Thatch is a layer of grass blades, leaves, stems, roots, and other organic matter that is yet to break down or decompose. This layer between the soil and your grass is an important part of a healthy lawn, acting as a mulch that helps retain moisture, add nutrients into soil, and moderate soil temperature.
While some thatch is important, too much can cause problems. Below the grass turf experts at StrathAyr break down when and how you should dethatch your lawn.
Why Dethatch Lawn?
Excessive thatch build-up occurs when your instant lawn produces more organic material than it can break down. This can happen if your instant grass is growing too quickly from overwatering or being fed too much nitrogen. Local climate can also influence the decomposition of the match while some grass turf varieties are simply more prone to thatch build-up.
Signs You Need to Dethatch
Thatch starts to become a problem once it’s thicker than 1.5cm. At this point, it’s hard for air and water to reach the soil and your lawn’s roots. Insects are also more likely to move in and your lawn is more susceptible to disease.
You don’t have to physically measure a thatch layer to know if it’s too thick. You can also try to stick your finger into the soil. If that’s too difficult, it’s likely there’s too much thatch. Another sign is when your lawn starts to feel spongy underfoot.
How to Dethatch
A dethatching rake is one of the easiest and least invasive ways to remove built up thatch. While raking, the tines dig in and pull-out thatch and dead matter from within the grass. The downside is that this can require a bit of time and energy to do, particularly if you have a large lawn or need to dethatch regularly.
Another option is to mow the lawn on its lowest setting to cut the grass close to the soil while removing thatch. Aim to do this during late spring when the lawn grows quickly and has time to recover. You can also hire or purchase specialised dethatching machines. This can be great if you have a large lawn or if the thatch layer is particularly thick.
When to Dethatch
Dethatching is recommended usually only for warm-season grass such as Kikuyu, Bermuda and buffalo grass. The best time to dethatch your lawn is from early November to late December. Avoid cooler months as you can damage your lawn. Dethatching methods are generally not recommended for cool-season grass. It’s also not needed for newly laid instant grass. Reach out to our grass turf experts if you’re unsure what lawn variety you have or you need advice.
Lawn Care Tips from the Experts in Victoria and Tasmania
Want to learn more about taking care of your lawn? StrathAyr has a collection of handy videos for tips and tricks on keeping your lawn in perfect condition. Contact our team today if you need more help or are looking to buy instant lawn.
