Liquid Rake FAQ

What is Liquid Rake?

Liquid Rake is an all-natural product that is a cocktail of safe and beneficial living microorganisms and enzymes necessary to quickly break down organic matter into valuable humus. Liquid Rake is not a fertilizer, but actually accelerates nature's fertilizer building process.

When should I apply Liquid Rake?

You can use Liquid Rake ANY time of year to help break down thatch and provide nutrients to your lawn. Depending on where you live you can remove thatch in spring, summer, fall and even when the lawn is dormant in winter. The best time to dethatch a cool-season lawn is early fall or early spring; for a warm-season lawn, early summer. After dethatching, fertilize the lawn with a nitrogen fertilizer to stimulate regrowth. To slow down thatch build up avoid over-fertilizing and over-watering, as these may contribute to thatch build-up.

How do I know if I have thatch?

If your lawn is green on top, but brown underneath or if it looks dead and scalped when you mow, it may be time to dethatch. If your lawn is off-color and thinning, and you can't see bare ground between the plants but instead see matted, fibrous material, it may be time to dethatch. If your lawn is thick, rich and deep green, and you can't see bare ground between the plants but instead see matted, fibrous material, it is also time to dethatch.

Is thatch caused by leaving grass clippings on my lawn?

No, contrary to popular belief thatch is not caused by leaving grass clippings on the lawn. If you mow frequently you can leave your grass clippings on the surface of the lawn after you mow (mow frequently so the grass clippings are small and will decompose rapidly). Grass clippings contain 16 essential nutrients that can be recycled back into the lawn by leaving the clippings in place.

What is thatch?

Thatch is the layer of built-up plant material between the green top growth and the roots of grass plants that develops naturally as lawn grasses grow and slough off roots, shoots and leaves. Some thatch helps protect the roots, but excessive thatch prevents moisture, oxygen and nutrients from penetrating the soil and can harbor disease and insects. Regular dethatching forces buds to grow near the base of the grass stems, preventing the grass plants from being dead underneath and only green on top.

Is Liquid Rake safe?

YES. Liquid Rake is environmentally safe and will not harm your family or pets.

Is Liquid Rake safe around pets? How long should I wait after applying before I let them on it?

All our Lawn Care products are 100% safe for use around pets. As long as you sprayed with a hose end sprayer, and gave the lawn a light rinse, then the lawn is ready for use immediately after it dries.

Does Liquid Rake work with all types of grass?

YES. Liquid Rake is a soil treatment, so it doesn't matter what type of grass you have. It works with all types of grass including both cool and warm season varieties - Bahia, Bentgrass, Bermuda, Bluegrass, Buffalo, Carpet, Centipede, Fescue, Ryegrass, St. Augustine, Floratam and Zoysia.

Where can I purchase Liquid Rake in my area?

Our products are available exclusively at MegaGro.com and through select gardening catalogs. We offer free shipping on orders of $40 or more.

Is the $17.95 hose-end sprayer just the sprayer or does it include the product?

The Liquid Rake Hose-End Sprayer comes filled with Liquid Rake.

Why should I use the Liquid Rake instead of mechanical dethatching?

It is easier, faster, cheaper and works better and deeper. If your lawn has a true thatch condition, you cannot alleviate it with hand raking, power raking or so-called "dethatching" machines. These will only skim the surface of the thatch layer. If you dig in any deeper, you will tear out the grass. The best way to reduce thatch is to get it to decompose. You can apply Liquid Rake any time during the growing season in any type of weather, no matter how dry or soggy the soil.

Can I dispense Liquid Rake at a higher concentration for quicker results?

You probably won't see much benefit to higher concentrations. The limiting factor is the time it takes the microbes to breakdown the cellulose and that is driven by exposed surface area. Regular treatments can help keep things healthy once you've broken down the thatch.

How long will it take before I see results?

That depends on how much thatch you have and the number of applications. It takes time for the microbes to do their thing and it's often not immediately visible to the naked eye. You have to think of the analogy of how long it takes a tree to decompose. Thatch, like dead wood is cellulose and takes a while to break down. But if will break down. You'll usually start to see results after about a month and better results after a few months. Repeat treatments can help to keep the microbes working. We recommend treatments every 4-6 weeks.

How long should I wait to apply fertilizer to my lawn after application of the liquid rake product?

We suggest waiting at least 2 weeks before applying any fertilizer. Over fertilization may be part of your thatch problem. When turf grass is kept closely mowed and heavily fertilized, thatch builds up. Liquid Rake will break down the thatch layer into organic matter that the grass can use for nutrients. If you have a heavy thatch problem, I would recommend applying Liquid Rake at 14 - 21 day intervals until thatch is under control. Then you can move forward with a light fertilizer program.

Can I use Liquid Rake if I already have a service like Chemlawn?

YES. Our products won't interfere with these types of programs and should eventually help you get more out of the fertilizer you use.

Can I apply Liquid Rake at the same time as your other lawn care products like Lawn Honey, SoilSyrup or MegaGro?

YES!, Yes. All of our products are compatible. You can put them in the same tank or hose end sprayer or simply apply them one right after the other.

If you have a question about Liquid Rake or any of our other products that is not answered here, please contact us and we will get back to you as soon as we can.

What is the Shelf-Life of Liquid Rake?

If stored in a cool, dry place, Liquid Rake will remain potent for several years. You should avoid storing in areas where it may be exposed to extreme heat or freezing.

Liquid Rake Instructions

SHAKE WELL BEFORE USING

Directions For Use:

Apply Liquid Rake at 3-6 oz. per 1000 sf. for first time applications or heavy thatch problems. Apply at 1-2 oz per 1000 sf. for recurring applications to keep thatch under control. Or 1-2 gallons per acre if you are using spray equipment other than the Liquid Rake hose-end. Apply every 3 weeks for best results or until thatch is under control. Water it in afterwards with enough water to soak all the way through the thatch layer and into the soil. Can be applied with Lawn Honey or SoilSyrup to help aid penetration through the thatch.

Coverage Per Application:

• Liquid Rake Hose-End: 16 oz. - Up to 10,000 Square Feet
• Liquid Rake Hose-End Refill: 16 oz. - Up to 10,000 Square Feet
• Liquid Rake Gallon: 1 Gallon - Up to 80,000 Square Feet or approximately 2 acres

The Liquid Rake looks really thick, what should I do?

The product may have settle, you can simply shake it up, or add more water to help dilute it a little.

My Hose-end Sprayer isn't working correctly, what should I do?

Troubleshooting Your Hose-End Sprayer: If your Liquid Rake hose-end does not appear to be outputting, shake vigorously as the product may have settled.

You can also dilute the Liquid Rake as needed to get it to output. The sprayer force is dependent on your home water pressure.

If it is coming out too fast, you can either turn the water pressure down on the garden hose, or stand further away from the watering area.

Liquid Rake Downloads

Liquid Rake MSDS
Lawn Care Information

If you have a question not covered in this FAQ, please contact us