CMP 60" DETHATCHER ~ WORKING ~ (Three Point Hitch Mounted)

[jeff9366]

First use of CMP 60" Dethatcher. Lawn had two days to dry after a week of heavy rain. After one hour working evaluation, I believe lawn was too damp for optimum dethatching.

Photo #1. Thatch buildup/dieout in Florida Saint Augustine lawn. St. Augustine grass is a common turf grass in Florida, developed from native grass. St. Augustine does not seed, it spreads only by runners. The challenge with St. Augustine is to remove thatch while not tearing out the healthy lawn and runners.

Photo #2 Dethatcher first mounted on tractor. Three Point Hitch adjustments in default positions. Tines just meet pavement, not deep enough to enter grass and pull out thatch.

Photo #3 (Adjustment #1) Adjustment pins for Lifting Rod stirrups moved to lowest of three positions. Tines lower, but not low enough. (Use long-nose pliers to remove ring cotters from pins; fingers are not strong enough.)

Photo #4 (Adjustment #2) Adjustment pins moved inboard along Lower Link beams to pin position closer to tractor; Hole #2, center, of three holes. Tines cannot penetrate road but there is 50% adjustment range (drop) remaining on hydraulic 3-Pt control.

Photo #5 CMP Dethatcher at work. Tine depth in turf about right for damp condition.

Photo #6 Effect of tines on plain dirt. Posted to show force of downward pressure on tines.

Photo #7 CMP Dethatcher at work.

Photo #8 Result

Photo #9 Result -- Detritus deposited in compost pile.

CMP Dethatcher was effective during first use. Extrapolating from one hour of experience I look forward to dethatching when lawn is dry, just getting a little straw like. I have one additional adjustment hole, inboard, on the Lower Link beams to put additional pressure on the tines if necessary. Implement does not require more frame weight.

I will add to this thread as I accumulate dethaching experience.

A worthwhile addition to my implements. I like the simplicity of CMP implement.


LINK TO CMP WEB SITE:

CMP 3-Point Dethatcher


LINK TO SELECTION OF CMP DETHATCHER:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...tching-implements-three-point.html?highlight=


LINK TO ASSEMBLY OF CMP DETHATCHER:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-60-dethatcher-assembly-three.html?highlight=

 

[Green Guy]

Thanks for sharing all of the detail. I'm looking for something like this for my New England Fescue, Ryegrass, Bluegrass mix lawn. Thinking that it might work well!

 

[Gittyup]

Great photos. I think you will find it is all you need for dethatching.

 

[94BULLITT]

Nice write up Jeff. I read somewhere that you are supposed to mow the grass low before dethatching, short grass would probably make it easier to pull up the thatch. I also use my dethacher for leaf and light brush clean up.

 

[jeff9366]

You are supposed to mow the grass low before dethatching, short grass will make it easier to pull up the thatch.

Second use of CMP 60" Dethatcher. We have experienced only a trace of rain since I started this thread 9/15/2014, so my lawn is drier but not wilted nor straw-like. My lawn was mowed five days ago.

Photo #1 I moved in the Lifting Rod stirrups further toward the tractor, from the middle adjustment hole on the Lower Link beams to the adjustment hole closest to the tractor. This put more hitch weight on the CMP Dethatcher. If my lawn was smooth this would not have been necessary, but my lawn is NOT smooth and I felt the need to get dethatcher tines all the way to the dirt in the low areas.

In the picture the dethatcher tines are on the asphalt. I still had 2/3 "down" adjustment available on the 3-Pt. hydraulic control lever on the grass.

Photo #2 My front lawn is split by my driveway. One side is the dry side, which has 2/5 of the turf. The other side is the wet side, which has 3/5 of the turf. I went over both sides repeatedly with the dethatcher, dropping thatch in the driveway. I collected two additional FEL buckets of thatch, for a total of three FEL buckets of thatch. Had I wanted to hand rake the yard I believe I could have collected a fourth bucket of thatch but I did not think the "by-hand" effort worthwhile. All of the dead, matted grass has been removed and the healthy grass appears 'teased' up.

CMP Dethatcher does an excellent job combing out thatch without harming healthy lawn. I think quality combing is evidenced in Photo #2.

Dethatching results with the turf drier and shorter were markedly improved.

Rain is forecast the next several days. I am expecting evidence of St. Augustine runners filling thin areas after the rain.

 

[jeff9366]

I'm looking for something like this for my New England Fescue, Ryegrass, Bluegrass mix lawn. Thinking that it might work well!

Your JD 1026R has ample power.


This implement, perhaps in the 50" iteration, would be effective behind a 16-horsepower sub-compact tractor.

 

[Gittyup]

Looking good there, Jeff. Yes the CMP is easy to pull and light enough to pick up by man and move around, if need be.

 

[jeff9366]

Thatch and Its Control in Florida Lawns
University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS)

ARTICLE LINK:

http://polkhort.ifas.ufl.edu/docume...ch and Its Control in Florida Turfgrasses.pdf