How to Dethatch a Lawn
Check for presence of thatch., Chose the proper time to remove thatch., Mow the dethatched area to a grass height of 1 inch (2.5 cm). , Rent a power dethatching machine such as a vertical mower (power rake) or core aerator from your local hardware...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Check for presence of thatch.
Look at your lawn and ask yourself these questions:
Is the lawn green on top but brown on the bottom? Does it look brown and dead after it had been mowed? Does the lawn feel "spongy" when walked on? If you answered yes, your lawn may have a thatch problem.
Use a spade or knife to remove a small section of lawn in a few places around the yard.
Measure the thatch layer.
If it is greater than
0.5 inches (1 cm), your lawn needs to be dethatched. -
Step 2: Chose the proper time to remove thatch.
This should be in the spring or fall when there is adequate moisture in the soil.
Water the lawn lightly 2 days before de-thatching.
Trying to de-thatch a lawn that is too wet or too dry will damage the soil. ,, Vertical mowers, sometimes called power rakes, chop down through the thatch layer and lift it to the top of the lawn.
These machines create a lot of debris that will you need to remove for compost or disposal.
Core aerators pull soil plugs from the lawn, which you can remove or leave on the lawn to decompose naturally.
If you rent a core aerifier, have the store operator adjust the teeth spacing of the dethatcher to the appropriate spacing for your type of lawn.
Blade height should be about .25 inch (.64 cm) above a hard, flat surface. , For example, power rake the entire lawn running north to south.
Do the next pass east to west.
This will thoroughly break up the thatch on the lawn. ,, -
Step 3: Mow the dethatched area to a grass height of 1 inch (2.5 cm).
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Step 4: Rent a power dethatching machine such as a vertical mower (power rake) or core aerator from your local hardware rental center.
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Step 5: Make 2 perpendicular passes over the entire area with the core aerating machine or vertical mower.
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Step 6: Remove the debris created by a vertical mower or core aerator with a leaf rake
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Step 7: and load it into a wheelbarrow for disposal.
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Step 8: Water the lawn thoroughly to help the grass recover quickly from the de-thatching process.
Detailed Guide
Look at your lawn and ask yourself these questions:
Is the lawn green on top but brown on the bottom? Does it look brown and dead after it had been mowed? Does the lawn feel "spongy" when walked on? If you answered yes, your lawn may have a thatch problem.
Use a spade or knife to remove a small section of lawn in a few places around the yard.
Measure the thatch layer.
If it is greater than
0.5 inches (1 cm), your lawn needs to be dethatched.
This should be in the spring or fall when there is adequate moisture in the soil.
Water the lawn lightly 2 days before de-thatching.
Trying to de-thatch a lawn that is too wet or too dry will damage the soil. ,, Vertical mowers, sometimes called power rakes, chop down through the thatch layer and lift it to the top of the lawn.
These machines create a lot of debris that will you need to remove for compost or disposal.
Core aerators pull soil plugs from the lawn, which you can remove or leave on the lawn to decompose naturally.
If you rent a core aerifier, have the store operator adjust the teeth spacing of the dethatcher to the appropriate spacing for your type of lawn.
Blade height should be about .25 inch (.64 cm) above a hard, flat surface. , For example, power rake the entire lawn running north to south.
Do the next pass east to west.
This will thoroughly break up the thatch on the lawn. ,,
About the Author
Marie Fox
Committed to making practical skills accessible and understandable for everyone.
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