Dethatching your lawn is a critical step in your lawn care regimen. It’s essential for your lawn's long-term health, beauty, and resiliency. In this post, we’ll explore the purpose of dethatching, how it is done, and when to dethatch the lawn. To understand the benefits of dethatching the lawn, we first need a clear understanding of thatch.
What is Thatch?
So, what is thatch? Lawn thatch is that layer of organic matter made up of both living and dead grass leaves, roots, and other organic material that settles between your lawn’s roots and the blades of grass. But don’t start dethatching yet!
Your lawn develops thatch naturally, and it isn’t all bad. Thatch provides your lawn with the following benefits:
- Retains moisture
- Insulates grass roots from temperature extremes
- Prevents soil erosion
- Makes grass more tolerant of foot traffic
- Decomposing organic matter enriches the soil
- Suppresses weeds
- Deters burrowing pests
If thatch is so beneficial, why is dethatching the lawn a good thing? When thatch grows too thick, it can block water, oxygen, and essential nutrients from reaching your lawn’s roots, making the grass more vulnerable to pests, fungus, and disease. Dethatching a lawn removes this layer of organic matter, allowing water, air, and nutrients to circulate, producing healthier grass.
Signs of Excessive Thatch Buildup
Like many other things, some thatch is good for your lawn, but too much causes problems. The following signs indicate your lawn may have excessive thatch and need dethatching:
- Water pools on the grass or runs off rather than penetrating the soil
- Uneven or patchy growth
- The lawn appears dry despite sufficient watering
- Increased pest activity and disease
- The lawn feels spongy underfoot
For a simple test, try inserting a screwdriver into the lawn’s soil. If this is unexpectedly difficult, it is a sign you may have a buildup of thatch.
When to Dethatch Your Lawn
Learning when to dethatch the lawn is absolutely as critical as knowing why and how to do so. Dethatching stresses your grass, breaks roots, exposes soil, and can encourage weeds. It is vital to dethatch only when you have excessive thatch buildup and at the right time of year.
Always measure the thatch layer of your lawn before dethatching. Using a trowel or shovel, dig up a small plug of grass, soil, and roots. Measure the layer of brown matter in the cross-section. If the thatch layer is ¾ of an inch or thicker, consider dethatching, but only during the lawn’s active growth. Time dethatching the lawn when it can quickly repair the damage:
- Cool-season lawns like Fescues, Kentucky Bluegrass, and Bentgrass should be dethatched in early spring or early fall.
- Warm-season lawns like Zoysia, Bahia grass, and Ryegrass should be dethatched in late spring to early summer.
How to Dethatch Your Lawn
Homeowners can dethatch their lawn or leave it to expert lawn care pros like those at Lawn Pride. As a rule of thumb, call the professionals if you’re dealing with excessive thatch that is two inches thick or more.
To handle it yourself, remember to dethatch only when the thatch layer is at least 3/4 of an inch thick and during your lawn’s active growth. Then, follow our step-by-step guide to dethatching your lawn:
- Prepare the Lawn: Mow the lawn short — about half its normal height. If the soil is dry, lightly water the lawn.
- Choose the Right Dethatcher for the Lawn: For small lawns, a thatch rake is best. Consider renting a power dethatcher or vertical mower for large lawns.
- Start Dethatching: Rake deeply with the thatch rake, pulling it toward you, raking deeply enough to collect brown organic matter as you go. Or run the power dethatcher in one direction. Complete dethatching the entire lawn.
- Remove the Thatch Buildup: Dethatching leaves mounds of thatch on your lawn. Collect it and compost it or discard it.
- If Using a Power Dethatcher: Do another dethatching perpendicular to the first pass.
Post-Dethatching Care:
- Water the lawn well.
- If the lawn looks sparse, consider over-seeding the grass.
- Apply a light fertilizer to encourage growth and recovery.
Why Choose Lawn Pride for Your Dethatching Needs?
The lawn care pros at Lawn Pride® cheerfully share their expertise on all aspects of lawn care. But sometimes, you’d rather hand over the chores to the experts. Since 1983, Lawn Pride has helped lawns just like yours become the pride of their neighborhood nationwide. Our comprehensive lawn care services include dethatching the lawn and re-seeding to help it recover quickly. You can count on being pleased with our services because the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ backs everything we do.
We’re here to help you love your lawn again. Contact us with any questions. Ready for a healthy, lush lawn without all the work?
Request a free Lawn Pride estimate today!
This article is intended for general guidance only and may not apply to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Lawn Pride is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Lawn Pride for more information and a professional on-site assessment.