Thatch Removal - Dethatching

If you have a lawn that is too large to use a stiff tined rake for thatch removal there are other methods that are a bit easier and will accomplish the task with relative ease. Special blades are made for lawnmowers that can be purchased at your local hardware store. Essentially there are tines on the blades that extend from the lawn mowing blade vertically so they reach the ground. You then simple push your mower as if you were mowing the grass. It is recommended that you try this first in an area farthest away from view to experiment with getting the lawn mower height adjustment correct as well as the RPM on the mower that works best to remove the thatch and not remove excessive amounts of healthy grass. Rotary lawnmower dethatching blades normally cost around $25-35 dollars and will last a lifetime unless they are subjected to abuse.

Do not begin to remove thatch if the soil is wet. Wait until it is relatively dry to avoid pulling up the grass you are nurturing.

It is recommended that you cut your lawn to about half of its normal height before using your rotary mower with a dethatching blade. You can also use a mower that is specifically designed to remove thatch. These are normally available at local rental centers. In every case, one should be aware that this method will temporarily scar your lawn. If you have an abnormal amount of thatch, such as more than an inch, it is recommended that you not attempt to remove all the thatch at one time. Instead remove the thatch by mowing in one direction and then mow perpendicular the next time and remove the thatch in two layers. This will avoid doing permanent harm to your lawn Don’t be worried. It will look bad temporarily, but will recover rapidly. New shoots will begin to grow after the ground is opened up to enable this new growth. This might also be the ideal time to over seed or top dress your lawn. Removing thatch is normally not an annual event and should only be necessary every 3-5 years or perhaps longer. If you are noting a build-up of thatch sooner than that, you should consider bagging your clippings occasionally or check to see that your mulching lawn mower blade is working properly.

You will note that the thatch that is removed will accumulate on you lawn and it needs to be raked and placed in a mulch pile to insure it doesn’t infiltrate back into your lawn again.

What is Lawn Thatch?

Spring arrives in just a few days and it’s time to take a look at the lawn and see what’s necessary to make sure it will be that carpet of luxury we all want. One of the things that can spell disaster to a lawn is the accumulation of heavy thatch. Thatch is organic matter like leaves and grass clippings that have not fully decayed. While it’s good to let mulched grass clippings remain on the lawn to add organic matter, sometimes all the clippings or the mulched leaves from fall don’t break down and a build-up of thatch occurs.

Thatch prevents moisture, air and even fertilizer from reaching the grass roots and will cause the grass to become weak and subject it to pests or diseases as the growing season progresses . Springtime is the best time to take a look. Call it your grasses annual exam. Simply bend over and become one with your grass. Part the blades and examine below them to determine how thick the thatch might be. If it’s over a ½ inch you could have a problem. If it’s greater than a one inch, you need to take immediate action. However, there is a relatively simple cure – remove it.

If you don’t have a large lawn, you can use a stiff tined rake and give your lawn a vigorous combing. It will take a bit of effort, but your grass will be appreciative and will reward you with vigorous growth. Make sure that while you are removing the thatch, you are not pulling up too much grass. It’s almost impossible to completely eliminate some grass from being pulled out, but you want to make sure it is minimal. The thatch you have pulled up will be partially decayed organic matter, so it is a good idea to add it to your mulch pile. If you don’t have a mulch pile this could be the start.

You should be able to see the bare ground after thatch removal and your lawn may look a bit ragged after you complete the task, but you have provided a great opportunity for new shoots to develop and will see the results of your efforts in a week or two. Additionally you have made it possible for the grass to obtain the water, fertilizer and air that it needs to thrive. Removing the thatch will insure a healthy lawn throughout the growing season.