Does your lawn need dethatching?

Published 9:00 pm Monday, April 23, 2007

Thatch is a build up of grass stem, root and crown matted near the soil of the lawn. Too much of it can contribute to disease and insect problems, and water can’t get through. See photos here (http://www.ppdl.purdue.edu/PPDL/weeklypics/Weekly_Picture6-10-02-3.html).

Some thatch is normal, and an accumulation of up to ½ inch is good for your grass. When the temperature heats up this summer, that layer of plant debris will hold in moisture and help insulate against dry, scorching weather.

If you’ve got too thick thatch the likely culprit is lawn lust: too much water and too much fertilizer. You can love your lawn so much you smother it.

To dethatch, rent a power rake or work by hand. Work the lawn in two directions (north to south and then east to west, for example). You may need to reseed when you’re through.

Good lawn practices: Watering deeply but less frequently will encourage deep root growth. Restrain yourself with the fertilizer. Mow regularly.

Tomorrow, moss…