It’s not necessary to dethatch every year because thatch builds up over time. If your lawn needs dethatching, plan on doing it every five years. If you want to see how much your lawn has grown, you might want to give it a quick check every year.
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Can dethatching hurt your lawn?
Spring dethatching hits a lawn hard when it is already in a precarious condition. Dethatching in the spring with power equipment can cause crabgrass and other weeds to grow on your lawn.
The best way to avoid this problem is to keep the lawn in good condition by keeping it well watered and fertilized throughout the growing season. If you don’t do this, you may find that you have a lot of weeds growing in your yard, which is not a good thing.
How do you know when to dethatch?
If your thatch is 1–2 inches or more, you’ve probably already seen signs of poor grass color and weak, thin growth. The time for action is now if you have confirmed your thatch exceeds the healthy mark. The first step is to remove the dead grass and replace it with healthy grass.
This can be done in a variety of ways, but the most common method is by using a lawn mower. You can also use a weed whacker or a rake to get rid of any weeds that may be growing in the area. If you’re not sure how to do this, check with your local county Extension office for more information.
Should I mow before dethatching?
The soil should be moist, not dry. A dethatch can pull turf out of the soil if it is too wet. It’s a good idea to dethatch during cooler weather. Before you start the next season’s mowing, mow the lawn to half its normal height.
When you mow your lawn, be sure to keep the mower blade at a 45-degree angle to the ground. This will help prevent the blade from digging into the soil and damaging the turf. You can also use a lawnmower with a blade angle of 45 degrees or less.
Should I mow after dethatching?
After dethatching, rake up the newly exposed thatch. Mowing your lawn will also help to clean things up. Fertilizing at this time is important. This will allow your lawn to recover and get the needed vitamins and minerals back into the soil.
Should you fertilize after dethatching?
Yes, you should fertilize after dethatching. You need to help your grass recover because it has not received the water and nutrition it needs. You can fertilize once you finish dethatching and watering. Depending on the type of grass you are using, you can either use a liquid quick release or a granule slow release.
If you want to use the granules, make sure they are the right size. If you use too small of a size, the fertilizer will not be absorbed by the grass and will end up in the soil instead of on your plants. Make sure you have enough fertilizer to cover the entire surface of your lawn.
