Dethatching your lawn improves its overall health. Be sure not to over-water to the point that the . As a general rule of thumb, remove no more . LawnPro D-Thatch is the safer, more natural option. Therefore, when removed, evaporation begins to occur . Vertical mowers, sometimes called power rakes, chop down through the thatch layer and lift it to the top of the lawn. Benefits. What is Lawn Thatch? Lawn thatch is a fibrous layer of predominantly dead and some living grass roots, stems and runners. Use it as compost. Step 6 - After Care After you've removed the thatch from your lawn, it's prime time to fertilize. This is a lighter, less invasive option than scarifying. Dethatching disrupts your yard's soil's ideal pH and nitrogen level, potentially damaging its overall health. Mow the dethatched area to a grass height of 1 inch (2.5 cm). I'm not sure I'd have enough time for the lawn to recover after dethatching this . Common Causes of Thatch. But there is a difference between aerating your lawn and . Creating perfect lawns- From Lawn treatments to lawn Aeration to complete lawn installation. Soil isn't mass-produced with absolute similarities. After aerating, overseed and fertilize with Milorganite®. What you're looking for is a thatch layer that's thicker than 1/2- to 3/4-inch, which means it's time to dethatch. The best time to dethatch your whole lawn is in late summer/early autumn when the grass is actively growing. In this video I'll be showing you how to dethatch and overseed a lawn using the Greenworks Dethatcher. Cut out a square of soil from several areas of your lawn to a depth of about 3 inches and measure the brown layer of material between the soil surface and the grass blades. I scarified and raked the my lawn about 4 weeks ago and expected the lawn to look bad for a while but it still looks pretty bad. This allows water, air and nutrients to reach the grass roots. You should be able to see some soil through the grass blades. The Sun Joe AJ 801E Dethatcher allows you to keep your lawn in optimal condition all year round. This is my second project with this Greenworks Dethat. Removes moss and thatching. The Benefits Of Scarifying Your Lawn. An excessive thatch layer can also act as a dry sponge, in fact repelling water during the drier summer months. If your lawn has an unruly, excessive layer of thatch, it usually comes from a few things. The scarification process is meant to be quite rough, to ensure that you get rid of as much thatch, moss, and other debris as possible. Another test is to walk across the lawn: If it feels spongy, it may be due to thatch. This will cause too much damage. We recommend that you water each day for at least 20 minutes in all areas of the lawn (water the soil to a depth of about 1/4"). If you have more than that, you may have to take steps to control it. Thatch is a layer of living and non-living plant material that forms between the grass plant and the soil as the turf grows. Warm climate grasses such as zoysia, Bermuda and buffalo produce thatch faster and may need to be dethatched more often. If your lawn has an unruly, excessive layer of thatch, it usually comes from a few things. The brown spots may be dormant or dead but heartily rooted grass. If thatch is greater than a half inch, consider aeration or dethatching. Stimulates fresh grass to grow. When to Dethatch Your Lawn Always check your lawn's thatch layer before dethatching. If the thatch build-up is caused by compacted soil, then both dethatching . There are many benefits to scarifying your lawn and they are vital if you want to grow healthy lush green grass some of them are: Gives nutrients access to the root system. Lawn still looks terrible after scarifying. Allows for better nutrient uptake. 320.292.3982. 4.8/5 (3,126 Views . Premium Pick: ApolloSmart 2-in-1 Dethatcher and Scarifier. It is in full sun snd southern exposure. Combining the techniques of aeration, where we poke small holes throughout the lawn, dethatching to remove old grass, and fertilizing the lawn, ABQ Lawn Care can bring back even the most damaged lawns within one season. When the seed is spread all over the lawn the plan is to add a fresh layer of topsoil this should be a thin layer, only about half an inch deep so that the grass is still sticking out above it. Inked the grass every 7-9 days, keep it at least 3" high except in warmer months then I go 4" just to make it all look uniform. After the thatch is pulled to the surface, it can be bagged up or turned into compost. Unless the layer of "thatch" is more than 1/2" (which is doubtful) I would not concern myself with thatching. Step 2: Preparation. Using a dethatching rake is similar to using a regular rake. Rake up the loosened thatch and remove it from the lawn. Gently rake across the lawn with either a power or manual rake. While growing up I worked part time renovating lawns, personally servicing thousands of lawns. To de-Thatch, use a rake (a metal rake is best) and begin to rake your yard doing your best to remove the thatch but not your grass. Read the operator's manual carefully prior to use. Pros. Anyway, I purchased this dethatching blade for use on a lawn of about a 2000 square foot size. Can be be done manually or mechanically. You have to use a specialist lawn topsoil that is designed specifically . Excessive thatch can be a problem as it attracts and harbors damaging insects like chinch bugs. If you are planning to apply preemergence herbicides, do so after dethatching. Depending on the kind of grass you have, your lawn may also need to be aerated after being dethatched. You can use a lawn sweeper that attaches to the back of your tractor. Your lawn should be dethatched when it is actively growing and the soil is moderately moist. Dethatching should be done when your lawn is actively growing and not under any environmental stresses such as drought. 2. As the clippings decompose they also help decompose old roots and rhizomes. Turf Quality Decrease Thatch layers that are so thick are more nutrient-dense than the soil itself. Irrigate your lawn the day before you rake. Use the hand rake to pull the thatch layer up to the surface. . Lawn Looks Patchy The patchiness that appears after dethatching reflects the soil's natural state, which is okay. Dethatching is used when the layer of thatch becomes too thick. 42 Votes) Unless the lawn has extremely heavy thatch buildup, regular aeration treatments would be better. For cool season grass, dethatch in the early fall. Even the highest quality of lawns develops thatch . Mow the lawn as it will help you reach the thatch layer and easily observe the dethatching progress. Dethatcher vs. aerator: Yes, there's a difference—and a correct tool to use for the task. This is because, after the dethatching process, your lawn will be left with visible patches. You'll be able to see and measure its thatch layer. First, a lack of earthworms in the lawn's soil. It provides good air circulation to your soil: it removes extra layers of thatch and ensures air circulation. You should be able to see some soil through the grass blades. Usually, you should do thatching Lawn every 3 - 5 years. But remember, if you de-thatch just prior to the grass's prime growing season, then it should recover rather quickly. Helps to manage disease. A power rake seldom needs to be performed in a lawn; but this spring lawn care service in Boulder and Fort Collins can become very necessary in rare cases. You can rent a power dethatcher from most garden or hire centres. Mow your lawn to half its normal height—this will make the dethatching process easier. In fact grass clippings left on the lawn will reduce the amount of thatch. Do you have any advise or should i just leave it alone . Don't fertilize the lawn for at least 45 days prior to dethatching. Get down on your belly and comb your fingers through the grass. You'll notice the difference right away after using our lawn restoration services. Avoid dethatching with power rakes in early spring since the ground is too wet and the grass is still dormant. People used to think thatch comes from lawn clippings, Callahan said. Bluegrass, common in sodded lawns, is an aggressive thatch maker. A healthy lawn will have about ¾ to 1 inch (2-2.5 cm.) The natural state of soil gets reflected after dethatching, and that's okay. This will also help you remove some of the thatch debris of the top and prevent the ripping and tearing of the grass as you rake through it. The back yard is shady and is cooler . First, a lack of earthworms in the lawn's soil. To avoid this problem, apply a healthy amount of compost or other organic matter after raking your grass clippings off the surface. Established in 1995. I always was cutting at 2inch approximately. It's October and temps are getting cooler . The best time to check is after you mow when you have just cut off the top green growth so the lawn will look brown and/or dead. This will cause too much damage. You vigorously rake the lawn to remove the thatch, but it's hard work . The machine provides ultimate depth control with its 5 position depth adjustment settings. This method of cutting also aerates the soil, prepping it for healthy new grass growth. The flails aggressively dig up thick layers of thatch from the lawn. If your thatch is 1-2 inches or more, you've probably already seen signs of poor grass color and weak, thin growth. You should also be able to poke your fingers through the thatch layer and into the soil fairly easily. If the thatch layer in the lawn is greater than ¾" or one inch, it is a candidate to be removed via power raking. What you're looking for is a thatch layer that's thicker than 1/2- to 3/4-inch, which means it's time to dethatch. To combat this, the dethatching process includes a layer of overseeding. If you have a cool-season grass, you can be dethatching your lawn at the same time as you rake it for other reasons. 3. Should I just ignore the area for now and plan on dethatching in the spring? . Yes, you should seed after dethatching. If thatch is greater than a half inch, consider aeration or dethatching. We have been serving the Seattle area and the Eastside of over 17 years and take pride in creating the perfect lawn. A dethatching machine uses metal blades or tines to comb across the grass and pull thatch up to the surface of the lawn. Prevents a shallow root system. Too much thatch increases the turf's susceptibility to lawn diseases, reduces its tolerance to drought, cold, and heat stress; and hinders the movement of air, water, fertilizers . Below are helpful hacks you can follow to put your St Augustine turf back in place after liquid dethatching. Step 5 - Lawn Repair Your lawn will look pretty bad after you dethatch it. One of the best ways to compost thatch is to pile it up separately from the rest of the debris and add some soil or finished . Dethatching is necessary when your lawn has a thatch layer of up to 1/2″ thick. If you notice any bare spots, then you should use a patching seed to repair them. Makes your lawn healthy: as dethatching makes your grasses look good, your lawn automatically looks healthy and beautiful. For cool season grasses, early fall is best. You can buy what's called a thatching rake, which has knifelike blades rather than normal tines. Do you have any advise or should i just leave it alone . It removes all the thatch by cutting it away from the lawn, using a row of vertical blades to thin out the thatch, which is then thrown away. Fertilizing after dethatching is advisable because it gives it ensures that the existing grass gets enough nutrients to accelerate its growth while also giving any new seeds the best odds of germinating and developing strong and healthy roots. Lawn still looks terrible after scarifying. Lawn Looks Patchy Well, the dethatching process includes a layer of overseeding. I own both a tow-behind dethatcher and a core aerator. It's normal for your grass to look bad after scarifying your lawn. Furthermore, after dethatching, seeds have a better . I scarified and raked the my lawn about 4 weeks ago and expected the lawn to look bad for a while but it still looks pretty bad. There are several different ways to pick up thatch after you finish dethatching. Because dethatching is hard on lawns, only dethatch when the grass is actively growing and after it has had a chance to recover from the winter season. Only dethatch if the layer of thatch measures more than 1/2 inch. It's normal for your grass to look bad after scarifying your lawn. A dethatcher is a small machine that looks almost like push lawnmowers. However, you will inevitably collect some of the actual grass as well, which is why a just-scarified lawn looks terrible most of the time. Removable thatch bag." Best Value: Sun Joe AJ801E 12 Amp Electric Scarifier Lawn Sweeper. Mow St. Augustine to 2" so the thatch is easier to access. Avoid dethatching with power rakes in early spring since the ground is too wet and the grass is still dormant. Beside this, is it good to dethatch your lawn? For this method, you should first sprinkle lawn seed evenly all over your lawn. Once completed the result is a firmer lawn which allows a free passage for air, water and nutrients to the . It might look bad at first, but rest assured, the grass will perk up again in no time. Week 1-2: During the first two weeks following your aeration and seeding service, the main goal is to keep the ground/seed moist while the seed begins to germinate. For cool season grasses, early fall is best. In either case, grassy or broadleaf weeds will exit dormancy and germinate. You should also be able to poke your fingers through the thatch layer and into the soil fairly easily. Over the winter the water is turned off and the grass is allowed to brown. Irrigate The thatch helps in preventing moisture evaporation from the soil. The lawn did look awful right after (as expected) but within a few weeks it looked great and I had the best looking lawn I've had in years, and one of the best in the neighborhood. Thatching could also cause shallow root growth, root suffocation, or rot. Unless the lawn is small a power dethatcher/scarifier is the best manual option but can damage your lawn for a period. Step 3 Clean-up and Water Rake up the debris with a leaf rake and place it in the compost pile and water the lawn. There is also a rear hopper to collect the thatches and leaves. Common Causes of Thatch. When you dethatch, you actually cut through the thatch with knife-like blades and then removing the debris. Improper Mowing: Mowing the lawn too short can stress the grass and cause it to turn dry and brown. Probably was a bit too early in the season after the cold snap last week. This layer contains. You can check your thatch layer thickness by removing a plug of grass, soil and all, and measuring the brown thatch layer between the green growth and soil layer. Give Coty a call for an estimate on dethatching your lawn! It helps grasses to grow in a healthier way: your grasses will look greenish and healthier after dethatching. Here are some of the things that you should know about dethatching and why it is an important lawn . An accumulation of thatch that exceeds 1. After dethatching, your lawn will look ragged. How to Dethatch Your Lawn Dethatching is the easy option because it is accomplished simply by using a rake. When you've removed thatch from your lawn, throw it into your compost pile. Take a garden trowel or spade and dig up a small wedge of your lawn grass and soil. 2. Damaged Soil Balance is one of the Cons of Dethatching Lawn. They also have push lawn sweepers. You can check your thatch layer thickness by removing a plug of grass, soil and all, and measuring the brown thatch layer between the green growth and soil layer. This is an easy way to pick up the thatch, and it works well if you have a larger yard. 2 people found this helpful . Depending on the kind of grass you have, your lawn may also need to be aerated after being dethatched. A healthy thatch layer is generally considered beneficial up to ½" in thickness or less. Only one I ever saw like this. Dethatching, aeration and other disturbances to the soil (or in your case, the thatch layer) can either put the seed in contact with the soil or bring buried seed to the surface. Power rakes or lawn scarifiers are machine powered and use steel blades to cut out thatch. - Nicole. The tell-tale sign to look for is if your lawn does not really turn a healthy green after feeding. Aerating the lawn (again) in the Fall, along with proper watering techniques throughout the season and a good fertilization program will completely eliminate . "A dethatcher with a motor powerful enough to lift any debris from your lawn surface. However, you will inevitably collect some of the actual grass as well, which is why a just-scarified lawn looks terrible most of the time. Fertilizer, Kelp and mycorrhizae were used day after incident still looks bad. 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