Lawns are the first thing people see when they approach your home and having a lush green one is important for giving a good first impression. To maintain this look you have probably been fertilizing, mowing and watering away, but it might still look a little patchy and dry. It may need a dethatching.
What Is Thatch?
Thatch is the thick layer of living and dead stems, roots, and grass that collects right above the soil in a mat. Most of the time, it is between 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch thick. At that size, it can actually help the lawn retain water and fight soil compaction. However, it can build up to over an inch with time, and there is such a thing as too much thatch.
Why Dethatch?
Thatch blocks water and nutrients from getting to your soil if it gets too thick, and a neglected lawn that has more than an inch of thatch can start to choke from the lack of air. This can mostly be avoided by regular aeration, but it may sometimes be necessary to remove a layer of thatch.
How Is It Done?
Lawn care professionals carry with them their own dethatching equipment. There are two types: power dethatchers and thatching rakes. Both are made of sharp blades that can be adjusted for the depth of thatch and type of grass. These are pulled through the lawn so that it removes the appropriate amount of thatch. Getting this done correctly is critical so you may want to hire someone with the right equipment and expertise.
What Do You Do Afterwards?
The most important thing to do after dethatching is to clean up. Remove all the debris that you have pulled up. After that, it is time to pamper your lawn. It’s going to need the nutrients and it is primed to use everything you give it, so have it watered and fertilized. If you have this done during your lawn’s growing season, the grass will spring up as good as new for the year. You may want to hire a lawn care specialist to give it the care it needs.
Once the dethatching is done, your lawn will be able to become the emerald beauty that you know it can be. Fortunately, if you are in the Twin Cities, The Grounds Crew can help. If you want to know about lawn care, you can contact us.
-TGC Team