The Best Time to Thatch a Yard
A yard’s thatch is a layer of dead and living roots, stems and other plant parts which naturally forms within the turf. Thick thatch can block air and moisture from reaching grass roots and makes scalping more likely during mowing. Dethatching, occasionally also known as vertical mowing, breaks this problematic thatch layer. The frequency and timing of dethatching varies, depending on the grass type and certain facets of your lawn care regimen.
Realizing Thick Thatch
Turf areas mightn’t require annual dethatching — identifying the symptoms associated with excessive thatch will help you determine if or when dethatching is needed. Lawns with a great deal of thatch feel springy, may have small dry patches and are prone to scalping or anxiety injury. The thatch layer can also be rather easily measured, which means you may determine with certainty whether the lawn has a thatch layer which is too thick. To check the thatch, dig a small section of turf and soil and measure the brown thatch layer between the ground surface and the base of the green grass blades. A thatch layer over 1/2 inch thick may negatively impact turf health and warrants splitting up and removal.
Seasonal Timing
It’s best to dethatch if the grass is actively growing and hence able to recover fast. Both warm- and cool-season grasses may recover well from dethatching in mid- to late spring or early summer. Cool-season grasses may also handle dethatching in early autumn. As a general rule, dethatch when at least 45 more days of favorable grass-growing conditions are anticipated. If possible, grass ought to be dethatched before bud seeds begin to germinate.
Dethatching and Other Jobs
Your regular or yearly lawn maintenance regimen may consist of dethatching along with different tasks, like aerification and pre-emergent herbicide program to prevent weed seed germination. The lawn will gain the best benefits if you dethatch first and follow it with aerification and herbicide program. Reseeding and light fertilization, if needed, should be done last.
Slowing Thatch Buildup
Adjusting lawn maintenance practices can reduce or remove the demand for dethatching. Excessive fertilization, shallow and frequent irrigation, and improper mowing height or frequency all support rapid thatch buildup and should be avoided. The grass species also influences thatch buildup. Spreading grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass or bentgrass generally require annual dethatching, while tall fescue or perennial ryegrass lawns require dethatching less often.