Q: You mention “vertical mowing” on your website. What the heck is that? Is a vertical mower the same as a dethatching machine?

A: Yes, it’s the same thing. The machine has several small blades on a horizontal shaft. As the shaft turns, the blades cut thin grooves in the soil, raising and shredding any thatch. Combined with a seed hopper, this machine is excellent for getting good seed-soil contact when planting a lawn. On the other hand, I rarely see lawns that need dethatching, contrary to the common advice of neighbors and poorly trained lawn technicians.