Monday, March 25, 2024
HomePopularWhen Is The Best Time To Dethatch Your Lawn

When Is The Best Time To Dethatch Your Lawn

- Advertisment -

The Best Time To Dethatch

DON’T DETHATCH Your LAWN Before Watching – Your Questions Answered

The period of active growth and warming temperatures of spring are ideal for dethatching, but exactly when in spring depends on the type of turf you have.

Both warm-season and cold-season turf types should be dethatched after they are actively growing. A general rule of thumb is to wait until they have been mowed a couple of times. For warm-season turf, this typically happens in late spring to early summer. For cold-season turf, the right time is usually early spring. Cold-season grasses can also be de-thatched in early fall while the grass is still growing, as it needs time to re-establish before the frost season.

Common warm-season grasses include Zoysia, St. Augustine, Bermuda, Bahia and Centipede. Common cold-season grasses include Kentucky bluegrass, rough bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass.

Tools For Dethatching A Lawn

It goes without saying that to dethatch your lawn properly, you need lawn care tools designed for the job. There are a number of tools at your disposal, from vertical mowers to power rakes to manual rakes.

Obviously, some of these are very specialized, so things such as vertical mowers could either be rented, or the work carried out by a specialist lawn care company who offer lawn dethatching as a service.

As they do a large volume of this type of work, theyll have things like a vertical mower and power dethatchers to hand. Plus, they dethatch lawns for a living, so theyll likely do a much better job than you will! They would also be happy to aerate your yard at the same time, no doubt. That leaves you with just having to fertilize your lawn, and regular mowing to worry about.

When To Dethatch The 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.

Recommended Reading: Lowes Plug Aerator

Why Is Dethatching Important

When thatch forms, it should act as a permeable barrier between the outside elements and the grassroots. When it becomes too thick, you end up with a whole list of problems, including dead patches throughout your lawn.

For one, overgrown thatch throws off your balance of moisture in your lawn. Too much water can attract pests, encourage mold growth, and lead to erosion.

Dethatching is also critical for annual maintenance steps for your lawn, such as fertilization and overseeding. By opening up the earth to the nutrients it needs, it is easier to get ahead of larger issues by accessing and remedying the soil.

How To Tell If Your Lawn Needs Dethatching

Should Lawns Be Dethatched : When Is The Best Time To ...

There are three ways to tell if your lawn needs dethatching 1. By touch – if your lawn is extremely bouncy underfoot then you are likely to have a thick layer of thatch on your lawn.2. By sight – you should be able to see the soil between the grass blades. If you cant, and you cannot poke your finger through the grass to see the soil you are likely to have a thick layer of thatch.3. Measurement a simple way to tell the level of thatch on your lawn is to dig up a small section of the lawn using a trowel about 3 inches thick. Look at the turf sample and look for the layer of thatch that is sitting on top of the grass / soil. If its 1.5cm or greater it is time to dethatch your lawn. .

Read Also: Getting Rid Of Wild Violets

When And How Often To Aerate Your Lawn

This depends on your type of soil. If your lawn is growing on sandy soil, youll only need to aerate it once a year during springtime. If you have clay soil, you can aerate your lawn 2-3 times per year.

Aerate during fall to give the thatch plugs enough time to decompose over the winter period, leaving behind all the nutrients for better growth come spring.

You can also aerate the ground just before your lawn soil temperature reaches 55 F in the spring. This will make it easier to put down a good weed pre-emergent to help control weeds such as crabgrass in your lawn.

Does Frequency Factor In

If your lawn tends to produce a ton of thatch, it might be best to undergo this process annually to keep it at bay. Otherwise, check in every other year.

Don’t spin in circles wondering, “When is the best time to dethatch my lawn?” Contact our team at Evergreen Turf, and speak to one of our specialists to make sure you’re doing best by your lawn!

Recommended Reading: Too Much Peat Moss On Lawn

When Is The Best Time To Dethatch Your Lawn

You know all the benefits of dethatching your lawn:

You remove the dead layer of grass roots found between the grass and topsoil layer hence allowing the healthy grass blades to flourish.

Dethatching also loosens the top layer of the soil, allowing air and moisture to penetrate deeper into the roots of your lawn.

Armed with this information, the issue is not whether you should dethatch your lawn, the question is, when is the best time to dethatch your lawn?

Is It Better To Dethatch Or Aerate

How to De-Thatch a Lawn | This Old House

Dethatching and aerating seem to do the same thing, but theres time for each. So should you dethatch or aerate? Core aerating not only breaks up thatch buildup but also relieves compacted soil.

Dethatching mostly loosens the top layer of soil and also removes the layer of debris from the soil. Dethatching can really help when overseeding your lawn.

You May Like: Average Cost To Aerate And Seed Lawn

What Is The Best Time To Dethatch Your Lawn

Youll first need to determine the thickness of your lawns thatch. Measure the layer by digging up a small wedge of grass and soil. If its more than an inch, discolored and weak, thats a confirmation that its time to dethatch.

The best time of the year for dethatching is during the growing season, to speed up your lawns recovery. For warm-season grass like Bermudagrass, dethatch in late spring or early summer. Dethatch cool-season grass such as Kentucky Bluegrass in late summer or early fall

Common Causes Of Thatch

If your lawn has an unruly, excessive layer of thatch, it usually comes from a few things.

  • First, a lack of earthworms in the lawns soil. As the worms burrow, they boost the oxygen in the soil and promote the breakdown of organic material.
  • Too much acidity is a second common cause, according to the University of Kentucky Extension Service. Microorganisms healthy to your lawn do their best work in a neutral pH range, between 6.0 and 8.0. Adding lime is a common solution to acidity problems.
  • The third is too much fertilization. Applying high rates of nitrogen year in and year out lead to excessive growth that natural breakdown cant keep up with. Some nitrogen sources can even increase soil acidity and lead your lawn back to the second common problem.
  • Poor aeration. Grass roots need space to grow, and a highly compacted soil prevents the roots from reaching down deeply.
  • Kentucky bluegrass is the last common cause. It grows underground stems that take longer to break down.

    Once the layer builds up to between one-half and one inch, it stops being helpful and starts to cause a number of problems.

    Too much thatch can reduce fertilizer or pesticide effectiveness and give fertile ground to insects or diseases.

    Your grass can also eventually start to spread its roots through the thatch instead of the soil. Thatch wont hold water well, leaving that grass vulnerable to cold, heat and drought stress.

    Also Check: Murray Lawn Mower Parts

    Does The Type Of Grass Affect The Time You Should Dethatch

    In one word: Yes! Different types of grass require very different approaches in terms of care and maintenance.

    • Warm Season Grass. In parts of the country where winters are frigid, you would want to avoid dethatching warm season grasses in March or April because spring frosts will likely impede growth and cause damage. In Arizona, however, this can be the best time to detatch your lawn if you have warm season grass. You’re looking for a time when the night time air temperatures are averaging 60 degrees or more, and your grass has started to produce new growth.
    • Cool Season Grass. Cool season grasses tend to be lower maintenance and often require less thatching. Generally speaking, early fall tends to be the best time to detatch cool season grasses if it does become necessary.

    Dethatching As Part Of Lawn Care

    How to Properly Dethatch a Lawn With a Mower Attachment ...

    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.

    Don’t Miss: Diy Hydroseed Mix

    Should I Aerate Or Dethatch My Lawn First

    Both aerating and dethatching are important practices when it comes to proper lawn care. It helps with root penetration and easy flow of air, water, and nutrients in the core for better root growth. So, should you aerate or dethatch?

    If your soil is healthy with enough microbial activity, you may only need to dethatch once a season and probably aerate once or twice a year depending on the type of soil you have.

    If youre growing grass in sandy soil, youll need to aerate just once per season, but if it is clay soil, twice a season may be the best option for you.

    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.

    Also Check: Cost Of Getting Lawn Mowed

    Determine If The Lawn Needs Dethatching

    If water runs off without penetrating the grass, then it may be time to dethatch the lawn. Thatch is a thin layer of organic debris that forms between the leaf blades and roots. Examine your grass for an underlying layer of thatch. It will look like a matting of old, grayish-brown grass stems that have grown together.

    A thin layer of thatch provides insulation against temperature extremes and fluctuations in soil moisture. However, if your lawn has more than one inch layer of thatch above the soil surface, the lawn needs to be dethatched.

    Primary causes of thatch are over watering, over fertilizing and mowing too high. To help prevent thatch from forming, use a mulching mower.

    How To Use A Dethatching Rake To Pull Out Thatch

    The Scotts Way: Lawn Dethatching 101

    Often referred to as a thatching rake, a walk behind power dethatcher is not the same as a leaf/lawn rake.

    A dethatching rake is quite substantial and features sharp teeth on both sides of its head that can dig in between the grass blades, whereas the leaf rake, or dead grass rake has tines that fan out in a triangle on one side and is lightweight so that it can be passed over the surface of the grass to gather leaves or grass cuttings without digging into the turf and disturbing the roots.

    It is used by pulling it through the grass towards you to pull up the thatch, then pushing it away from you to remove the thatch from the blades, ready for the next pull.

    Read Also: How To Control Wild Violets In Lawn

    Apply The Right Amount Of Fertilizer

    Part of the reason you have a lot of thatch is you have a lot of grass growing on your lawn.

    To cut this, apply only enough fertilizer to maintain your lawns desired growth and color.

    To tell the amount and type of fertilizer you need to apply, have your soil tested in your local laboratory.

    In addition to applying the right fertilizer, you also should apply the fertilizer at the right time.

    For example, its wise you apply it in fall instead of spring as fall fertilization has resulted in less rapid grass growth.

    What Is Lawn Aeration

    People need air to live. In the same manner, plants, including grass, need air. The soil is the same.

    Thats why you need to do lawn aeration. Its the process of poking holes into the lawn and down to the soil to pave the way for the air to circulate within.

    Also

    This process would break up thatch, which is an extra layer of organic debris, dead and alive, that bunched up. It is composed of shoots, stems, and roots that are developing between the grass and the soil.

    Thatch is not automatically bad. It becomes a lawn menace when there is major build-up.

    You see

    A thin layer of thatch protects the lawn and the grass roots from extreme temperatures.

    A thick layer, on the other hand, will cover the roots and parts of the lawn from enjoying the vitamins from the sun. It can also hold extra water that would possibly block oxygen from penetrating the roots.

    Or worse

    The thatch could take in some organisms and pests that carry diseases.

    When you do aeration, you are basically breaking up the thatch since you will be poking holes into it.

    Even better

    You could do lawn aeration as a means of prevention. By doing so, you are not giving thatch a chance to develop.

    The process will also break up compacted soil, which is when soil has become too dense that water and nutrients couldnt penetrate anymore.

    This is not ideal

    When soil is compacted, the roots will not be nourished with oxygen, water, and other nutrients.

    There are two basic types of lawn aeration:

    • Spiking
    • Core aeration

    Don’t Miss: Best All-wheel Drive Push Mower

    How Do I Dethatch My Lawn

    Thatch rakes or convex rakes are readily available, but they require manual pulling through your lawn. If you are up for a little bit of a workout and/or have a smaller size lawn, these can be a great option. They are very effective.

    Power rakes are also effective and involve a little less manual labor. Power rakes can be rented at most local home improvement stores. Be sure to note your particular grass variety when renting the rake, however, so you do not damage your lawn.

    If you have a riding mower, you can also purchase a variety of dethatching attachments that you simply drag behind the mower.

    Should Lawn Be Wet Before Dethatching

    Fall is the best time to dethatch your lawn

    Dethatch when soil is moist, not dry. If soil is too wet, a dethatch may yank turf out by the roots, creating large bare spots. It’s best to dethatch during cooler weather. Mow the lawn to half its normal height right before dethatching.

    If you still have questions like the ones below, please contact us for answers:

    pros and cons of dethatching lawn

    best time to aerate and overseed lawn

    best time to aerate lawn

    how often to dethatch lawn

    dethatch or aerate first

    can dethatching hurt your lawn

    best dethatcher

    Read Also: Kill Wild Violets In Lawn

    When Is The Best Time To Dethatch Your Lawn In Wisconsin

    The ideal time to dethatch your lawn in Wisconsin is late summer or early fall.

    At this time, the temperatures are still warm, and the air is cool, promoting better grass growth.

    Warm-season weeds are also less likely to be active at this time, giving your grass time to establish itself before the winter temperatures set in and stop its growth.

    Best Time To Dethatch Lawn

    Last Updated on December 2, 2021 by Grow with Bovees

    Have you noticed a buildup of excessive roots, dead grass stems and organic matter in your lawn?

    Thats thatch a cross-section of soil, and grass roots that may be invisible to the naked eye, especially if youre looking at your lawn from a standing height.

    In fact, many lawn owners have no idea when to dethatch their lawn, or even what thatch is and how it may affect the overall health of their grass.

    Removing this tightly interwoven layer of dead and living plant matter is not a necessity, but is highly recommended if you want to rejuvenate your lawn and let your grass breathe.

    Contents of This Page

  • 10 Final Thoughts
  • Also Check: How To Kill Wild Violets

    RELATED ARTICLES
    - Advertisment -

    Popular Articles

    What Is Rgs For Lawns

    - Advertisment -