Why Should I care About Thatch:
Thatch is natural and can cause problems with your lawn. Surprisingly, lawn thatch can get very thick. And…thick thatch can prevent nutrients from reaching grass roots (which is bad). Thick thatch buildup has the tendency to hold moisture at the surface. This moisture never ends up reaching the grass root. Consequently, the moisture buildup can cause lawn fungus. As little as 1/2″ of thatch buildup can be harmful to your lawn. This is why it is best to try and eliminate lawn thatch. Here are some things to keep in mind when dealing with thatch.
What Is Thatch Buildup:
- Thatch is not left behind grass clippings
- It is the upper root zone & crown of the grass
- It is A root zone that doesn’t break down easily.
How To Eliminate That Thatch:
- Core aeration is very successful in removing thatch.
- Core aeration is a process that pulls “plugs” or cores of soil and grass from the lawn.
- Moist lawns do best with core aeration.
- Aeration can be completed in the fall or the spring.
- Aeration holes break down thatch naturally.
- Air, water, and fertilizer can reach the soil & roots after aeration.
In short, aeration is recommended annually. But, lawns with dense thatch should be aerated in the spring and in the fall. Do this for 1-2 years. Because aeration lets nutrients reach grass roots, this will help your lawn become green, thick, and healthy again.
I have what appears to be snow mold or
Numerous areas of Thatch spots. Unfortunately I can’t have core airstrip at this time, because I can’t mark my sprinkler systems heads until the system is turned on. Suggestions, please advise.
Snow mold is very common during this time period. Take a leaf rake to problem areas and gently rake the grass allowing it to dry out. If the problem is truly snow mold this will help.
If your lawn has a thatch issue we suggest core aeration. Aeration can be done in the fall or spring. Annual aeration is very effective in eliminating thatch.
How do I know if I have this problem with my lawn. No one ever spoke about this.
Most likely one of our certified technicians would inform you if your lawn had thatch accumulation. We recommend aerating your lawn annually. Aeration holes break down thatch naturally.