Lawn Aeration and Thatching

Lawn Thatch

Define Thatch: Lawn thatch is the build up of excessive unwanted material in your lawn that can choke out air, water, and sunlight.  Excessive build up of thatch in your lawn can cause grass to stop growing and even become more prone to insects and lawn diseases. Thatch is composed of dead grass build up, pine needles, or moss.  It can also refer to the dead layer of sod that is left over after an insect infestation.

When is the best time to thatch lawn? (Powerake)

The best time to De thatch lawn is in the spring and in the early fall.   Lawn thatching allows your lawn to recover before it gets too hot or too cold.  Most lawns will not look that bad after they get de-thatched.  Because lan thatchers can take a lot of moss or bad grasses out of your lawn, they may need to be re-seeded in order for them to heal properly.  (If there is a lot of moss you may also need to add iron to get rid of the remaining moss before seeding.) Lawns with 'dead thatch' can be very tricky to deal with if insect damage is extensive.  (See 'dead thatch' below)  Lawn thatching can be done using a lawn thatcher, a thatching rake, or a lawn mower blade attachment.

Why power rake? (Thatch lawn)

 Power-raking or de thatching a lawn can remove harmful yard build-up.  This can allow water, air and sunlight to reach the surface of the soil.  Lawns can grow better once lawn thatch has been removed. 

How to I de thatch a lawn or get rid of thatch

There are four ways to manually de thatch your lawn.  If it is a small lawn, you could do it by hand.  It de-thatching a 1000sq ft front yard could easily take 2-3 hours.  It is real backbreaking work.  Most people prefer do dethatching or thatch lawn by renting a machine. These machines are called lawn thatchers or power rakes.  These lawn thatchers should cost between $30 and $65 for a 4 hour rental.  Another way to do it is to hire someone to do it for you.  Rates vary according to area, but in Seattle we typically charged $100-1$20 for a 2,000 sq foot yard including clean up.  With two people this took about an hour.  If you are doing it by yourself, you should plan on 3-4 hours.  Bigger lawns will take longer.  Before thatching make sure to mow your lawn about 1/3 shorter than usual.  If you normal cut your gras at 1.5", cut it down to 1".    It is best to thatch when the grass is dry.  Wet lawn can very quickly turn into a mess.

If the main problem is moss, try using iron (moos out) first to get rid of the moss or lawn thatch.  (Sweet soil is an alkali that may raise the ph to inhibit future growth, however it is not very effective once the moss is already there.)  It may be important to stay on top of it, by adding moss out to your lawn in the spring and the fall.  In Seatle, the best time to put the iron on is whenever is is actively growing.

How often do I need to thatch my lawn

It depends on the lawn and the type of climate.  Most experts recommend thatching once every 3-5 years.  Some yard may not need to be thatched for many more years.  You can tell if you have thatch by placing you foot on the grass and seeing if your foot makes an impression that stays on the lawn.

Why should I aerate?

When is the best time to bark?

Are you interested in Thatching rakes or thatching attachments for your mower?