I've had my mantis for about 10 years now and other than it needing a carb last year has been super. The one comment my experience would point out is that you don't HAVE TO dethatch walking backwards. I've been walking behind it like a mower for years and the results are the same. Just let it pull you slowly across the lawn and you won't tire yourself out.
@@WoodchuckCanuck Yea I did that for years......Best way is to wait till the grass needs mowing. Dethatch first. Then put the bagger on the mower and hit the lawn.
I have a small gardening business here in Ireland. I bought a second hand tiller a few years ago. I have to say its been a brilliant purchase. I use it weekly on the lager flower beds. I getting the dethatcher and aerator attachments to tackle moss on my clients lawns. My friends in the business laughed when i showed them my tiller. Needless to say once they used it they really appreciated what a handy machine it is.
+paul pentony Yes, its a great little machine. With the snow now melted away, I can see that almost the entire lawn has to be dethatched this spring. A LOT of moss.
Seems to work great. I own one. I was simply hoping to see the orientation of the tines, but the video only taught me how to walk backwards and use a wheelbarrow and rake.
Unreal amounts of thatch that thing is bringing up! Fantastic! I have the stihl dethatcher. The attachment is pretty much identical but I have been using it totally wrong! I was walking forward at a slow pace and just holding it back a little because i was too scared to damage the lawn. Now though, I see how effective it is to actually pace backwards! Great video!
Grass is hardy. Use the machine, top down some seed and fertilizer and you'll be mowing your lawn twice a week...if you like that sort of thing LOL. I only detach every couple of years.
I also walk backwards so that I'm not walking over the grass I just brought up, making it easier to rake later. Now if only to invent a ride one dethatcher and vacuum.
I have a mantis and wondered how well the Thatcher worked looks great rented a dethatcher about 20yrs ago did a great job but man what a Pile of Thatch when done
That's a good way to describe it. Aggressive combing! Depending on the lawn, it only needs to be done once every several years. Other lawns require annual dethatching.
its the deluxe model about £350.00 pounds in britian .ive used this tool and its great bit of kit also got the edger what a bit of kit that is and cuts perfect lines.
It depends on the size of the lawns your customers have. I think its perfect for maintaining smaller lawns. My lawn is about 1/4 acre. It would take one person pretty much 5-6 hours to clear out a heavy thatched lawn. I'd estimate the time this way; look at a lawn as if the grass has overgrown for several weeks of healthy growth. Then having to use a gas walk behind mower, then having to rake it all.
Hi, With a little bit of fertilizer afterwards, the lawn grew so well, I cursed having to mow it every 4-5 days. :) I haven't added any fert since. The lawn has since returned to the same as you see in the video, minus the buildup of thatch.
I've used the dethatching attachment with the Mantis, however it was too aggressive so I bought 8" Universal wheels (~$11.00 ea) to raise up the tines another 1/2". This fall I'll try the new set up and I hope it's satisfactory.
great video..i have the exact machine, but my unit doesn't have that nice little handle on the front..i have the kickstand but wish I had that small handle..wonder if this was an add on that was not sold by mantis? either way great video and wow on the results..and I hate black flies myself..that and gnats!
What size is the shaft on this? I have an older Craftsman EZ Fire cultivator with what appears to be a 3/4" D-shaft. I wonder if this attachment will work? Or, maybe the Earthquake attachment?
Wow! How do your hamstrings feel from walking backwards across your whole lawn? I know that took a long time...I have a Mantis too, but wow that would take forever...How long did it take your for your lawn? Do you have 1 acre or ???
We got the dethatcher and it worked great.. But, the tines broke, almost all of them the first season, i told Mantis about this and i'll be damned but they replaced them free of charge.. Used it the next season and the same thing happened again.. I decided not to bother telling Mantis, they more than likely wouldn't have replaced them yet again, or maybe they would have.. I figured i was too rough on them and didn't bother.. Wished we would have gotten the aereator instead..
Stutch Thirteen Mantis company policy is to replace the blades/tines for life. You can break them once a week and as long as you return the originals, Mantis will replace them every time. I've been fortunate in the 15 years I've owned mine I've only broken one set of blades.
So I'm wondering next if I should put down some 10-10-10 afterwards "and" some lawn seed. Or put down the fert and give it a week or so to sink in, then rake in some seed. What would you do?
Seed after you dethatch, wait about 5-7 days for seed to start germinating, then fertilize. If you seed and fertilize at the same time or fertilize first, the existing grass will have a growth spurt and shade out the seed trying to germinate.
Very impressive. It looks like you have the deluxe version with the 35 cc Honda engine. Have you had a chance to use the aerator? If so, how does it work. By the way, I'm guessing by your screen name that you might be from Canada. So am I. Whereabouts are you?
I read a review online that you have to bend those metal panels to make them fit on the tiller is that true? And also after repetitive use of taking the metal panels on and off does it scratch/chip the paint off the tiller? Is that true? Thank you!
The panels have to flex in order to fit snugly. Think of the environment those panels are in. Especially for tilling soil, rocks and sticks will get kicked up. So you want those panels to fit good, and they and the tiller will get chipped and scratched. Keep your tools clean and treat them with a environmentally friendly rust inhibitor occasionally, they will last a very long time.
Hi Jim, I've been looking for a way to bring grass back at my grandmas house and i do not know what im doing because the front yard is like 100% weeds. could you maybe go out of your way to give me a list of things to get so that i may do it myself? thank you. great video, new sub.
Hi, I'm not a landscaper. I don't even fertilize my lawn. Its just that in my area a lot of moss grows, so I dethatch every couple years. Have you tried speaking with a local gardening store, or co-op? you'll want to kill the weeds then use a combination of fertilizer and seed and sweat equity. Remember that a green lawn requires more mows. So if you are into doing that, go ahead with your plan. I tend to let the lawn go a little on the wild side with clover and such, but dandelions I pull.
the problem is, there is no lawn at all., its all weeds, and I never learned how to landscape, just a 23 year old trynna learn. yeah, i have but i live in san jose, ca and the places that would even touch the yard wont do it for anything less than 9k$. so i really do have to do it myself.
I guess best time to use this is in the spring, after snow and frost have gone south..instead of racking lawn, I could use the thatch for my garden, to mix in soil as fertilizer, for wild flowers to grow Big Big Big, for the Bees to be happy
No but the reason I do is so that the tossed up material is sitting on top and not crushed back into the ground from walking on it. Makes it easier to rake.
Dethatching backwards is just awful. 😉 Save yourself a massive headache and buy a Stihl Yard Boss (with dethatcher attachment) instead. You can walk behind it and see where you're going.
Bear Minator Well, this thing has metal tines which are similar to a tine on a metal rake. The engine spins these tines around which goes through the grass and rips up moss and dead grass clippings which naturally accumulate over time due to grass dying off naturally. Thia opens up more soil to the grass so it can grow thicker and more vigerously. This also helps drainage as previously, the thatch, when wet will form a very tight bond and not allow the water to drain through very well.
it allows your lawn to breathe better and get better water drainage to the roots of the grass by removing dead grass clippings and allows for better fertilizer to soil contact!
Great job you've done there. However,it's not good practice to ever walk backwards with powered machinery or remove/replace guards whilst engine is still running. H&S
I've had my mantis for about 10 years now and other than it needing a carb last year has been super. The one comment my experience would point out is that you don't HAVE TO dethatch walking backwards. I've been walking behind it like a mower for years and the results are the same. Just let it pull you slowly across the lawn and you won't tire yourself out.
The only reason I was walking backwards was so that I did not want to walk on the the thatch that was just raked up from the mantis.
@@WoodchuckCanuck Yea I did that for years......Best way is to wait till the grass needs mowing. Dethatch first. Then put the bagger on the mower and hit the lawn.
@@joesantora8855 No bagger on our mower. So the clippings fall where they land, then dethatch and rake once maybe ever 5 years.
5 years ago i wouldnt have given a shit about my lawn now i own my house and have a family and appearance is everything
my thoughts.
I have a small gardening business here in Ireland. I bought a second hand tiller a few years ago. I have to say its been a brilliant purchase. I use it weekly on the lager flower beds. I getting the dethatcher and aerator attachments to tackle moss on my clients lawns.
My friends in the business laughed when i showed them my tiller. Needless to say once they used it they really appreciated what a handy machine it is.
+paul pentony Yes, its a great little machine. With the snow now melted away, I can see that almost the entire lawn has to be dethatched this spring. A LOT of moss.
Seems to work great. I own one. I was simply hoping to see the orientation of the tines, but the video only taught me how to walk backwards and use a wheelbarrow and rake.
Orientate the tines so that they are pointing back towards you while you are gripping the handle.
De-thatched my lawn two weeks ago, first time in 15 years. What a difference. Applied fertilizer and did it make a difference.
Craig Arndt The lawn will look great but I hope you like mowing because now you'll be mowing 2-3 times more often :).
Unreal amounts of thatch that thing is bringing up! Fantastic!
I have the stihl dethatcher. The attachment is pretty much identical but I have been using it totally wrong! I was walking forward at a slow pace and just holding it back a little because i was too scared to damage the lawn.
Now though, I see how effective it is to actually pace backwards!
Great video!
Grass is hardy. Use the machine, top down some seed and fertilizer and you'll be mowing your lawn twice a week...if you like that sort of thing LOL. I only detach every couple of years.
I also walk backwards so that I'm not walking over the grass I just brought up, making it easier to rake later. Now if only to invent a ride one dethatcher and vacuum.
I have a mantis and wondered how well the Thatcher worked looks great rented a dethatcher about 20yrs ago did a great job but man what a Pile of Thatch when done
Aerator works well. For someone who is looking to aerate and thatch, I suggest maybe aerating first as it will kick up a lot of thatch too.
I loved my mantis but the worm gears are now bad and having to replace the transmission. I really hope that fixes it
Bad ass attachments
Finally a video of someone using the machine instead of how to put the head on...
That's a good way to describe it. Aggressive combing! Depending on the lawn, it only needs to be done once every several years. Other lawns require annual dethatching.
It's the stuff you don't see in your grass until you've use the Mantis.A a lot power in a little package.
THAT is why you need to VAC your lawn as you mow it. I have a triple bagger on my Husky and I love it.
its the deluxe model about £350.00 pounds in britian .ive used this tool and its great bit of kit also got the edger what a bit of kit that is and cuts perfect lines.
It depends on the size of the lawns your customers have. I think its perfect for maintaining smaller lawns. My lawn is about 1/4 acre. It would take one person pretty much 5-6 hours to clear out a heavy thatched lawn. I'd estimate the time this way; look at a lawn as if the grass has overgrown for several weeks of healthy growth. Then having to use a gas walk behind mower, then having to rake it all.
Hi, With a little bit of fertilizer afterwards, the lawn grew so well, I cursed having to mow it every 4-5 days. :) I haven't added any fert since. The lawn has since returned to the same as you see in the video, minus the buildup of thatch.
Looks a cracking bit of kit that I've tried a big one was light but this thing looks awsome....
I've used the dethatching attachment with the Mantis, however it was too aggressive so I bought 8" Universal wheels (~$11.00 ea) to raise up the tines another 1/2". This fall I'll try the new set up and I hope it's satisfactory.
I just ordered Mantis with all the attachments I need. The war with my lawn has begun!
you'll love your Mantis it will be one of the best investments you'll ever make!
That's awesome view. I love the 🌲
since the work was done have you notice a difference in how your grass has grown? Greener, thicker, etc...... tHx!
Good garden mulch or compost pile material.
Thanks, I'm getting mine this week, it's just right for what I need...
That was in June. I fert and seeded a bit afterwards and the lawn "exploded" with green grass. I went from mowing every 10 days to every 4 days.
Jim Barry
Took about 4 hrs all total of thatching and raking. Legs were ok, didn't have any problems.
oh ok, good! Its a great thing to do for lawns to prepare for spring!
wow, thats cool! bet the lawn was nice and plush too!
Hi, That handle on the front came with the unit. You can see in the video its all a part of that tube frame.
That’s a lot of lawn for the mantis
Good to hear. I'm surprised at the power the little engine has.
great video..i have the exact machine, but my unit doesn't have that nice little handle on the front..i have the kickstand but wish I had that small handle..wonder if this was an add on that was not sold by mantis? either way great video and wow on the results..and I hate black flies myself..that and gnats!
What size is the shaft on this? I have an older Craftsman EZ Fire cultivator with what appears to be a 3/4" D-shaft. I wonder if this attachment will work? Or, maybe the Earthquake attachment?
How does it work on St Augustine grass
No idea. Never heard of it. But looking it up, its description is similar to what we have.
Wow! How do your hamstrings feel from walking backwards across your whole lawn? I know that took a long time...I have a Mantis too, but wow that would take forever...How long did it take your for your lawn? Do you have 1 acre or ???
Cracking machine,love mine and spares are easy to find.
Yes they are a well made machine. When you have the full kit, you can do a lot.
This ain’t no joke.
Hi Bill, I can't find the model number on the machine. You'll need a model with a strong engine though.
nice view where was that
looks like it works great tho. lil seems a lil loud like rattly.
We got the dethatcher and it worked great.. But, the tines broke, almost all of them the first season, i told Mantis about this and i'll be damned but they replaced them free of charge.. Used it the next season and the same thing happened again.. I decided not to bother telling Mantis, they more than likely wouldn't have replaced them yet again, or maybe they would have.. I figured i was too rough on them and didn't bother.. Wished we would have gotten the aereator instead..
Stutch Thirteen Mantis company policy is to replace the blades/tines for life. You can break them once a week and as long as you return the originals, Mantis will replace them every time. I've been fortunate in the 15 years I've owned mine I've only broken one set of blades.
paladinNJ Even the dethatcher atatchment?? I've never had the tiller blades break.. or the edger either.
Every Attachment. Company policy
So I'm wondering next if I should put down some 10-10-10 afterwards "and" some lawn seed. Or put down the fert and give it a week or so to sink in, then rake in some seed. What would you do?
Seed after you dethatch, wait about 5-7 days for seed to start germinating, then fertilize. If you seed and fertilize at the same time or fertilize first, the existing grass will have a growth spurt and shade out the seed trying to germinate.
Thanks for posting, cool to see!
Very impressive. It looks like you have the deluxe version with the 35 cc Honda engine. Have you had a chance to use the aerator? If so, how does it work. By the way, I'm guessing by your screen name that you might be from Canada. So am I. Whereabouts are you?
I read a review online that you have to bend those metal panels to make them fit on the tiller is that true? And also after repetitive use of taking the metal panels on and off does it scratch/chip the paint off the tiller? Is that true? Thank you!
The panels have to flex in order to fit snugly. Think of the environment those panels are in. Especially for tilling soil, rocks and sticks will get kicked up. So you want those panels to fit good, and they and the tiller will get chipped and scratched. Keep your tools clean and treat them with a environmentally friendly rust inhibitor occasionally, they will last a very long time.
absolutely fabulous view beautiful
Hi Jim, I've been looking for a way to bring grass back at my grandmas house and i do not know what im doing because the front yard is like 100% weeds. could you maybe go out of your way to give me a list of things to get so that i may do it myself? thank you. great video, new sub.
Hi, I'm not a landscaper. I don't even fertilize my lawn. Its just that in my area a lot of moss grows, so I dethatch every couple years. Have you tried speaking with a local gardening store, or co-op? you'll want to kill the weeds then use a combination of fertilizer and seed and sweat equity. Remember that a green lawn requires more mows. So if you are into doing that, go ahead with your plan. I tend to let the lawn go a little on the wild side with clover and such, but dandelions I pull.
the problem is, there is no lawn at all., its all weeds, and I never learned how to landscape, just a 23 year old trynna learn. yeah, i have but i live in san jose, ca and the places that would even touch the yard wont do it for anything less than 9k$. so i really do have to do it myself.
Well then, start form the beginning. There are plenty of online references to get you r started. I simply am not qualified to helping that regard.
thank you for your time Jim.
Is that unit a 4 stroke or 2?
Should I get this or the sun joe dethatcher?
never heard of a sun joe
Don't bother ordering a Sun Joe......Out of stock after waiting 2 weeks with no update. Mantis is the way to go.
That is great
I have nothing to compare my results too as its the first time I've ever de-thatched a lawn.
I guess best time to use this is in the spring, after snow and frost have gone south..instead of racking lawn, I could use the thatch for my garden, to mix in soil as fertilizer, for wild flowers to grow Big Big Big, for the Bees to be happy
do you have to walk in reverse?
No but the reason I do is so that the tossed up material is sitting on top and not crushed back into the ground from walking on it. Makes it easier to rake.
when dethatching yes! when cultivating a garden yes!
it takes straight gas, so its a 4
Thats bad ass
Nova Scotia, Canada
is that a powerbroom?
no, its a dethatcher that uses metal tines.
damn that thing is aggressive. i would imagine it's inherently more aggressive due to pull backward design, as opposed to the push electric models.
You could install a counter balance wheel on the front to control the aggressiveness. And you could also fluctuate the speed of the motor too.
Dethatching backwards is just awful. 😉 Save yourself a massive headache and buy a Stihl Yard Boss (with dethatcher attachment) instead. You can walk behind it and see where you're going.
seriously, what does that do to a lawn..?
Bear Minator Well, this thing has metal tines which are similar to a tine on a metal rake. The engine spins these tines around which goes through the grass and rips up moss and dead grass clippings which naturally accumulate over time due to grass dying off naturally. Thia opens up more soil to the grass so it can grow thicker and more vigerously. This also helps drainage as previously, the thatch, when wet will form a very tight bond and not allow the water to drain through very well.
it allows your lawn to breathe better and get better water drainage to the roots of the grass by removing dead grass clippings and allows for better fertilizer to soil contact!
Holy thatch
is the 25cc honda or the 35cc honda?
The Mantis is a Honda GX 25 so assume its 25cc
Got one of these would be good if you could walk forwards instead of backwards but hey ho
I'd just drag a dethatcher on my tractor before doing it on my mantis tiller...
good way to hit urself with a rock. lol with no guards
Great job you've done there. However,it's not good practice to ever walk backwards with powered machinery or remove/replace guards whilst engine is still running. H&S
That's how the dethatcher works.
Гениально
Very loud