How to Dethatch a Pasture

Thatch, brown patchy spots in grass, builds up in lawns and pastures when grass clippings, roots and other debris pile up over time. Dethatching, or running a landscape rake or other tool over the pasture to break up the thatch, is important when the thatch builds to over half an inch, according to Home Design Sense. Thatch can prevent the proper amount of nutrients and water from getting into the soil, which kills healthy grass. Thatch also serves as a breeding ground for pests and disease.

Things You'll Need

  • Landscape rake
  • Tractor
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase a landscape rake from your local hardware or home improvement store. Landscape rakes are better suited to dethatch pastures than heavier tools like harrows because landscape rakes won't tear up the pasture.

    • 2

      Remove every other tooth from the landscape rake. Landscape rakes are designed to handle the fine grass in the average lawn, but a pasture can be more easily detached with fewer teeth.

    • 3

      Attach the landscape rake to your tractor's towing hitch.

    • 4

      Drive the tractor and landscape rake over the entire pasture, making second passes over any areas that have a heavy buildup of thatch.