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Do I Need To Dethatch My Lawn

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Dethatching As Part Of Lawn Care

How To DETHATCH And FIX Your LAWN

When prevention fails, the solution lies in dethatching. “Dethatching” a lawn refers to the mechanical removal from a lawn of a thatch layer that is too thick. Dethatching is not nearly as big a part of lawn care as is mowing. In fact, some homeowners may never need to dethatch the lawn. Some types of grass simply are not as susceptible to thatch build-up as others. For example:

  • While Kentucky bluegrass is one of the cool-season grasses prone to developing too much thatch, tall fescue grass is far less susceptible.
  • Among the warm-season grasses, you are more likely to have to dethatch Bermudagrass than zoysiagrass .

But when thatch does become a problem in a lawn, you should not overlook the importance of dealing with it, because the long-term health of your grass hinges on your finding a solution. The solution can take either of two forms: dethatching or core aeration.

Dethatching Vs Core Aeration

Of the two solutions, dethatching is certainly preferable to core aeration because core aeration requires a mechanical device. Unhappily, you may not have a choice. The severity of the situation determines which solution is implemented. Dethatching is for mild cases. You will know afterward that it worked if your grass starts looking better the following year.

If grass health does not pick up, that could mean that you have a more severe case. Core aeration may be necessary for your lawn. It is best performed in fall. If you have badly compacted soil, that is another reason to aerate your lawn.

You have three options when it comes to core aeration:

  • Hire a lawn service to do the job.
  • Rent a core aerator.
  • Buy an aerator.

The average homeowner should be able to either hire a lawn service or to rent a core aerator. When it comes to buying, not only is cost an issue but so is storage. Dethatching a lawn by means of a core aerator is probably not going to be a yearly task. Whenever it is not in use, this large piece of equipment will be taking up space in your garage or storage shed. An exception might be made if you own a tractor or a riding lawn mower because you can buy an attachment for these machines that will allow you to aerate your lawn.

If you are not physically up to the job, do not live near a rental center, or just plain do not like gadgets very much, it might make sense for you to choose to hire a lawn service to do this work. Otherwise, renting is a great option.

How Often Should You Dethatch Your Yard

  • Kentucky bluegrass should be dethatched every couple of years either in the spring or early fall.
  • Bermuda grass should be dethatched every spring just as soon as new growth appears.
  • Tall fescues and Rye grass should dont require routine dethatching. Dethatching these grass types is appropriate when you are overseeding to allow for better seed to soil contact.

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House Method Rating & Methodology

At House Method, transparency and trust are our most important values for the reader. Thats why we took the time to create an objective rating system and score each lawn company/service according to our methodology.

Our research team dug deep into the fine print of contracts, combed through more than one hundred customer reviews, and thoroughly investigated all of each lawn care services services, costs, and products. Weve done the homework for you by researching nearly all of the lawn care companies on the market so you can have the information you need to make the best choice for your home.

We developed a formula to objectively determine the best lawn care companies and give each a score out of 100 based on the following criteria:

Beginners Guide To Lawn Dethatching

Should Lawns Be Dethatched : When Is The Best Time To Dethatch My Lawn ...
  • Beginners Guide To Lawn Dethatching

Lawn dethatching can be crucial to keeping your grass and soil healthy. Even if you are mowing and doing everything else necessary for your lawn, thatch can build up. Over watering and over fertilization can cause excess thatch. Detaching removes the thick layer of dead plant material . This allows air, water, and nutrients to reach your plants and soil again. Dethatching allows your lawn to drain better as well. By learning why dethatching is important, as well as when and how to dethatch, it will be easier to keep your lawn healthy.

Also Check: When To Fertilize Lawn In Spring

Can Dethatching Hurt Your Lawn

Dethatching your lawn can be hard on certain grass types like tall fescue or rye grass. These bunch type grasses dont have the ability to recover as quickly as kentucky bluegrass or bermuda grass from dethatching. It is best to plan to overseed after dethatching tall fescues and rye grass.

If you plan on putting down a preemergent or crabgrass preventer on your lawn and also need to dethatch, it is best to dethatch first. Dethatching after you put down your weed preventers and preemergent will disturb the barrier that was created.

What Period Of The Year Do You Need To Dethatch

Dethatching of lawn varies because of the difference in the weather conditions, the conditions of the soil, and the types of grass are what determine when to dethatch.

Personally, I prefer to dethatch my lawns during the springtime.

Because I normally carry out dethatching on my lawns before application of any treatment like fertilizer, lime, watering, and overseeding.

If you overseed or fertilize before dethatching, you will end up removing everything. Because this involves removing excess soil.

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The Best Time To Dethatch Your Lawn

You try your best to maintain a beautiful lawn and keep a pretty property that’s appealing to both you and anyone who may drive by. You’re proud of the space you’ve created, and you plan to keep it that way. If you’re maintaining your lawn all year-round, you may have asked yourself, “When is the best time to dethatch my lawn?”

If so, read on for a few tips to a successful lawn dethatching process here in Arizona.

Top 8 Benefits Of Dethatching Lawn Of 2022

Do You NEED To DETHATCH Your Lawn EVERY YEAR???

There are so many websites out there that you might not be able to decide which one is the best for Benefits of dethatching lawn. But it doesn’t have to be hard because this post will tell you some things about the best website ever!

We put every product through thoughtful testing plans that bring out key performance differences. We do a lot of hands-on real-world field tests, designed by experts, where we use products under challenging conditions to see how they hold up to the competition.

So we find out and recommend a list of the Top Benefits of dethatching lawn with popular brands below: Sun joe, Rock& rocker, Greenworks, American lawn mower company, Goplus, Lawnmaster, Earthwise to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.

  • EASY DISPOSAL: Detachable thatch collection bag for easy disposal
  • FEATURES: Scarifier function to cut grass roots for thicker growth, healthier lawns
  • IDEAL: For revitalizing small to mid-sized lawns
  • Quick-swap tine reels to easily switch between the included dethatcher and scarifier attachments
  • 5-position depth adjustment from -1/2-in. to +1/5-in. and -1/10-in to +3/4-in.
  • Stainless steel tines stay sharp longer for reliable performance
  • Environment-friendly alternative to gas-powered lawn mowers which is pollution-free and noise-free Low maintenance, lightweight and easy to use
  • 4-blade reel with a cutting width of 14 and durable 8.5 polymer wheels for maximum maneuverability
  • Capable of cutting grass up to 4 inches tall

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What Is Thatch What Problems Does It Cause

Thatch is every single leave, root, and crown of dead grass that stays on top or between the grass and the soil. Because its dead, this grass usually looks brownish, making the grass look duller than usual.

Thatch, however, is not necessarily harmful. It gives more bounce to the grass and often makes it look fluffier which is ideal. Also, it insulates the grass and keeps it safe even in extreme temperatures. So you can say thatch is sometimes beneficial.

But when it starts growing too much and the grass doesnt look green anymore then it is problematic, to say the least.

Because thatching is dead grass leaves, rhizomes, roots, and stolons it builds up to a thick layer. And this often happens when the organic part of the grass starts decomposing faster than the grass itself grows.

Thus, the grass gets covered with this dead organic matter, which turns vibrant green grass into brown & dull one. When this happens, you may not like the results at all.

Why? Easy it can cause problems like these:

  • Makes it easy for fungi and insects to appear
  • Increases overall humidity in the grass body which could cause diseases
  • Prevents grass from growing as it limits access to sun, air, water, and nutrients
  • Makes the grass look brownish and disorganized
  • Damages the grassroots which could cause permanent growth issues

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Why Is Dethatching Important

Thatch is a mixture of dead and living plant matter that gathers at the base of grass. A small amount of thatch is actually beneficial. It only becomes a problem when thatch builds up. Thatch is thick and prevents moisture and air from getting to your plants and soil. Youâll start to see them diminish in color and strength. If the thatch builds up for too long, not only can it kill your grass, but it will damage the soil. Once it damages the soil, even replanted grass is not likely to flourish. A build up of thatch can also be a nesting ground for insects. It can breed disease and mosquitoes if you donât dethatch.

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How Can You Dethatch Your Lawn

If youre noticing an excessive amount of thatch in your lawn, its time to take action. Thatch is a layer of dead grass, roots, and other organic matter that builds up over time. While a small amount of thatch is healthy for your lawn, too much can prevent water, air, and nutrients from reaching the roots of your grass. As a result, your lawn may become brown and patchy.

The good news is that dethatching is a fairly easy process. You can dethatch your lawn manually, or with a push behind lawn dethatcher, a power rake, or through aerating and tilling your lawn.

After dethatching, your lawn will be more susceptible to drought and heat stress. Be sure to water deeply and regularly during hot, dry weather. You may also want to fertilize your lawn to help it recover from the stress of dethatching.

Dethatching is an important part of lawn care. By removing the thatch from your lawn, youll allow water, oxygen, and vital nutrients to reach the roots of your grass. This will result in a healthier, more vibrant lawn.

Read Also: How To Bring Back A Dead Lawn

Is There Any Difference Between Power Raking And Dethatching

How To Dethatch A Lawn Quickly

Yes, there is. There is a great difference between power raking and dethatching. Power raking removes more thatch at a go than dethatching.

Power raking uses a machine to dig out much thatch than the dethatching process. Power raking is more aggressive than the latter.

However, dethatching is a smaller version of power raking. It removes a small thatch compared to power raking.

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Final Thoughts And Tips On Lawn Dethatching

Lawn dethatching may seem like something you dont have to do, but for most homeowners it is vitally important.

If you care about having a lawn full of healthy grass, free from disease and insects then dethatching is something to think about. Dethatching can definitely be done by yourself, but if you have neglected your lawn, and the thatch layer is over 2 inches thick, you may want to consider hiring a professional. Its a lot of work, and if you have the money, getting someone to dethatch and remove the dead grass will save you a lot of time and back strain.

You may need multiple sessions if you have an excessive buildup of thatch, and you must remember not to remove too much at once or you will disrupt the roots. If you have a large thatch problem or seem unsure of what to do, your local lawn professional or garden center can help you make the right decision.

What Is Thatch On Lawns

When most people think of grass, they think of the long, graceful blades that stick out of the lawn. Well, thats only about half the story that grass has to tell. Grass also has below and at-ground level parts, like the crown, rhizomes and roots that help it stay healthy and spread horizontally across the ground. Although the grass blades, which are basically leaves, decompose easily, these other structures do not.

Over time, the other parts of your grass plants can build up into a spongy layer between the grass leaves and the soil. This is the thatch. A small amount of thatch is pretty normal for lawns, but too much and you risk creating a situation where water and oxygen have trouble penetrating to the grass roots, or in severe cases, roots are only anchored in thatch, making it hard for the grass to thrive and even harder to execute any on-trend landscaping ideas.

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When And How Often Should You Aerate Your Lawn

Aeration of lawn doesnt have a specific number of times it can be done in a year. Neither does it have a specific date.

There are only two factors that determine when and how often you can aerate your lawns:

  • The nature of the soil
  • The period.

You can aerate lawns once in a year if the nature of the soil is sandy soil. The aeration will only take place during the springtime.

For clay soil, you can aerate your lawn 2 4 times in a year. This number of times will enable the lawns to receive proper water, air, and nutrients to aid their growth.

You can also aerate your lawns during rainfall if there is no tender grass. Because aerating during spring might damage the tender grass roots.

Aerating during the spring will create enough time for the thatch to decompose overtime.

Especially when the spring is almost coming to an end. This process is mainly done to give the lawns more nutrients.

Another method of aeration is before the temperature reaches 55 degree celsius during the spring period. During this period you will be able to pull enough weed in your lawns.

If youre in the north, you can aerate your lawns during the early fall, while in the south you can aerate during the mid-spring to the early summer.

Best Professional Lawn Care Service: Trugreen

How To Dethatch and Overseed a Lawn – Greenworks Dethatcher

Choosing a professional landscaping company to handle your dethatching is a wise decision if youre looking for the best results. The service will be more costly than doing the job yourself, but youll also save time and wont have to do the hard work yourself.

TruGreen is one of the best lawn care companies for dethatching if youre looking for a professional. The technicians are well-trained, have local knowledge and experience, and can couple dethatching with a myriad of other services that can benefit your lawn greatly. TruGreen also backs its work with a customer satisfaction guarantee. The average cost of dethatching a 5,000-square-foot property with TruGreen is approximately $270, although price fluctuations can be significant between lawn sizes and different locations.

Recommended Reading: What Is Lawn Aeration Service

When Should You Dethatch Your Lawn

As previously mentioned, a small amount of thatch can be good. Be sure to check your thatch layer before you decide to dethatch. You can do this by digging up a small amount of your lawn grass and soil. Then measure your thatch. If your thatch is more than an inch, itâs time to dethatch.

However, like most lawn health initiatives, the timing must be right. You should try to dethatch your lawn around your grassâ peak growth time. When your grass is growing, it helps your lawn to recover faster from dethatching. For cool season grasses, this is going to be early spring or early fall. For warm-season grasses, itâs best to dethatch in late spring through early summer.

What Is The Best Way To Dethatch My Lawn

To dethatch your lawn, you can either do it by yourself or you contact an expert.

If you want to dethatch your lawn by yourself, just get a rake and a dethatcher to get the work done.

Get a work-glove to wear on your hands.

Use the dethatcher to get the environment ready and use the rake to gather the thatch. After the gathering, pick up the thatch to put them in the garbage bag.

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Dethatching Tools: What Youll Need

Like most lawn care tasks, there are both simple and more complex ways to go about dethatching your lawn. If you have a small propertyor are just detaching a small areamany of the manual tools below will work just fine. Power dethatchers, however, are always best for large lawns, especially if you want to save yourself some time and energy.

Lawns in need of a serious dethatching require professional care. Your local TruGreen team will have the tools and experience to remove thick thatch without damaging your existing turf.

If youre planning to tackle the project yourself, here are some important tools for the task.

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