SuperHandy 2 in 1 Walk Behind Scarifier, Lawn Dethatcher Raker Review
Residual grass clippings that are left behind after cutting your lawn might not seem like a big deal at first. Yet when they are allowed to buildup over time they can turn into dried out thatch, which settles on top of the delicate turf layers that your grass relies on to grow vigorously. When thatch compacts it can essentially start to choke out your turf, robbing it of the natural aeration it needs to thrive. Left unchecked it can even prevent essential moisture from penetrating deep into the turf layers where your grass needs it most.
One of the ways to deal with a significant thatch problem is to have your lawn aerated. You can do this by contracting a local lawn care company, who will come out on your schedule and slap an enormous markup on the cost of their labor and use of their equipment. Though you can save a lot of money and handle aeration and dethatching on your own terms with a scarifier & dethatcher like the SuperHandy 2 in 1.
The SuperHandy 2 in 1 has two cylinders of tines for shallow dethatching or deep scarifying. You can further adjust the performance dynamics by setting in through any one of five different height settings. The 12-Amp electric motor needs to be connected to an extension cord, which lets it power through in 15-inch wide swaths.
Key Features
- Combination thatcher & scarifier
- Collection bag for easy clean up
- Air boost technology
- 12 Amp electric motor
- Corded
- 15-inch wide path
- 5 height adjustments
- Only weighs 25-pounds
- Small storage footprint
- Designed for quiet operation
Performance
The 12 Amp electric motor on the SuperHandy 2 in 1 dethatcher and scarifier is robust to get the job done without bogging down. Though you will need to pace yourself walking if you have the tines set deeply. This is especially true for seasonal scarifying, or times when the soil might be dry, compacted or otherwise hard.
If there is one thing to note about the performance of the SuperHandy 2 in 1 it is the impact of the extension cord length. When you go beyond 50 feet with a residential grade extension cord the amount of power the cord can deliver starts to diminish. You can get some extra range to maintain normal performance if you upgrade to a commercial-grade extension cord. The thicker gauge of wire will get you out to 100 feet or perhaps more.
Ease Of Use
The SuperHandy 2 in 1 is one of the easier dethatchers and scarifiers on the market. The collection bag is also very handy for collecting turf material. This spares you having to worry about bits of soil and extracted thatch being left on your lawn to cause bumps or simply erode back into the hold they came out of after the next rain or two.
The five height settings on the SuperHandy 2 in 1 is easy to adjust. You just have to keep in mind that the deeper you are working and the harder the underlying soil is, the slower you will have to walk. Trying to force the SuperHandy 2 in 1 to dig in faster than it wants will cause it to either buck or bog down.
Special Features
The rear collection bin on the SuperHandy 2 in 1 is a handy feature that you don’t find on a lot of competitor models. If helps you remove soil and organic materials to keep it from affecting the texture and appearance of your lawn. You can then add that debris into your compost pile to make use of it.
The ability to adjust the height of the dual tine cylinder through five different height settings also lets you customize the performance of the dethatcher or scarifier to the conditions of your turf. This is especially handy if you need to deal with thatch buildup during the middle of the summer season, but you don’t want to deeply affect the turf.
Cut Quality & Options
The dual tine capabilities of the SuperHandy 2 in 1 make it easy to customize the dethatching or scarifying performance. This lets you set it on the deepest setting for scarifying the turf in the spring to thoroughly aerate the soil and make the most out of your spring fertilizing efforts.
If you happen to notice thatch buildup issues in the middle of the summer season you can set it higher to work as a dethatcher. This will let you pull away dried-up grass clippings that haven’t decomposed to let water and nutrients down to the roots. All without affecting the balance of the deeper layers of the turf.
Maintenance
The most important maintenance component of the SuperHandy 2 in 1 is making sure that the tines and the underside of the unit are properly cleaned of soil or other pieces of organic debris. This is especially important if you will go months without using the device.
Then you also need to make sure that the collection bag is also thoroughly cleaned and dry before you store it. More information on how to do this effectively is included in the owner’s manual.
Safety Features
The SuperHandy 2 in 1 comes with the standard hand safety controls you want to find. The adjustable height settings of the dual cylinder tines lock in place confidently to ensure that they don’t slip out of place in the middle of a dethatching or scarifying session.
Cost-Effectiveness
If you have thrown a lot of money at lawn care companies in the past to have them handle your aeration and dethatching needs, then the SuperHandy 2 in 1 will pay for itself in short order. It lets you handle these essential tasks on your schedule, without the exorbitant markup that lawn care companies tag onto every service they offer.
The ability to dethatch your lawn if needed in the middle of the summer season also helps to give your grass a little boost by letting more water reach the deeper root layers of the turf. This can also save you money on in-season fertilizer costs, and can even help boost the effectiveness of organic lawn fertilizers.
