How Much Should I Rake My Yard?

Thatch Removal

• Thatch is the layer of roots and seeds found between the grass blades and topsoil. According to the University of Colorado, more than half an inch of thatch can increase the chances of a lawn dying during periods of drought and the winter. It is important to rake a lawn when new shoots appear to remove excessive thatch.

  Avoid stressing the lawn by examining its thatch monthly. Rake each month until there is half an inch or less of thatch. Do not attempt to remove thatch buildup in one raking.

Winter Damage

• After spring sod begins growing, examine the lawn for brown patches. Look for areas exposed to winter salt runoff, high-traffic areas or sections where snow left the most damage. Rake brown areas to remove dead patches of grass. Sow new grass seed to repair these areas. Allow new grass time to emerge before raking to prevent harming healthy grass.

Snow Mold

• Patches of grass that appear brown and dead might be damaged because of snow mold and fungi, according to the University of Minnesota. Rake these areas once after freezing temperatures no longer threaten a growing zone. Promoting air circulation by raking these areas will help eliminate snow mold and allow healthy grass to reappear without using fungicides or reseeding.

Warnings

• The University of Minnesota warns to never rake grass in wet or muddy areas. Wait until the ground dries before raking to treat snow mold, remove dead patches of grass or thatch the lawn.

  Avoid raking too soon while the grass is exiting its dormancy period. Find out when the months that the sown grass seed should awaken from dormancy. Allow the grass time to sprout and grow before thatching or removing brown patches. Raking too soon can damage lawns.

Lawn Debris

• Allow fallen leaves to remain on the lawn as a layer of protection against the winter elements. On a dry day, during the last month of winter, rake the lawn for leaf removal. Grass requires exposure to the sun to awaken from the dormancy period.

  Grass clippings rob a lawn of sun exposure and trap moisture between the topsoil and grass blades. Excessive moisture can cause fungi, mold and other problems. Additionally, grass clippings reseed weeds into a lawn. Rake the lawn after each mowing to remove glass clippings and lawn debris.