Creeping bentgrass, fescue, kentucky bluegrass, rough bluegrass, and ryegrass all fall into this category. There are several ways to go about clearing thatch from your lawn. This should only be done a couple of times a year and works. Dethatching in the spring also revives grass that has been compacted under winter snow, preparing your lawn to thrive in the summer months. If you have a small patch of lawn and dont mind a little exercise, you can use a convex rake. Unless your lawn is in dire need of the work, consider scheduling your dethatching in the. In addition to regular spring and fall dethatching, lawns that are overwatered, overfertilized, or growing on clay soils will likely need to be dethatched more often. Aerating and dethatching fall is the normal time for aeration and dethatching, but if your lawn looks patchy and tightly packed after a harsh winter, performing the process in the spring restores the look of the yard for the rest of the year. See my lawn that i renovated in place and transformed it. If you like my content please like, comment, and subscribe to my. You can simply use a garden rake and rake away the thatch. This process is usually done mechanically with a dethatching unit or power rake. Thick layers of thatch can block water and air from the roots and become infested with insects, fungal and bacterial diseases. Apr 03, 20 immediately following a lawn dethatching is a great time to add some grass seed to help in the recovery process.
In an effort to mow my lawn shorter, im pulling out some of the dead material in my lawn with the greenworks electric dethatcher. In the long run dethatching will save you serious money. You can also hire a lawn service to do the job for you. Kelly burke is a freelance writer and professional turf manager. Centipede dethatching thatch is a layer of partially decomposed plant material that builds up on the soils surface. Mowing, dethatching, aerifyingmowing, dethatching, aerifying. Dethatching and aerating your lawn sunset magazine. A sod cutter set at the soil surface removes the sod easily in light and manageable strips.
Its spring, which it means its time to once again focus on that lawn of yours. Once youve determined that your lawn is in need of dethatching, here are a few tips to give you an idea of what is involved. How to dethatch your lawn the simple solution to healthy. Thatch provides a growing environment for diseases and insects. Otherwise the seed will sit on top of that dead grass and never germinate. Mar 30, 2017 in this video i show you how to use a thatch or thatching rake depending on what you want to call it to dethatch the lawn. Reseeding may be necessary after dethatching lawns with 0. Adjust the blades to about a quarterinch above a concrete surface. Husqvarna dethatchers allow you to quickly and easily remove any buildup of dead grass, leaves, stems and overcrowded roots, promoting a lush, green lawn. The thatch, when fully decomposed, can be layered onto the lawn in late fall to early winter as an. Part of lawn management is knowing when and how to dethatch your lawn.
Importance of dethatching thatch is a tightly intermingled layer of living and dead stems, leaves, and roots which accumulates between the layer of actively growing grass and the soil underneath. A convex or dethatching rake is better than a regular leaf rake and a socalled power rake, which can be rented from a rental center, is the best rake of all, but any rake is better than nothing. Dethatch your lawn regularly in spring and fall, especially before feeding. Dethatching is an essential part of lawn maintenance. Examine the lawn first, to ensure it needs dethatching. The early fall is ideal for dethatching in climates that host coolseason lawn types. The accumulation of decomposing roots, grass and debris in a lawn is called thatch. The intermingling of soil and thatch is beneficial to the lawn.
Gaspowered power rake, provides a quicker, easier way to remove thatch. A simplified depth control lever adjusts easily to seven preset depths, while the adjustable handle offers three different operating heights and folds for easy transport and storage. There are several tasks that can be done after dethatching. You can find more information in our aeration blog once your lawn has been dethatched and possibly aerated, you have a great opportunity to get nutrients into your soil. The process of removing the thatch layer from turf, the layer of dead and decaying plant tissue located between the soil surface and the green vegetation. The mechanical removal of small plugs of soil and thatch from the lawn. Tips for lawn dethaching regular dethatching produces buds that grow near the base of the stems which prevents the grass plants from being dead underneath and green on the top only. Care must be taken not to try and remove all thatch from a lawn at one time. A simplified depth control lever adjusts easily to seven preset depths, while the adjustable handle offers three different. To check, just work your fingers into the grass and note the depth of the thatch layer. We had a lawn that had thatch like a sponge 34 thick. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. A little thatch, 12 inch or so, is actually healthy for your lawn. Youll want to dethatch your lawn early enough in the fall to allow it time to grow after the process is over, reestablishing itself before the.
Managing the thatch level in your lawn is a vital part of maintaining a healthy lawn. These cores break down and redistribute valuable nutrients to the soil and also topdress the soil with a thin layer of dirt which reduces thatch. You try your best to maintain a beautiful lawn and keep a pretty property thats appealing to both you and anyone who may drive by. Dethatching can leave your lawn looking like a disaster area, especially if the blades dig into the soil. Thatch is a normal component of an actively growing turfgrass, and as long as it is not too thick, it can increase the resilience of the turf to heavy. Homeadvisor will connect you with prescreened and customerrated contractors in your area. Most aerations take about 3550 minutes so its good money and these processes can really improve customers yards if done right. How to aerate your lawn reel low connor ward youtube. You will improve the condition of the turf which results in a greener. Usually, more than one half inch of thatch on general turf areas decreases the turf vigor by restricting movement of air, water and fertilizers into the soil.
This is my second project with this greenworks dethatcher and it works great to remove the thatch and keep the existing grass intact. How to dethatch and aerate your lawn true value projects. The lawn thatch is a layer of dead grasses that builds up over time, after regular mowing and other debris has collected above the root system. The thatch, when fully decomposed, can be layered onto the lawn in late fall to early winter as an organic dressing. Unless your lawn is in dire need of the work, consider scheduling your dethatching in the fall, and coupling it with an aeration and seeding to prepare for. Pushing rake tines deeply down into the grass when you are raking leaves in the fall or raking to clean up the lawn in early spring is an easy method that you can use for dethatching lawns. Thatch can keep water and air from reaching the soil and, if left untreated, can create an environment that harbors pests and diseases. In this video i show you how to use a thatch or thatching rake depending on what you want to call it to dethatch the lawn.
Yesterday, i showed you some photos of dethatching the front lawn. A pullbehind unit hooks up to the back of a riding lawn mower or lawn tractor. After dethatching, fertilize the lawn with a nitrogen fertilizer to stimulate regrowth. Dethatching is an important component of lawn maintenance. This is a great option to remove thatch from the averagesized residential yard. Since dethatching causes extensive damage and is extremely labor intensive, this service will only be performed on lawns with with a thatch layer more than 3 inches thick.
In the springtime, it is extremely beneficial to do a proper dethatching of your lawn. Nov 15, 2008 almost every lawn needs dethatching about once a year, or whenever the thatch reaches a thickness of about 12 inch. Managing thatch is an important component of maintaining a healthy lawn. The cores can be left on the lawn to decompose naturally a process that usually takes two or three weeks, depending on soiltype, or they can be broken up with a power rake set just low enough to nick the cores, and then dragged with a section of chainlink fence or a steel doormat. Thatch, which is a woven layer of decay resistant stems, roots, rhizomes, and stolons, may prevent a lawn from. Power rakesdethatchers ryan turf renovation equipment.
Tow lawn dethatcher is perfect for the larger gardens with its 20 heat treated tines that are 316 in. Thinning out the thatch in the lawn clears out old, dead. You can get special blades for a lawn mower that turn your rider or push mower into a lawn dethatching machine. It is best not to do it in the middle or late of summer.
You wont need to water or fertilise you lawn nearly as often. I know i am probably beating a dead horse here, but i wanted to post a few photos of todays lawn dethatching. This video demonstrates how you can remove thatch in your lawn through the process of scalping, with some advice on how to go about it the best way to avoid causing any unnecessary harm to your lawn. If you measure the thatch with a ruler after cutting out a sample of your lawn, is it over threequarters of an inch. Dethatching and aerating your lawn by jaime staufenbeil milorganite agronomist september 1, 2017. Water evaporates quickly from thatch so the lawn will dry faster. Rake up the loosened thatch and remove it from the lawn. It blocks insecticides applied to kill insects that feed on grass roots. If your lawn produces a lot of thatch, dethatch annually, so that its not such a big job. Thatch is the layer of dead grass that sits between the green part of your lawn and the ground beneath.
The fall is a better time for the lawn to recover from that process, and your lawn naturally repairs itself and prepares itself for winter in the fall. By clicking view pros view matching pros, you affirm you have read and agree to the homeadvisor terms, and you agree and authorize homeadvisor and its affiliates, and their networks of service professionals, to deliver marketing calls or texts using automated technology to the number you provided above regarding your project and other home services offers. Sep 21, 2017 rake the centipede lawn vigorously with the hand leaf rake. The best time to dethatch your lawn evergreen turf. Thatch harbors insects, creates a water barrier, and prevents new grass from growing. Rake the centipede lawn vigorously with the hand leaf rake. Dethatching causes a lot of damage to your grass and should be done at a time when the grass is growing so it can fix the damage before the next dormant period. Benefits of dethatching and aerating your lawn milorganite. The holes left in the lawn provide passageways for air, water, and nutrients. Time to get that dead grass out of your lawn so that new seed can make its way to the ground. A thatch condition means a weak, insect and disease prone lawn. If your lawn has a true thatch condition, you cannot alleviate it with hand raking, power raking or socalled dethatching machines. Fertilize your lawn after dethatching to help the lawn recover. Diy how to repair lawn patchy dead areas, brown dead grass, turf insects.
Lawn dethatcher attachment for all models except xp mantis. Youre proud of the space youve created, and you plan to keep it that way. A thin layer of thatch less than 12 inch thick can be beneficial to the lawn because it helps to limit weed germination, reduce water. The photo below is an excellent illustration of thatch in a bluegrass lawn in a clay soil. Thatch is the layer of living and dead stems, roots, stolons, and rhizomes between the green blades of grass and the soil surface. This will probably cause more harm than good and may actually kill the grass. Today we will be showing how to fix a very common issue found in most new zealand lawns. There are some chemical products on the market that claim to dethatch, but horticulturists say theyre ineffective source. Well with a fertilizing and over seed, one month later it was.
One of the first things you can do for a lawn in the spring is thatch control. Thatch, which is a woven layer of decay resistant stems, roots, rhizomes, and stolons, may prevent a lawn from receiving the proper nutrients. On the other hand, if you have a cool season lawn grass type, without a shadow of a doubt the best time of year to treat, perform maintenance, on your lawn is late summer, early autumn fall. Sep 01, 2017 dethatching and aerating your lawn by jaime staufenbeil milorganite agronomist september 1, 2017. A convex or dethatching rake is better than a regular leaf rake and a socalled power rake, which can be rented from a rental center, is the best rake. Dethatching at any other time of year greatly increases the chance of causing real damage to a warm season lawn. Ideal for bringing matted layers of thatch and large. Can you push your finger through the layer of thatch. Well, there are two more things most homeowners neglect to do, to the potential detriment of their lawns. Find local contractors for lawn dethatching and power raking. Almost every lawn needs dethatching about once a year, or whenever the thatch reaches a thickness of about 12 inch. These will only skim the surface of the thatch layer. 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. For large lawns, you may want to consider renting a walkbehind dethatching machine.
Make between one to five passes through your lawn, until most thatch is removed. To remove dead grass from a lawn dethatching definition of dethatching by the free dictionary. The cons of dethatching some people consider dethatching an absolutely necessary annual maintenance task for lawns, but lawn science experts caution that it is often unnecessary and can actually severely damage a lawn. Apr 03, 2015 instead of dethatching, aeration is recommended. Dethatching removes these problems, letting the grass roots grow deep into the soil for a healthy lawn.
Today, i am going to show you some photos of the back yard getting dethatched. Dethatching is not somthing that ever should have to be done if the lawn is healthy and maintained properly. Use an iron rake or a thatch rake to cut through and rake off thatch. Manually with a leaf rake, garden rake, or thatching rake. Using a vertical mower is the best way to dethatch. A study carried out by the university of western australia a few years ago, compared different types of renovation for turf and they found that the results from a hardmow or scalping was just as good as scarifying, coring, or grooming when it came to dethatching a lawn. This is not advisable for all turf varieties and in some circumstances its best to hire a dethatching or scarifying machine. After dethatching with lawn was thin with very minimal thatch and you could see soil under grass. Remove all the dead matter on the surface of the soil.
Hire the best lawn dethatching services in manassas, va on homeadvisor. This video shows me preparing for topdressing with sand by aerating and collecting the cores. Dethatching should not pulverize the soil surfaces. Chances are, youd prefer a power rake, which can be rented at some hardware stores or equipment rental centers. As you pull it through the grass, it lifts up and moves the thatch. Oct 05, 2017 this video demonstrates how you can remove thatch in your lawn through the process of scalping, with some advice on how to go about it the best way to avoid causing any unnecessary harm to your lawn. Dethatching definition of dethatching by the free dictionary. If your lawn has a thick layer of thatch organic material that sits above the surface of the soil dethatching it can help make your lawn healthier. Dethatching is a restorative service only recommend for lawns that suffer from an extremely thick thatch layer. You can also find a custommade dethatching rake that works particularly well. Use a ryan power rake or dethatcher to remove thatch and break up aeration cores.
Dethatching is a process of combing your lawn to remove thatch. The best time to dethatch a coolseason lawn is early fall or early spring and a warmseason lawn is early summer. Small dethatching blades are sold as lawnmower attachments, but theyre not the best choice because they put a lot of strain on the mower. How to dethatch lawn using a thatching rake youtube. Dethatch coolseason grasses in fall, warmseason types in early spring.
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