Dethatching Service

Thatch is a layer of grass stems, roots, clippings, and debris that settle on the ground and either slowly decompose or accumulate over time. Thatch buildup is commonly found where grass has grown tall, mulch is frequently left, and lawns have never been aerated. Thatch is most common in warm weather.

Dethatching is the process of removing thatch from your lawn. Most thatchers fail to pick up debris which then needs to be raked up by hand and removed. Because of the required hourly labor raking and removing the thatch and debris, this process is very time consuming and costly. With our state of the art equipment these steps are eliminated. My machine thatches, picks up, and disposes of debris in one step. Therefore, it is much more cost efficient for customers.

A small amount of thatch can be good for lawns. This is especially true during times of drought, water restrictions and high heat. It can act like insulation for the soil by providing a screen from sun light and helping to hold in moisture. Conversely, thatch that accumulates in excess of half an inch is a disadvantage to your lawn. It creates too much buffer between the soil and the grass, thereby preventing sufficient amounts of water, air, and nutrients (fertilizer) from reaching the soil. Excess thatch can also encourage insects, various lawn diseases and fungi. Much like aerating, dethatching should be done when your lawn can best recover, usually not during times of drought, water restrictions, and heat waves. For most lawns this is either in the late spring or early fall.

It is best to thatch in early spring before the trees sprout their leaves. Most bare spots and problem areas are around trees and the north side of permanent structures due to the lack of sunlight. I recommend completing this process before the leaves bloom. Once the leaves are on the trees ultraviolet rays are blocked. That is why it is imperative to do this before the leaves come on the trees, so ultraviolet rays will not be blocked around seeded areas. This allows the seed to germinate and gives it a healthy root system.