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When Is It Too Late To Dethatch Your Lawn

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Dethatching Tools: A Guide

Dethatch A Lawn In Winter: Can You Do It & When It Makes Sense

Dethatching machines come in various forms. And although some lawn services and rental companies use the terms interchangeably, the machines perform dethatching by different means, with varying levels of intensity.

What they have in common are spinning metal pieces that pierce and lift the thatch from the lawn. Some employ slicers, others metal tines . Some are stand-alone, powered units, others are made to be dragged behind a tractor or riding mower.

Here are some of the most common dethatching techniques, and the power dethatchers that perform them.

Should You Pick Up Plugs After Aerating In The Northeast

Its never a good idea to rake up or throw away soil plugs created by the aeration process. These plugs contain valuable microorganisms and nutrients that they feedback to the soil as they break down. You can even put these plugs to use to benefit your yard. Allow them to crumble naturally. Theyll be gone in 26 weeks.

A Note About Scarifying Tools

Depending on the size of your lawn, you might choose to scarify manually or with a powered machine.

At the end of the day, the type of tool you use is up to. However, in my opinion, good rated lawn scarifiers are powered machines which have changeable cassettes one for raking and another for de-thatching.

Not only do they make the job easier on your back and hands, but you can do both jobs with the same machine.

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When To Dethatch A Lawn And How Often

It’s important to choose the right time of year to dethatch, depending upon the type of grass you have and your climate.

Dethatching is tough on a lawn, so do it when the lawn will have the best chance to recover. Don’t dethatch if you’re in a drought or a heat wave. Ideally, there should be about 45 days of good growing conditions after you dethatch so the grass will recover without weeds taking over. Generally, late spring and early fall are the best times, but a lot depends upon your grass and whether it grows during warm or cool weather.

Warm season grasses such as zoysia, Bermuda and buffalo shouldn’t be dethatched in March or April, when a late frost will hurt new growth. Dethatching in fall will make them weak in winter. The best time in most areas is late spring or early summer, when these grasses are growing and producing new runners. Cool season grasses such as bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass are less likely to need dethatching, but if they do, the best time tends to be early fall. Reseeding may be necessary after dethatching. Bluegrass also can be dethatched in early spring after it has begun to turn green.

Read on for more good lawn care information.

Can Dethatching Harm The Lawn

Should You Dethatch Fescue / How Often Should You Dethatch?

Mann suggests caution when dethatching your lawn. Theres the possibility of removing too much plant material at once, which would significantly increase recovery time, he warns. Also of concern is desiccation. With so many wounds, grass plants may dry out and die.

If your lawn is already compromised, dethatch with a rake or dethatching machine with rake tines. This method removes the layer of thatch without penetrating the soil beneath, so there is less chance of further damaging your grass.

Otherwise, opt for a dethatching machine with thin blades that cut through the thick layer of thatch into the soil. Scarifiers are much more effective in removing thatch, but also more aggressive and only recommended if your lawn is in good health.

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How To Prevent Thatch Buildup

1. Use slow release fertilizers. Slow release fertilizers dont cause rapid growth of vegetation which can cause thatch problems. A lot of slow release fertilizers are created from organic material that help build soil structure and promote microbial activity. Check out some of these recommended fertilizers here: Lawn Program for Extra Green Grass

2. Cut your lawn frequently, and/or bag your clippings. This will decrease the amount of organic matter your lawns soil has to break down.

3. Core Aerate. Core aeration has many benefits and is great to add to your lawn care program. If you cant do it every year then every other year is still a big help.

4. Irrigate deeply, and less frequently. If you have an irrigation system then set a watering schedule that focuses on less watering days, but for a longer watering duration. Deep watering causes roots to grow deep. Frequent, shallow watering causes a shallow root system and is more likely to cause thatch problems.

5. Apply liquid aeration. Liquid aeration is a great substitute if you dont want to go through the labor of core aeration. Air 8 is a great choice for liquid aeration. Liquid aeration creates little pores in your soil and allow in air and nutrients.

6. Increase microbial activity with bio stimulants. Spraying bio stimulants over your lawn has so many benefits and is one of the best ways to improve soil structure.

What To Do After Dethatching

The removed thatch should be immediately cleaned up and properly disposed of. To remove the thatch, you can either rake it off by hand or use a rotary lawn mower equipped with a catcher.

Leave the thatch off the ground because it will cover the grass and prevent it from growing. Regardless of the technique used, after dethatching, feed and water the lawn. Topdressing and reseeding may also be necessary if more aggressive dethatching is performed.

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Dethatching Encourages Root Growth

As thatch builds up, the roots of new grass plants grow within the thatch layer, rather than in the soil. So your grass will have weak, shallow roots, not the deep healthy roots it needs to grow lush and green.

Dethatching helps roots grow deeper, and gets air to your turfs roots, encouraging growth.

When To Dethatch The Lawn

Dethatching Your Lawn

Generally, lawns prone to thatch buildup should be dethatched once a year.

Dethatching is typically done when the lawn is growing and able to repair and recover, and when weather conditions are conducive to survival , Mann says. In most growing regions of the U.S., this means the spring or fall, when warm temperatures and ample precipitation promote rapid and hearty grass growth.

Try to avoid times of year when we would expect weed seed germination since the process of dethatching brings seeds to the surface, adds Mann. This means early spring or the end of September for central latitudes. The season varies for coastal areas and far northern or southern regions.

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How When And Why To Dethatch Your Lawn

Every lawn is unique, and ensuring that yours is prepared for a long and healthy life means proactively managing issues as they arise. Knowing when your lawn is in need of a dethatching and having the understanding of how to do it properly will keep your lawn beautiful and strong for years into the future.

In this article were going to explore how, when, and why to dethatch your lawn, as well as cover some of the most important questions that will arise throughout the process.

How To Dethatch A Lawn

  • Dethatch with moist soil but not wet. The Virginia Extension recommends watering thoroughly two days before you plan to bring out the big guns.
  • Run the dethatching machine three times at least, Callahan says, and in different directions each time.
  • The machine should churn up roughly the same volume of material each pass, he says.
  • Remove the piles of thatch right after dethatching.
  • Seed the lawn. The time is right to get some fresh seed and new turfgrass into your lawn, Callahan says.
  • Consider topdressing. It can give the existing root system a boost. Topdressing can also be a form of weed control, filling those gaps before weeds have a chance to take hold.
  • Wait a month. Then you should see some results, Callahan says.

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Overseed Any Bare Spots

As youve probably realized by now, dethatching puts your grass through quite a bit of trauma. We are essentially cutting the grass by ripping it up from the inside out. Knowing when to dethatch lawn wont always save you from bare sports so dont be afraid if some show up.

The healthy grass underneath the thatch will bounce back quickly if you water it and feed it.

To make sure youre not left with any patches of dirt in the middle of your lawn, make sure you have a bag of seed at the ready to spread some seed onto the bare patch.

You will want to make sure this seed is the same type as the rest of your lawn. With a sprinkle of seed, and some care and attention, the patch will become invisible within a couple of weeks.

Bare spots are another reason why we want to dethatch at the peak of the grasss growing ability and why the timing of your dethatching is so important.

Dethatch too early in the season when your grass is emerging out of dormancy and your grass will take a long time to grow back. You might even find bare patches do not recover until late summer.

So, take care to find out when the best time to dethatch your lawn is and make sure you overseed any struggling areas of grass.

Bring New Life To Your Yard

Collins Lawn and Maintenance

Aeration creates the ideal spacing and perfect conditions in your yard for grass seeds to grow and thrive. Since you are planting new grass seeds, it will require all of the available oxygen, water, fertilizer, and nutrients to suffocate invasive weeds. When done right, aerating and overseeding will give your yard a brand-new look.

For more information on how to do aeration and overseeding in the right way, contact us today!

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Power Equipment For Dethatching

A dethatching machine has blades that cut through and remove thatch to the soil surface. Those with knives or blades are preferred over those that use rake-like tines. Rent a dethatcher from a big-box store or equipment rental company. Theyre heavy, so youll need a truck and a friend or two to lend a hand.

Follow the manufacturers instructions for using the dethatcher. Make sure the lawn is slightly moist, but not wet. Rock-hard soil is difficult to penetrate. Go over your lawn once, like your mowing. If theres a lot of thatch, you may need to make another pass in the opposite direction to remove it all.

Youre going to have a lot of material to rake and remove. Depending on the size of your yard and the amount of thatch, it could be a SIGNIFICANT amount. You can add the debris to your compost pile or use it as mulch around trees and shrubs ONLY if it has not been treated with an herbicide. Itll add organic matter to the soil as it breaks down. After raking, thoroughly water the lawn. Avoid a lot of traffic on the lawn, over- or under-watering, and chemical applications until normal growth has resumed.

Prepare yourself. Your lawn is going to look, well terrible, awful, ratty, or ragged for several weeks after dethatching. If it does, you did it correctly!

What Is The Best Dethatching Tool For Lawn Health

There are various dethatching tools in the market, but you need to be careful when selecting them. This is because the tool you choose will determine the health and quality of your grass. The following are a few best dethatching tools you can use for your lawn.

  • Budget pick Lawnstar natural liquid lawn dethatcher
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    How Do I Dethatch My Lawn

    There are several ways to dethatch a lawn. For lawns with moderate levels of thatch, aerating may do the trick. Or use a cavex rake which has unusual semicircular tines. Those knifelike blades cut through the sod and pull out thatch. For large lawns with serious thatch problems, the most effective solution is a vertical mower . Resembling a heavy-duty power mower but with a series of spinning vertical knives, it cuts through thatch.

    Dethatching often creates a large volume of debris that must be removed. If the debris is weed-free and you have not used herbicides or pesticides on your lawn, compost it. Or check to see if your city has a composting program for yard waste.

    When Is The Right Time To Dethatch

    Do Not Dethatch Your Lawn

    Dethatching causes a lot of damage to your grass and should be done at a time when the grass is growing so it can fix the damage before the next dormant period.

    Warm-season grass can be dethatched in late spring or early summer after it starts to grow. It is best not to do it in the middle or late of summer.

    Cool season grasses should be done in early fall since this is the time when grass grows the best.

    Dethatching in fall results in fewer weed problems.

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    What Month Should I Dethatch My Lawn

    Dethatching is best at the peak of your lawns growing season. Cool-season grass species or turfgrasses like tall fescue, bluegrass, and ryegrass should be dethatched in the late summer or early fall. Warm-season grass species like bermuda grass and bahiagrass should be dethatched in the late spring or early summer.

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    How Much Does Dethatching Cost

    Typically, dethatching costs approximately $180 and $250. On the low end, you can pay approximately $100 while the high-end cost can go up to $700. If you need other lawn care services such as mowing or aerating, the overall price can go up. For instance, you can pay about $400 to $500 for hydroseeding.

    The size of your yard and your region also affects the overall cost of dethatching. For instance, a large size yard will be costlier to dethatch than a smaller size. More so, price varies from region to region.

    Before you hire a dethatching service, you should do some research to determine the average cost. Also, you will be able to find a dethatching service you can afford.

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    How Often Should You Dethatch Your Lawn

    As a general rule, you should only dethatch your lawn once it has developed a thatch layer that is over 1/2 an inch thick. Therefore, measuring the thickness of your lawns thatch layer is the surest way to know whether your lawn needs dethatching or not.

    But if you are looking for an easy way to know when to dethatch that doesnt include having to measure thatch,

    How often you should dethatch mainly depends on the type of grass that you plant on your lawn.

    It Sometimes Depends On Lawn Care Practices

    Lewiscapes

    It can also depend on how well you take care of your lawn.

    Poor lawn care practices can encourage thatch to develop at a faster rate. As a result, you may find yourself having to dethatch your lawn way more frequently than you should.

    Some of the things that can lead to accelerated thatch growth include:

    • Watering. While providing your lawn with ample water is key to having a healthy lawn, overdoing it will cause problems. One of the most common ones is the rapid development of the thatch layer.
    • Soil type. Clay soils are notorious for encouraging fast thatch growth. Acidic and sandy soils also fall in the same category. And so if you install your lawn on these soil types, or if due to bad lawn practices your soil ends up being acidic, then you are likely to need to dethatch your lawn way more often than normal.
    • Fertilization. When you provide too much fertilizer, you encourage faster root growth. At the same time, you discourage deeper root growth as all the nutrients that the grass needs will be on the surface level. This will then accelerate the rate at which the thatch layer develops.

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    Can I Overseed In Late Fall

    Dormant seeding is the collective term for overseeding lawns in late fall and winter, when soil temperatures are too cold to allow grass seed to germinate. In the mid-west, the opportunity for dormant seeding is best from mid-November through early March, while soil temperatures remain below 50 degrees.

    Is It Better To Dethatch Or Aerate

    Dethatching and aerating can both help keep a lawn healthy, but they do so in different ways. Dethatching needs to be carried out when the layer of thatch becomes too thick. A lawn that needs dethatching will feel very bouncy, but its best to dig down and remove a small section of grass and soil so you can measure the thatch layer before deciding to go ahead.

    A lawn needs aerating, on the other hand, when the soil has become compacted. You may find thin or bare patches in the lawn, or the grass may be growing poorly. Gardening expert and writer Monty Don recommends doing so in September. Even if your lawn has come through this summer unscathed, it is always a good idea to aerate it at this time of year, he says on his site .

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    Is It Too Late To Dethatch My Lawn

    I am just now finding out that I should probably dethatch and seed my lawn. I moved into the house in the middle of summer and not much lawn care was done by the previous owner, so there is some thatch in the lawn.

    Now it is early October and, I live in Kansas City. I just read this SE post that says around Labor Day is the ideal time to dethatch cool season lawns. My neighbors have all dethatched their lawns in the last month or so.

    Is it too late for me to do it now if I can get it done by mid October?

    Along with dethatching usually comes overseeding. The seeding is the important thing to time. Its a good time to put down more grass seed to fill in bare/thin spots now that youve opened up the soil. Ideally you want the soil temperature to be above 65 degF for cool season grasses.

    Its going to depend on what type of grass you currently have and what type of grass seed you plan on putting down.

    Perennial ryegrass is one of the quickest to establish.

    Tall fescues and fine fescues are a little slower but fairly quick. 1-2 weeks youll have full germination and the lawn will be pretty well established for winter in about 4 weeks total.

    Kentucky bluegrass takes longer to fully germinate. Up to 4 weeks and then needs time to establish as well.

    If your in Kansas City, KS it looks like you should have enough time to get perennial rye or fescue to establish before winter if you put it down soon. see

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