Lawn Thatch How-To

What is lawn thatch?

Thatch is a dense layer of decaying plant matter that accumulates at the surface of the soil.  A small layer of thatch is acceptable because it helps retain moisture and prevent soil compaction.  But when thatch becomes too thick it prevents fertilizer and water from reaching the roots of the grass making them weak.  This build-up of decomposing matter causes your lawn to be more prone to diseases, weeds, thinning, and less tolerant to harsh weather conditions.

How do I check for lawn thatch?

Checking your lawn for thatch is easy.  Cut out a section of your lawn and measure the thatch build-up near the top.  The recommended amount of thatch, which is healthy for your grass, is between 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch.

How do I prevent thatch?

Do not apply too much quick release nitrogen fertilizer and do not water your lawn lightly and frequently.  Both of these lawn care practices allow your lawn to grow excessively fast and causes more thatch build-up.  Watering your grass lightly and frequently causes the grass to root near the surface in the thatch.  If you water deeply but infrequently this allows the grass roots to grow deeper into the soil allowing a healthier and stronger root system for your lawn.  Using Greenview Fairway Formula Fertilizers can also help you prevent lawn thatch!

Also a common myth to thatch build-up is from grass clippings left on the lawn after mowing.  This, however, is totally untrue.  These clippings add nutrients to the soil and decompose quickly, so you wont have to go the extra mile to bag them up.

How do I de-thatch my lawn?

The time to de-thatch is before the grass's prime growing season, usually during spring or in early fall.  Manually de-thatching your lawn is the process of raking through the lawn, which can be rather time consuming, but it is less stressing on your lawn than using a power de-thatcher.  Manual de-thatching is suggested for small to medium size lawns with about an inch of thatch.  For larger lawns or if you have a greater amount of thatch, you can rent a power de-thatcher of hire someone to do it for you.  This process may cause your lawn to look rather messy, but it will recover in no time with the growing season right ahead.  Lastly, always make sure that you rake up all debris and thatch when you are finished.