it takes multiple passes to gather these materials when they are wet. A leaf sweeper or dethatcher uses brushes to dig into the grass, allowing it to collect debris that is matted into the ground. It will often take more than one pass from a leaf rake to remove this same material.

Lawn Sweeper vs Leaf Blower

There are a few distinct ways in which a lawn sweeper is more advantageous than a leaf blower. The first category is in a lawn sweeper’s ability to pick up debris. While a leaf blower works well on lifting or moving around dry materials, it can struggle when attempting to lift or move wet organic matter and debris. The best lawn sweeper for leaves, on the other hand, is able to do both with wet grass clippings and those nasty leaves.

Features to Consider of the Best Lawn Sweepers

A Push Lawn Sweeper or Electric Dethatcher

They are a great choice for use on smaller residential properties found in most urban settings. They can be used on medium-sized properties if the operator is capable of walking the entire area needing to be swept.

The Tow-behind Lawn Sweeper

This style of lawn sweeper requires a ZTR mower, lawn tractor or a riding mower to use. It is attached to the back of these motorized tools and then pulled across the yard. They are capable of covering a larger swath with each pass and are capable of collecting more debris than a push sweeper is capable of before it needs to be emptied. As the tow-behind sweeper must be towed by a heavy tractor or mower, it is not as quiet as a manual or electric dethatcher model is.

These units are more costly than the push variety and are heavier as well. They are ideal for property owners who have larger front and back-yards. The tow-behind is often used in commercial settings with a lot of grass that needs to be swept.

Other Considerations Before Buying a Lawn Sweeper

Tires are an important feature, especially with push sweepers.

Height adjustments are important as well. Tine depth or cutting depth can usually be adjusted in steps which gives greater control in removing light or more serious thatch layers.

The size of the collection bin or bag can be a deciding factor between two models with similar design features. Stopping all the time to empty an undersized bag could be frustrating, while on the other hand, pushing an electric dethatcher with a huge heavy container full of debris might be too much for some. 

Storage is always lacking, therefore only choose a tow-behind lawn sweeper if you have the space for the increased storage needs. A push behind lawn sweeper is not bigger than a traditional mower and some have folding handles or similar storage savers. 

Best Lawn Sweeper Reviews With/Without Electric Dethatcher