Which gas-powered tool has heavy metal tines that whip the lawn and is used for removing light thatch and prepping for overseeding?

• A. Power Dethatcher
• B. Power Aerator
• C. Vertical Mower
• D. Block Plane

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is identifying the lawn tool designed to remove thatch with tines and prep the soil for overseeding. A dethatcher uses heavy metal tines that whip through the turf, pulling up a shallow layer of thatch—the dead layer between the grass and soil. By removing light thatch, you improve air, water, and nutrient penetration and give seeds better soil contact, which helps overseeding take root. Gas power is common for dethatchers on larger lawns because it provides the engine power to pull through the turf and thatch more efficiently.

A power aerator, in contrast, focuses on poking holes or removing soil cores to relieve compaction, not primarily to lift thatch. A vertical mower (verticut) cuts through thatch with blades to thin and smooth but doesn’t whip the lawn with tines to lift a thatch layer. A block plane is a woodworking tool and has no role in lawn care.