Quick verdict
The AJ805E puts a 13 amp motor behind swappable dethatching and scarifying reels across a 15 inch path, with five depth settings and a collection bag, on four wheels that roll easily. For a thatch-choked lawn it pulls up startling amounts of dead material and leaves the turf ready to breathe. It is corded, and the bag fills fast, but at the price it is the dethatcher to buy.
Strengths
- 13 amp motor with 15 inch dethatching and scarifying reels
- Five-position depth control
- Removable collection bag
- Four easy-glide wheels for stable, straight passes
- Two tools in one at a low price
Weaknesses
- Corded; needs a 12 gauge extension cord
- Collection bag fills quickly on heavy thatch
- Plastic housing and tines wear with heavy use
The overall YardToolLab Score is out of 100. Section scores are out of 10.
The Lawn Job Most People Skip
Thatch, the layer of dead grass stems between the soil and the green blades, builds up until water and fertiliser cannot reach the roots. Dethatching removes it, and the Sun Joe AJ805E makes the job a walk behind a machine instead of an afternoon with a spring rake. A 13 amp motor drives either a spring-tine dethatching reel or a bladed scarifying reel across a 15 inch path, with five depth settings and a collection bag.
This review is based on Sun Joe’s specifications and on owner feedback rather than on our own use.
Thatch Removal
Owners describe the same experience: a lawn that looked healthy produces bag after bag of brown thatch on the first pass, and greens up noticeably in the weeks after. The spring tines reach into the turf and lift dead material without tearing live grass at a sensible depth. Start shallow and work deeper on a second pass; owners who go deep immediately on a neglected lawn pull up more live grass than they intended.
Scarifying
Swap in the bladed reel and the machine cuts shallow slits into the soil, which breaks up matted thatch and opens the surface for overseeding. It is more aggressive and best used once a year when the lawn can recover. The reel change takes a few minutes with the supplied tool.
Handling
Four wheels keep the AJ805E stable and tracking straight, and the depth lever adjusts without tools. The machine is light enough to lift up a kerb. The collection bag catches a useful share of the debris but fills quickly on heavy thatch, so owners keep a rake and lawn bags beside them.
The Cord
A 12 gauge outdoor cord up to 100 feet gives full power. Dethatching is done in straight rows, which suits a trailing cord. Lawns beyond cord reach need a cordless unit such as the Greenworks 40V.
Build
The housing is plastic and the tines wear over years of use; replacement reels are available. Sun Joe’s two-year warranty applies and support is responsive in owner reports.
Who Should Buy It
- Owners of spongy, thatchy lawns that water and feed poorly.
- Anyone overseeding who wants the scarifier to open the surface.
- Lawns within cord reach of an outlet.
Common Owner Complaints
Bag capacity, cord management and the volume of raking that follows. Performance complaints are rare.
Alternatives to Consider
The Greenworks 40V 15 inch dethatcher is the cordless equivalent. Agri-Fab’s tow-behind dethatcher suits tractor owners with large lawns. A manual dethatching rake works for small patches.
Verdict
For a lawn choked with thatch, the AJ805E is an inexpensive machine that produces visible results in a single afternoon. Accept the cord and the bagging, and it is one of the best lawn-care purchases available.
Full specifications
Sun Joe AJ805E 13 Amp 15 Inch Electric Dethatcher and Scarifier FAQs
The dethatcher reel uses spring tines to comb out dead grass above the soil. The scarifier reel uses blades to cut slits into the soil surface, which is more aggressive and helps overseeding.
Cool-season lawns in early spring or early autumn; warm-season lawns in late spring after the second mow, when the grass can recover quickly.
Owners are routinely surprised, filling many bags from a lawn that looked fine. Expect to rake and bag more than the collector holds.
A 12 gauge outdoor cord up to 100 feet for a 13 amp motor.
