Dethatching Service

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Video attached with permission from Ron Henry.


Why Dethatch?

Thatch can keep water and air from reaching the soil and, if left untreated, can create an environment that harbors pests and diseases. Dethatching removes those layers of dead grass, roots and debris matted between the soil and the growing grass, keeping the grass greener and healthier while minimizing the chance of disease.

WHEN TO DETHATCH A LAWN

Depending on where you live in the country:   warm-season grass, you should dethatch in the spring after the grass has begun to green.

If you are planning to overseed a lawn, you should plan to dethatch before seeding.

Source: Why Dethatch? | RYAN® Turf Renovation Equipment (ryanturf.com) 


BELOW IS INFO FROM CLEMSON HGIC WEBSITE:    Controlling Thatch in Lawns | Home & Garden Information Center (clemson.edu) 

What is Thatch?

Thatch is a dense, spongy collection of living and dead grass stems and roots lying between the soil surface and green grass leaves in established lawns. As a grass plant grows, the older sloughed-off plant matter from stolons (above-ground stems), roots, rhizomes (below-ground stems) and stems is often slow to decompose and begins to accumulate at the soil surface forming this thatch layer.

A thatch layer greater than ½ inch thick makes watering difficult, since thatch dries out quickly and is difficult to rewet. It also restricts the movement of pesticides, thus reducing their effectiveness. Nutrients and water cannot be properly absorbed by the grass roots that tend to grow into this area.

Which Lawn Grasses Tend to Produce Thatch?

Grasses differ in their tendency to produce thatch. Tall fescue and perennial ryegrass have a low tendency for producing thatch. Heavy thatch builders include hybrid bermudagrass cultivars and Kentucky bluegrass, mostly due to their vigorous growth rates. Slower growing grasses, such as zoysiagrass, produce thatch because their fibrous tissues are very slow to break down and easily accumulate on the soil surface.

How do I Prevent Thatch Accumulation?

Does my Lawn have too Much Thatch?

A shallow thatch layer up to ½ inch thick actually benefits the lawn, by helping to retain moisture and stabilizing soil temperature. Examine the depth of the thatch layer by cutting out a pie-shaped wedge of sod from your lawn with a knife or spade. If the thatch layer exceeds ½ inch in thickness, then you need to dethatch your lawn.

When Should I Dethatch my Lawn?

Remove thatch in the late summer or early fall for cool-season lawns. Dethatch warm-season grasses in the spring after green-up or in the early summer when it is growing rapidly. Avoid hot and dry periods.

Can I Dethatch my Own Lawn?

Small Areas: Small areas can be dethatched using a dethatching rake. As you pull the rake across the lawn, the sharp curved blades slide through the thatch and lift it from the lawn.

Large Areas: Large areas require power-driven dethatching equipment and know-how. You can either hire a reputable commercial lawn care company or attempt it yourself. Improper dethatching can devastate a lawn.

How do I Dethatch my Lawn?

Originally published 05/99

If this document didn’t answer your questions, please contact HGIC at hgic@clemson.edu or 1-888-656-9988.

Author(s)

Nancy Doubrava, Former HGIC Horticulture Information Specialist, Clemson University


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