To thatch.... or not to thatch.....

It’s getting that time of year when folks start to think about their lawn…. This summer I want to have the greenest, most lush lawn in the neighborhood!

Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons that your lawn never reaches that “golf course” standard that homeowners desire.

There are steps you can take that give your lawn the BEST CHANCE to achieve greatness. Thatching and aerating your lawn is one of these steps.

Many people think thatching is done to remove moss from the lawn. While this is true, thatch is any sediment build up in the base of your lawn which traps moisture and doesn’t allow your soil to “breathe”.  This leads to lawn disease, insects, etc. Although the climate in Washington is conducive to moss... its not the only contributor to thatch.  You can also have thatch build up through falling leaves, pine needles, branches etc. that cause sediment build up within your lawn. If you ever wonder where all the leaves disappear to if you don’t consistently rake them up in the Fall…. There is your answer. Along with blowing all over the neighborhood.

Thatching is generally done in the Spring, although because of our mild climate you can safely thatch your lawn into the summer. Just don't wait until the hottest part of the summer as thatching  is a “procedure” that is hard on your lawn which needs rain to help it bounce back.

Aerating your lawn goes hand in hand with thatching it. Aerating your lawn creates holes where water and nutrients be absorbed by the grass roots more easily. Aerating your lawn also reduces the amount of fertilizer you need to apply because it’s more easily absorbed. Some people will rake up the plugs, but we recommend letting them remain. Your just creating more work, plus the plugs have nutrients that will creep back into the soils. In most cases, two weeks after aerating you won’t even see the plugs.

How often should I thatch???? It depends a lot on the set up of your yard. If your lawn gets direct sunlight all day than once every 2 years may be acceptable. If you have a lot of trees or your house creates shade in certain spots in your yard than a yearly thatching is probably necessary. It’s a good idea to monitor your yard throughout the summer and determine what your needs may be.

Yearly thatch and aeration is ideal in creating and maintaining a lush green lawn.
Don’t forget to fertilize while your doing the thatch and aerating!

We are running specials in April and May for thatching and aeration.

Please contact us for a free estimate for thatch and aeration!

Derrik Tribble
The Lawn Psychologist