Benefits of Lawn Thatching and Dethatching 
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When it comes to ensuring the health and quality of your lawn, thatching and dethatching are two important methods that you should do to achieve this goal. Find out more about these techniques, their benefits, and how these are done.

What is a Thatch?
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Thatch refers to build up of moss dead grass and pine needles. The accumulation of these materials tends to limit the amount of sunlight, air and water in your garden. However, there are also instances when thatch build up can help your lawn such as during severely warm and cold weather. Yet, when allowed to accumulate excessively, these unwanted materials in your yard can make the grass more susceptible to diseases and pests. Grass growth will also be limited as key elements that are important to its health are unable to penetrate into the roots.

Lawn Thatching Features

During early fall or springtime, you should make it a point to thatch your garden using a thatching rake. This technique helps your grass to recover before the weather becomes very cold or very hot. It should be done annually, although you need to determine the right time that your garden needs to be thatched. For instance, if you are concerned about having a serious moss infestation, it is ideal to maintain thick grass as the winter season approaches.

Dethatching Benefits

Aside from thatching, another method that facilitates the health of your garden is dethatching. This process refers to the removal of buildup in the yard that can be harmful to it since sunlight, water and air are prevented to get into the soil's surface. Once the thatch in the lawn is removed, grass can grow much better as blockages are removed. A thatch rake or a special machine is used for this purpose.

There are different ways to dethatch your garden. You may do it manually, although this can take a few hours if you have a large yard. Power rakes or lawn thatchers may also be used, which can get the job done faster. Hiring a professional is another option, and the fee may go from $100 to $150, depending on the size of your garden. The best thing about hiring an expert is the speed in completing the job, plus it also includes cleanup. Just be sure to dethatch when your garden is dry to avoid accumulating so much mess along the process.

Important Tips

For gardens with greater concerns with moss, it is recommended to use iron before removing thatch. There are products that contain alkali to increase the pH level of the soil to prevent future moss growth, but these may no longer take much effect when there is an existing moss in your garden. So, be sure to stay on top of this problem and add moss during fall and spring, then put iron in the lawn during the time the grass is in its active growth phase.

The number of times to thatch your garden depends on the climate and type of grass. There are cases when thatching is recommended no more than once for every 3 to 5 years. As for other yards, you should avoid thatching for a number of years. Hence, it is important to identify your garden's particular needs by observing it carefully. Step on the grass and check if there are impressions left by your feet on your garden. If so, then it is time to thatch the garden to keep it in excellent condition all year round.

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