How to Know if You Need to Dethatch Your Lawn

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Thatch is the layer of dead grass, roots, and leaves betwixt the grass and the soil. Thatch is important for drainage and moisture retention, just thatch that gets as well thick is bad for the grass. Perform a few simple tests to see whether or non your thatch has gotten too thick. A general rule is that thatch should be less than ¾ inch (i.ix cm) thick.

1. i

   Walk on the lawn to see if it feels firm or spongy. The first thing that gives you a hint at whether or not your lawn needs to be dethatched is the experience of it. Walk around for awhile and encounter if the footing feels firm. If it feels spongy, or almost boisterous, that's a sign that the thatch has gotten too thick.

   • If you don't mind the feeling, walk around barefoot to go an even better feel of the firmness of the ground.
   • If the footing feels firm under the grass, then the thatch is probably near the correct thickness and doesn't demand to be dethatched.

2. 2

   Printing the lawn with your hand. If walking around the lawn doesn't give you a good idea about the firmness, use your hand to check it. Push the grass down until you experience the thatch. Your paw is more sensitive to the spongy feeling than your feet are, so gauge whether it feels besides thick.^[1]

   • If your hand reaches the meridian of the thatch layer and yous tin obviously push down more, yous might want to dethatch the lawn. If it feels firm, don't worry about information technology for now.

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3. 3

   Measure out the depth of the thatch with your finger. While you are bent down, gently push your finger through the thatch layer. Pay attending to how far up your finger the thatch goes. Pull your finger out and measure the depth. Less than half an inch (1.3 cm) is the ideal depth.^[two]

   • If you don't feel comfortable sticking your finger into the thatch, use a stick or even a ruler to penetrate the thatch layer.
   • If the thatch is apparently thicker than ¾ inch (1.9 cm), it's definitely fourth dimension to dethatch the lawn.

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1. 1

   Catch a spade or trowel shovel. A quick and easy test is to dig up a clamper of the backyard turf and actually wait at a side view of the thatch layer. Grab whatever kind of shovel or hoe that you accept and take information technology to the portion of lawn you want to check.^[3]

   • If you lot have a trowel, this works fine because yous only need to look at a small wedge of turf.

2. ii

   Dig out a wedge of turf. Work the shovel into the ground making sure you go downward to the soil level. Cutting a circle of turf out of the ground so you lot tin pull information technology up completely out of the ground. There is no need to take out a large clamper, just plenty to meet the grass, the thatch, and the soil.

3. iii

   Use a ruler to measure the thickness of the thatch. Hold the clamper of turf up so you lot can encounter it. Pull it off of the shovel past the grass or simply examine it on the shovel. Hold a ruler or measuring tape up to the thatch. Concur the cypher mark correct at the peak of the soil. If the thatch goes past ¾ inch (1.nine cm), it'south a good idea to dethatch the backyard.^[4]

   • If you have a large lawn and some time, information technology's worth checking a few distinct sections of the lawn. Y'all may not need to detach the unabridged lawn, and doing a few tests will relieve you lot fourth dimension in the long run.

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1. ane

   Run a convex rake through the grass to thin out the thatch. Become to the local hardware or garden store and purchase a convex rake used for dethatching. Ask an employee if you aren't sure which rake to buy. Rake the lawn to pull upwardly most of the thatch layer.^[v]

   • Accept a basic plastic lawn rake on paw, likewise, to rake the thatch into a pile for disposal. The dethatching rake is really only to pull it up from nether the grass.

2. 2

   Hire a power dethatcher to utilize on your backyard. For thicker thatch and larger lawns, rent a mechanical dethatcher. Information technology's a powered machine that digs into the soil to remove thicker thatch. Ask your local equipment rental heart to set the machine upward before you take it dwelling.^[6]

   • It'due south not too hard to run a dethatcher. Y'all only push it in lines through your lawn. However, the blades demand to exist fix to a sure depth, which is all-time left to the professionals at the shop.

3. 3

   Rent a professional dethatching service. If your thatch is obviously an inch (2.5 cm) or more thick, you're better off getting a professional person to come work on your lawn. If it is in your budget, professionals are able to do a more thorough job than you.

   • These services may cost around $250, depending on the size of your backyard.

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Add New Question

• Question

  How often should y'all dethatch your backyard?

  

  Jeremy Yamaguchi is a Lawn Care Specialist and the Founder/CEO of Backyard Love, a digital marketplace for lawn care and gardening services. Jeremy provides instant satellite quotes and can coordinate service from a smartphone or web browser. The company has raised funding from notable investors like Y Combinator, Joe Montana, Alexis Ohanian, Barbara Corcoran and others.

  

  Backyard Intendance Specialist

  Good Answer

  Remove thatch from your backyard when information technology becomes one in (two.54 cm) thick or more. Yous should too check the growing season of your blazon of grass because you don't want to de-thatch while your lawn is dormant or not actively growing, which is typically during the winter.

• Question

  How much does it cost to dethatch your lawn?

  

  Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

  

  Home & Garden Specialist

  Expert Answer

  The price involved to dethatch a yard is dependent on the size of the one thousand and the thickness of the thatch that needs to be removed. Almost services range in price from $200-400 per ane,000 square feet.

• Question

  How do you lot know if your lawn needs aeration?

  

  Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

  

  Home & Garden Specialist

  Skillful Reply

  One of the side effects of a clogged thousand is standing or spongy grass. This is an indication that the m needs aeration.

• Question

  What is the best time to dethatch a lawn?

  

  Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

  

  Home & Garden Specialist

  Expert Respond

  It is all-time to dethatch the yard in early spring and early fall while the backyard is growing. This is also the best fourth dimension to aerate the m.

• Question

  How do I get rid of thatch on my lawn?

  

  Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

  

  Home & Garden Specialist

  Expert Answer

  To go rid of thatch on your backyard, yous can apply a thatch rake in a push and pull method.

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Things Yous'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Stick or ruler (optional)
• Shovel
• Convex rake
• Plastic backyard rake
• Power dethatcher (rental)

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Source: https://www.wikihow.com/Know-if-Your-Lawn-Needs-Dethatching

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