Thatch - what is it and why do we wanna talk about it? OBVIOUSLY if we're talkin' about it here it MUST be important for a beautiful lawn.
Thatch is a layer of living and dead plant stems, leaves and roots that deveolp between the soil surface and green vegetation. Grass Clippings are not a component of thatch, although a thin thatch layer is good for the soil, a thatch layer more than 1/2 inch thick can form a tight mat that keeps water and air from reaching the soil It may also prevent pesticides from getting to the soil where they are needed to control insects and nematodes.
As you can imagine DEthatching can be important - it is the process of removing thatch. It can be done by raking the turf with a stiff-tined rake or by using a power rake or vertical mower. Dethatching and aerating should be done when turf is actively growing.
How do you determine whether your lawn is excessively "thatchy" - like the picture above?
Look for dry and dead patches of grass and/or unusual sponginess or springiness when you walk on it. (Imagine what it would feel like to walk on a sponge!)
Remove a pie shaped plug of grass with a knife or trowel, or remove a core with a soil probe.
What is a soil probe you ask? (Avoiding all alien visitation references.....)
This is just one of the MANY types of soil probes out there -
VERY stylish (my assistant calls them the aeratoranators)
As you can imagine DEthatching can be important - it is the process of removing thatch. It can be done by raking the turf with a stiff-tined rake or by using a power rake or vertical mower. Dethatching and aerating should be done when turf is actively growing.
How do you determine whether your lawn is excessively "thatchy" - like the picture above?
Look for dry and dead patches of grass and/or unusual sponginess or springiness when you walk on it. (Imagine what it would feel like to walk on a sponge!)
Remove a pie shaped plug of grass with a knife or trowel, or remove a core with a soil probe.
What is a soil probe you ask? (Avoiding all alien visitation references.....)
This is just one of the MANY types of soil probes out there -
The catch is to make sure you deig deep enough to get some of the soil below. Carefully examine the plug so that you can identify the soil, the grass, and the spongy thatch layer in between them. Measure the depth of the thatch. You want one half inch of thatch or less - it won't cause a problem.
Heavy fertilization, vigorous cultivers, low pH, and compacted, poorly drained soils - these all contribute to excess thatch. To prevent an excess thatch layer, use fertilizer and aerate the soil.
WHAT is Aerating?
Well roots need air, water and nutrients. If you cannot easily push a screwdriver into the soil - well... then you know air and water are NOT going to reach the roots. If they don't get air and water then that will lead roots to the Dark Side ~ soil compaction. (que dramatic lawn dieing music)
So if your roots are being deprived of the force (air and water) how do you bring them back from the dark side? That's right - aeration!
Aeration is done by punching holes into the soil or slice it.
Some examples -
VERY stylish (my assistant calls them the aeratoranators)
OR if you want to kick it old school
Or you can deck out your lawn tractors tires.
There a numerous machines and devices you can use.
Lightly water the lawn the day before you aerate so the tires spikes readily enter the soil and the plugs come out easily. (Don't overwater - you'll create a muddy mess and be more likely to form a hardpan.)
Be sure to flag all sprinkler heads and shallow pipes and wires. Make two passes if the thatch is thick the second pass should be at a right angle to the first to ensure even spacing between holes.
For small jobs, up to 1,000 square feet. Consider using a handheld corer. This will do the job. Put your full weight into your work to push the spikes all the way into the soil.
AND THATCH (ha ha) is how you do it - well go about dethatching that is.
