Lawn Thatch Removal

Thatch Build Up

• A thick thatch layer can encourage pest infestations and fungal disease from the lack of air circulation. Also, thatch prevents fertilizers and water from absorbing into the soil. You can tell that your thatch layer is too thick by pressing a measuring stick through the grass to the soil. Moreover, gardeners can cut out a one-square-foot piece of lawn to look at the thatch. A layer that is over 1/2 an inch should be removed, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.

When to Remove Thatch

• Thatch should be removed when your grass is actively growing to prevent stress. Thatch removal causes stress, because the blades of the thatch rips through the grass blades. Gardeners who have warm season turf should remove thatch in the spring, whereas cool season turf should have its thatch removed in the fall. It is important to remove thatch before you fertilize the yard. Fertilizer will simply sit on the top of the grass rather than move down to the root system of the plant.

Preparation

• Most gardeners do not have a dethatcher. You can rent one from your local gardening supply store. Mow your lawn to half of its typical height, so that the dethatcher blades can reach the thatch. Set the dethatcher's blades to 1/2 of an inch from the ground. The blades should be 1 to 2 inches apart for warm season turf and 3 inches apart for cool season turf. Push the dethatcher back and forth across the lawn. Make sure that you evenly remove the thatch from the yard or you can cause bare or bald spots for areas of thick thatch.

Care

• Rake up the thatch debris. Wash off the dethatcher and place in the sun to dry. Refrain from drying on the lawn, because the weight of the dethatcher can press down on the soil. Apply fertilizer to the yard and seed areas where there is bare soil. Fertilizer can also provide extra nutrients for stressed out grass. It is extremely important to plant grass seed in bare areas to prevent weed seeds from germinating and popping up across the lawn.