Understanding Thatch and Why To De-thatch



Posted: Thursday, December 29, 2005

by
Online Discount Mart Home & Garden Decor

In order to properly understand why you should have your lawn de-thatched, it is important to understand what thatch consists of, and the effects it can have on your lawn. Thatch is a layer on your lawn that consists of dead and living: Thatch is located between the green blades of grass and the surface of your lawn soil. If the layer of thatch is thin, usually less than 1/2 of an inch thick, it can actually be good for your lawn. A thin layer of thatch can help: On the other hand, if the thatch in your yard is thick, it can prevent the proper flow of air, water, and nutrients into your yard soil. This can cause the reduction of root growth of your grass. Excess thatch can also cause fungi growth in your lawn, and increase the chances of lawn mushrooms.

When the thatch in your lawn becomes more than 1/2 an inch thick, it is generally time to de-thatch your yard. De-thatching is the removal of thatch from a yard by mechanical means. Raking leaves in the fall, and raking excess grass clippings can help reduce thatch.

The best times to de-thatch your lawn is when your grass is still growing, and can quickly recover from the de-thatching process. It is recommended to de-thatch your yard in mid to late spring, before fertilization, then in late fall, after aeration, and before your grass goes dormant for the year. They type of turf grass you have in your yard will also factor into how often you will need to have your yard de-thatched. For example, grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass tend to produce more thatch, thus the need to de-thatch more often. However, grasses such as Perennial Ryegrass do not produce much thatch, and would require de-thatching less frequently.

Some tips to help reduce the amount of thatch in your yard include: While thatch is a common part of almost every healthy lawn, when thatch becomes too thick, de-thatching is necessary to maintain the health and beauty of your yard. De-thatching is a process where excess thatch is removed from your yard by mechanical means.

For more lawn care tips, please check us out at Online Discount Mart.
Lorien1973 writes articles about home decor and garden decor for such sites as Online Discount Mart.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Anonymous from seattle wa 3 years 279 days ago.
I would have liked an explaination as to how you determine how much thatch is on the lawn. I don't know how you can tell based on the article
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