Dethatching Rake vs Bow Rake: What's the Difference?
By The DIYPicks Team · Updated July 2026
DIYPicks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate and affiliate of home-improvement retailers, we may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site — at no extra cost to you. This never affects our recommendations.
Gardena combisystem Cutter/Dethatching Rake Head (3392-20)
A proper hand dethatching rake that cuts moss and thatch and then flips to rake it out. Best for spot-treating small lawns; buy the matching handle before you start.
| Type | Dethatching / cutting rake head |
|---|---|
| Head width | 14 in (35 cm) |
| Tines | Galvanized steel; pointed cutting side + rounded raking side |
| Handle | Sold separately (combisystem handle) |
| Best for | Cutting moss and thatch out of lawns by hand |
Bully Tools 16 in. Bow Rake, Fiberglass Handle (92309)
A heavy-duty American-made bow rake for leveling dirt, spreading gravel, and breaking clods. It is a soil tool, not a leaf tool, so keep a fan rake for cleanup.
| Type | Bow / ground rake |
|---|---|
| Head width | 16 in |
| Tines | 16 rigid steel tines, 10-gauge head |
| Handle | Fiberglass, 58 in |
| Best for | Leveling soil and spreading gravel or mulch |
Our verdict
Both have stiff steel heads, but they work at different depths and for different reasons. A dethatching rake like the Gardena cutter has thin, sharp tines designed to slice down into the lawn and rip out moss and dead thatch, then flip to a rounded side to rake the debris up. A bow rake like the Bully Tools rides on top of bare soil to level, grade, and spread gravel or mulch, and its blunt rigid tines would tear turf if you dragged them through a lawn. Choose the dethatcher to rejuvenate an existing lawn, and the bow rake to prepare or shape open ground.