What is thatch? Essentially, it’s pieces of dead grass that gather and sit just above the soil. A little bit of thatch is beneficial, but if too much accumulates in your yard, it can’t be naturally broken down. This prevents moisture and air from getting to the roots of your grass, which eventually leads to healthy grass turning brown and dying. A thick layer of thatch also promotes disease and harmful insects.

How do you prevent thatch from building up and killing your yard? There are two processes that are common fixes for thatch buildup, which are dethatching and aerating. (Good news, we can do both for you!)

Manually dethatching can be time and energy consuming, but gets the job done. It involves using a convex rake through the grass, lifting up the thatch as you go. Once you do this, you’ll have to rake up the debris and bag it. You can also rent a power rake, which you can get at a local hardware store. This makes the process somewhat more simple, although remember you will still need to rake and bag the thatch that you bring up to the surface of your lawn.

When to dethatch? Early spring is the best time to do so, allowing for the lawn to get a healthy, clean start on growth for the season. We’ve also found that you’ll get better results from dethatching if you wait to do it after a watering or light rain.

Lawn aerating also helps to keep your lawn healthy and free of any buildup that could hinder growth. Lawn aeration helps to reduce thatch build up in your lawn, reduces soil compaction and helps to stimulate new growth. Lawn aeration also creates more efficient watering and fertilizing for the season by allowing for easier penetration. Lawn aeration is a key step to keeping a healthy, green lawn and strong root systems for your grass.

Looking to get a jump start on a healthy season of green grass this year? Send us an email or fill out our contact form for a quote on dethatching and lawn aeration.