5 Essential Saskatoon Power Raking Tips
Power raking is one of the most effective ways to rejuvenate a tired lawn in Saskatoon, Martensville, and Warman by removing built‑up thatch and debris so grass can breathe and grow properly. The tips below adapt this service to local conditions and highlight how Custom Lawn Care can help.
What power raking does for your lawn
Over time, lawns accumulate thatch—a layer of dead grass, stems, and other organic material sitting on top of the soil—that can block water, air, and nutrients from reaching the roots. A thick thatch layer also stops new seed from making good contact with soil, which slows thickening and recovery.
Power raking uses a specialized machine to pull out this excess thatch and surface debris, opening up the lawn so moisture and fertilizer can penetrate and new grass can fill in. When done at the right time and depth, it leaves the lawn cleaner and better prepared for overseeding and feeding.
1. Prepare your lawn before power raking
Before the service, mow your grass shorter than you normally would so the power rake’s tines can actually reach the thatch layer instead of riding on top of long blades. Keeping the height around 1.5–2 inches (about 4–5 cm) is usually enough to expose the thatch without scalping the lawn.
It can help to give the lawn a very light watering the evening before so the surface is slightly softened—but avoid soaking it, because saturated soil is easily damaged by the machine and can lead to ruts or tearing. The goal is “just moist,” not muddy.
2. Pick the right timing for Saskatoon
On the Prairies, timing matters as much as the depth of the power raking. For most Saskatoon‑area lawns, mid‑spring is the sweet spot, once the lawn is starting to wake up but before it has fully greened and thickened. Doing it too early on soft, wet ground or while frost is still in the soil can cause damage.
If the grass is already lush and fully green, aggressive power raking can pull out healthy plants along with the thatch, thinning the lawn. In that case, it is usually better to wait until the following spring and focus on mowing, feeding, and weed control for the current season.
3. Use appropriate equipment and settings
Power raking requires a machine with vertical blades or tines set to skim through the thatch layer rather than gouge deeply into the soil. If the machine is set too low, it can tear out live turf and leave the yard bare; too high, and it barely removes anything.
For lawns with only a light thatch layer, a more conservative setting is safer, especially in our relatively short growing season when recovery time is limited. At Custom Lawn Care, the equipment settings are adjusted based on the lawn’s condition so the process is as thorough as needed but not overly aggressive.
4. Good technique prevents damage
When using a power rake, the best approach is to work in straight, overlapping passes across the yard, lifting or easing off the throttle when turning so you are not grinding the tines into one spot. After the first pass, a second run at a different angle can help pick up remaining thatch and give more even coverage.
Careful technique around edges, trees, and shallow sprinkler heads reduces the risk of scalping or equipment damage. Professional crews do this work every day and know how to work efficiently without leaving “chewed up” patches.
5. Clean up and follow up
Power raking will bring a surprising amount of material to the surface, so a thorough cleanup is essential. Use rakes to gather the loosened thatch and debris into piles for bagging or removal so it does not smother the lawn you just opened up.
Many companies, including Custom Lawn Care, like to follow power raking with a cleanup mow to collect remaining debris and leave the turf looking neat. This is also an excellent time to overseed thin areas and apply a spring fertilizer so the lawn can quickly fill in the spaces created when the thatch was removed.
Power raking is a demanding, time‑consuming job that requires the right timing, equipment, and technique to avoid damaging your turf. Instead of renting machines and guessing at settings, homeowners in Saskatoon, Martensville, and Warman can have Custom Lawn Care handle the entire process—from prep and power raking to cleanup and follow‑up care—for a clean, healthy lawn that’s ready for the season.