Lawn Thatching
Tips on Lawn Thatching
Lawn thatching can be very useful in maintaining the health of your lawn. Thatch is a completely natural occurrence that, in small amounts provides some benefit for your lawn. Too much thatch on your lawn however can create problems and will generally decrease the beauty of your lawn. Lawn thatching is sometimes overlooked by many people, but it is a necessary and important task to helping your lawn look its best.
Thatch accumulates under grass gradually over the life of your lawn. Composed of the stems and crowns of the grass plants, as well as dead root systems, thatch occurs naturally. It is found just under the visible grass and above the soil. Thatch that accumulates under the lawn can actually help the lawn in some ways. It is important for helping the soil (especially in drier climates) retain moisture. It also helps protect some of the roots within the soil from being compressed as people walk over the lawn. While thatch may be beneficial to your lawn at first, the more it accumulates as time passes, the less beneficial it becomes.
An overgrowth of lawn thatch can lead to several lawn problems that may not only decrease your lawn’s attractiveness, but can actually prevent proper growth cycles. As grass grows it may become stuck in a heavy overgrowth of thatch and will be unable to reach the surface of the lawn. Due to the overcrowding of each grass blade when there is a lot of thatch present, grass will have to compete for space as it grows. The result of this overcrowding is thin grass shoots with shallow root systems, and an overall less attractive grass. It can also hamper the growth process completely by preventing the roots from receiving enough nutrients and water. Other problems that can be caused by thatch include insect problems. Insects love hiding and crawling in thatch. They have a better chance of surviving in the dense cover of thatch. Thatch also prevents pesticides from reaching the roots and killing insects. It can also prevent fungicides from working properly, often resulting in diseases thriving within the thatch. Common lawn disorders such as summer patch and dollar spot can be caused by too much thatch. To prevent these types of problems, it is recommended that you de-thatch your lawn.
Lawn thatching is best performed in spring or summer in areas with warmer seasons. In colder climates thatching should be performed in early fall. Thatching, also called de-thatching is the process of removing the buildup of roots and plant materials under the lawn. Thatching should be performed if the lawn dries out and dies when it is too hot. This is because it is not receiving enough moisture. Other times when thatching should be considered are when insect or fungus problems occur or when the lawn is soft and sponge-like when walked on. A good way to tell if it is time to thatch your lawn is by cutting a core sample. Cut out a sample about 3 inches deep and observe how thick the thatch layer is. Anything close to ¾ of an inch means your should de-thatch your lawn.
Begin the process of lawn thatching by raking up as much of that thatch as you can. Most experts say that you should water your lawn the day before to prevent letting it become too dry. For tough de-thatching jobs, there are thatching tools available to help. Some movers have a de-thatching blade as an attachment, or you can rent a de-thatching machine. These machines have specific blades designed to tear out the thatch. These may be difficult to handle and use properly, so check with the manual if you are not sure how to work it. Run the machine over each part of the lawn once, being careful not to tear up the soil. Always remove the excess material that has been cut away. With a simple de-thatching once a year or so you will be on your way to a great looking and healthy lawn.