When should I Dethatch my lawn in Colorado? Warm-season grass can be dethatched in late spring or early summer after it starts to grow. It is best not to do it in the middle or late of summer. Cool season grasses should be done in early fall (early September in zone 5) since this is the time when grass grows the best. Click to see full answer.
When should I dethatch my lawn?
Once you've confirmed your thatch exceeds the healthy mark, the time for dethatching has come. Like most major lawn projects, such as planting new lawns or overseeding existing lawns, dethatching should coincide with peak growth times for your grass type.
Should I dethatch my lawn or top dress it?
Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, it’s a disruptive process to say the least, and your lawn is going to need a Band-Aid and some time to heal. The first thing to do after dethatching is to remove the piles of thatch from your yard. After dethatching, seed the lawn and consider topdressing.
How much does it cost to dethatch a lawn?
Hand rake loose thatch after slicing, leaving the soil layer as topdressing. Simple, motorized dethatching machines can run from the low $100s to nearly $300.
Do you have to dethatch Bermuda grass every year?
Some varieties of grass must be dethatched each year. Prime offenders include cool-season grasses like Creeping Bentgrass and Kentucky Bluegrass and warm-season grasses like Bermudagrass and Zoysiagrass, according to Harbit. For other types of grass, thatch builds up over time so you don’t need to dethatch annually.
What is the best way to aerate a lawn?
Why is it important to aerate your lawn?
Why do we need to oversee in the fall?
Does Erbert aerate lawns?
When should you dethatch in Colorado?
Deeper thatch layers impede growth by keeping water from reaching turf's roots, and preventing turf's roots from reaching the nutrients in soil. Gauge thatch depth by cutting a sliver from your lawn. If it's deeper than a half or three-quarters of an inch, it's time for thatch removal.
When should I dethatch my lawn in Denver?
It's OK to overseed in spring, but fall does have its advantages. Autumn temperatures are typically more ideal for germination. And because aeration and dethatching are typically done in fall, your grass seed will have a better chance of taking root in the newly exposed soil.
Can dethatching hurt your lawn?
Dethatching Damage Spring dethatching hits a lawn hard when it is already in a precarious condition. Secondly, dethatching in the spring with power equipment can bring up crabgrass and other noxious weed seeds, setting your lawn up for a future infestation.
Should I power rake my lawn in Colorado?
We recommend power raking in Colorado Springs in the spring or fall. Power raking slices the surface stolons and stimulates new growth, thickening the lawn.
What month should I dethatch my lawn?
The best time to dethatch your lawn is when it's actively growing and the soil is moderately moist. For cool-season grasses, that's early spring or early fall. For warm-season grasses, dethatch in late spring through early summer (after the second mowing). That's when your grass is growing most vigorously.
Should I aerate or dethatch first?
It is best to dethatch first before aerating your lawn. Both dethatching and aerating your lawn will improve air, nutrient, and water penetration into the root zone of your grass. Thatch is the main problem these two processes address.
How do I know if my lawn needs dethatching?
If your thatch is 1–2 inches or more, you've probably already seen signs of poor grass color and weak, thin growth. Once you've confirmed your thatch exceeds the healthy mark, the time for dethatching has come.
What do I do after I dethatch my lawn?
After dethatching, rake up the newly exposed thatch. Mowing your lawn will also help to clean things up. Fertilizing at this time is also important. This will help your lawn recover and get much needed nutrients.
How do you get rid of thatch naturally?
0:222:49How to remove thatch from your lawn | Dethatching - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd most common method of thatch removal on home lawns is to simply drop the height on yourMoreAnd most common method of thatch removal on home lawns is to simply drop the height on your lawnmower. If your fetch is really thick this may have to be done gradually over a few most.
Is power raking the same as dethatching?
A dethatcher is a light-duty tool used to remove thatch that is up to 1/2-inch thick. A power rake is a heavy-duty garden tool primarily used by professional landscapers to lift and remove thatch that exceeds 1/2 inch in thickness.
When should I overseed my lawn in Colorado?
For Colorado's climate, the best time to overseed is in April or September. During these times, temperatures are cooler and moisture can be more abundant. This results in better germination and improved vigor of the newly germinated seedling.
How often should you fertilize your lawn in Colorado?
Lawns in Colorado Springs respond well to an application of fertilizer five times a year. Each of these feedings is essential to the proper development and maintenance of a healthy turf.
Is A Power Rake And A Dethatcher The Same Thing
A power rake is basically similar to a dethatcher, but the two remove thatch in and debris in different ways. Both power raking and dethatching fix the same problem in the lawn thatch and debris.
When To Use A Dethatcher
Dethatching is best done early in spring or during fall. It is a great practice before starting your spring fertilizer and maintenance program. You can also dethatch to loosen up soil when you want to overseed or the lawn.
What Is Dethatching A Lawn
Like power raking, dethatching is a process of removing thatch or that layer of dead grass and debris from the lawn. This layer usually blocks fertilizer from penetrating into the soil. It also prevents air transfer and the penetration of sunlight.
Proper Maintenance Is The Key To Keeping Your Yard Healthy And Beautiful
At Intermountain Lawns we are dedicated to quality in our workmanship. Proper maintenance is the key to keeping your yard healthy and beautiful. Our Weekly or Every 2 Week mowing and trimming service will keep your lawn looking great while you enjoy more time with your family & loved-ones.
Make Sure To Water Properly For The Best Results
It is really important to make sure that once the overseeded grass is watered, it remains moist during germination. Be careful not to overwater or the seeds will drown. Depending on the time of year, you may need to water 2-4 times a day in short-duration-bursts to keep from overwatering and washing the seed away.
Diy Or Call In A Lawn Care Pro
If slicing up that turf youve worked so hard on makes you more than a little nervous, its best to leave it in the hands of a professional lawn care service.
What If It Is Not The Right Time Of Year For A Power Rake
There are other services that you can do for your lawn if we are outside the power raking window. Other professional lawn care services that will help increase microbial activity and reduce thatch problems include: Double Aeration, sprinkler audit, adjustment in lawn care cultural practices , and a Humate application.
How often should I dethatch my lawn?
Generally, lawns prone to thatch buildup should be dethatched once a year. “Dethatching is typically done when the lawn is growing and able to repair and recover, and when weather conditions are conducive to survival (not too hot, cold, dry, wet…),”. Mann says.
Why is my lawn prone to rot?
Thatch inhibits nutrients, air and water from reaching the root layer of your lawn, resulting in a shallow root system and issues with fungus. Wet thatch can retain too much water during rainy seasons, leaving grass roots susceptible to rot.
What is the purpose of spring cleaning?
Did you know that your lawn can benefit from a good spring cleaning just like your home? While an indoor deep cleaning removes dust and dirt from ceiling lamps to baseboards, an outdoor “deep cleaning” focuses on eliminating thatch buildup that may be depriving your lawn’s root system of the water, air and nutrients it needs to stay lush and robust.
When do grass seeds germinate?
In most growing regions of the U.S., this means the spring or fall, when warm temperatures and ample precipitation promote rapid and hearty grass growth . “Try to avoid times of year when we would expect weed seed germination since the process of dethatching brings seeds to the surface,” adds Mann.
Do you need to dethatch grass every year?
For other types of grass, thatch builds up over time so you don’t need to dethatch annually.
Can grass die from a rake?
With so many wounds, grass plants may dry out and die.”. If your lawn is already compromised, dethatch with a rake or dethatching machine with rake tines. This method removes the layer of thatch without penetrating the soil beneath, so there is less chance of further damaging your grass.
When to dethatch grass?
Active grass growth helps speed your lawn's recovery. Dethatch cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, in late summer or early fall. Dethatch warm-season grasses, such as Bermudagrass or Zoysia grass, after spring green-up, as they enter early summer's peak growth. Never dethatch when your lawn is dormant or stressed;
How to tell if your lawn has thatch?
Take a garden trowel or spade and dig up a small wedge of your lawn grass and soil. You'll be able to see and measure its thatch layer. If your thatch is 1–2 inches or more, you've probably already seen signs of poor grass color and weak, thin growth. Once you've confirmed your thatch exceeds the healthy mark, the time for dethatching has come.
What is a manual dethatching rake?
Manual dethatching rakes are heavy, short-tined rakes with curved blades designed to dig into your lawn and pull up thatch as you rake. Dethatching rakes are good for light thatch and general thatch maintenance on small lawn areas.
Why is thatch a barrier?
Water from irrigation can accumulate in the thatch layer, too, so grass roots suffocate from lack of air.
What is thick thatch?
Thick thatch also provides a breeding ground for lawn disease and insect pests. Some lawn grasses are more prone to thatch buildup than other. Vigorous, spreading grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, Bermudagrass and creeping fescues, may need regular dethatching.
How thick is a thatch layer?
A thin thatch layer, less than 1/2-inch thick , is beneficial to lawn health.1 It acts as an organic mulch to help conserve soil moisture and protect against big fluctuations in soil temperatures. A thin thatch layer allows water, nutrients and air to penetrate into soil and reach waiting plant roots.
Where does thatch form?
A mix of dead and living plant material, thatch forms at the base of grass plants, where stems meet roots and soil. Some organic matter, such as small grass clippings or mulched leaves, break down quickly in healthy lawns, but other materials take much longer to decompose. When buildup outpaces breakdown, your lawn's thatch layer grows thicker.
How can I reduce thatch in my lawn?
Choosing or mixing in some perennial ryegrass or tall fescue will cut down on thatch production in your lawn. Test your soil periodically for its nutrient levels and acidity. Find out how much lime you need to keep those levels where they’ll promote healthy lawn growth and microbial populations that break down thatch.
How much does it cost to dethatch a rake?
How Much Dethatching Costs. Simple, motorized dethatching machines can run from the low $100s to nearly $300. Tow-behind dethatchers can vary widely, from about $70 to almost $3,000, depending on its size and features. Nonmotorized options can run as low as $35 for a simple thatching rake.
What is the most common method of dethatching?
What they have in common are spinning metal pieces that pierce and lift the thatch from the lawn. Some employ slicers, others metal tines (experts recommend the former as more effective).
How many times should I water my yard before bringing out the big guns?
The Virginia Extension recommends watering thoroughly two days before you plan to bring out the big guns. Run the dethatching machine over your yard at least three times, Callahan said, in different directions each time. The machine should churn up roughly the same volume of material each pass, he said.
What to do after dethatching?
The first thing to do after dethatching is to remove the piles of thatch from your yard. After dethatching, seed the lawn and consider topdressing. If you’ve taken plugs of soil, that soil can be left as a topdressing. But the planty thatch material should be removed.
What is a dethatching machine?
Dethatching machine pulling up a lot of thatch. Dethatching machines come in various forms. And although some lawn services and rental companies use the terms interchangeably, the machines perform dethatching by different means, with varying levels of intensity.
What is thatch in grass?
Thatch is a tightly intermingled layer of dead and living grass shoots, stems and roots that accumulate above the soil and below the green vegetation. A little bit of thatch is normal and even beneficial. It gives turf a bit of a bounce, beneficial for little feet and golf balls.
What is thatch in lawn?
Thatch is the build up of old grass roots and rhizomes. It is not the result of leaving grass clippings on the lawn. In fact grass clippings left on the lawn will reduce the amount of thatch. As the clippings decompose they also help decompose old roots and rhizomes. Different grasses produce thatch at different rates.
How to reduce thatch down?
The best way to reduce thatch down is to perform core aeration. Core aeration also has the benefit of improving soil structure, solving two problems at once. Core aeration in clay soil really only works in spring when the soil is moist.
How thick is thatch in grass?
You only have a problem if the thatch layer gets too thick so that water and air have trouble getting to grass roots. A thatch layer that is less than 1/2″ thick, is not a problem. Leave the grass alone.
How to measure thatch?
To measure the thickness of thatch, poke around the grass until you find the brown layer near the bottom of the grass blade. With your finger or a stick, poke a hole through the brown layer to the top of the soil. Measure the thickness of the thatch.
Which grasses produce thatch faster?
Warm climate grasses such as zoysia, Bermuda and buffalo produce thatch faster and may need to be dethatched more often. Cool season grasses such as bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass produce thatch more slowly. Some thatch is actually good for grass since it: insulates plant crowns from temperature fluctuation.
Do you need to dethatch grass in spring?
Most cool-season grass does not need to be dethatched, in which case you are just damaging the lawn. Secondly, the ground is still very wet in early spring. Walking on it compacts the soil, damaging soil structure, which makes it harder for your grass to grow. Stay off the lawn in spring.
Is dethatching bad for snow?
Early Spring Dethatching in Snow Country is a Bad Idea. In colder climates it has become a common ritual to dethatch as soon as the snow melts. People seem to want to get outside and do something, but dethatching at this time of year is a terrible idea.
What Is Lawn Thatch
Lawn thatch is a fibrous layer of predominantly dead and some living grass roots, stems and runners. This layer lies between leaves of the grass plant above the surface, and the root system below.
How To Know If Your Lawn Needs Dethatching
This article was co-authored by Jeremy Yamaguchi. Jeremy Yamaguchi is a Lawn Care Specialist and the Founder/CEO of Lawn 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.
Dethatching As Part Of Lawn Care
When prevention fails, the solution lies in dethatching. “Dethatching” a lawn refers to the mechanical removal from a lawn of a thatch layer that is too thick. Dethatching is not nearly as big a part of lawn care as is mowing. In fact, some homeowners may never need to dethatch the lawn.
Scarify And Rake Your Lawn
Scarifying and raking physically removes thatch, dead foliage and moss from your lawn.
How Do I Know If I Need To Dethatch
If you have a serious thatch problem, it is usually evident just by walking on the lawn. If your lawn feels very springy and crunchy underfoot, you most likely have a thick layer of thatch lurking under the grass.The best way to test the thatch accumulation is to remove and inspect a plug from your lawn.
The Best Time To Dethatch
The period of active growth and warming temperatures of spring are ideal for dethatching, but exactly when in spring depends on the type of turf you have.
What Is The Best Way To Dethatch My Lawn
To dethatch your lawn, you can either do it by yourself or you contact an expert.
Which direction should I dethatch my lawn?
The best system for dethatching is to make a pass in a North/South direction, then make a second pass in an East/West direction. Always mow your lawn before dethatching to improve the ease of access to the base of the turf, especially if you are using a hand rake.
How to get rid of thatch in yard?
Dethatching is another way to remove thatch debris from your yard but is a superficial surface action that does not dig down into the soil. A thin layer of thatch is beneficial to your lawn as it helps control temperature and moisture levels of the soil, but a thick layer will begin to harm your grass.
When to use scarifier on grass?
The ideal time to use a scarifier is after the active grass growing season starts.
How often should I scarify my yard?
You should scarify at home once a year but can do a second run near the end of the growing season if you see the yard is choking up again with thatch. Always mow your yard before using a scarifier, to reduce the amount of grass the machine must cut through.
When does bluegrass grow?
Some grasses actively grow in the spring, like Zoysia or Bermudagrass, while others, like Kentucky bluegrass, grow most actively in the fall. Because dethatching isn’t as destructive to the roots of the turf as scarifying, you can perform this task much earlier in the growing season without causing harm to your lawn.
Can you scarify a lawn with a lighter blade?
Top Features. Many scarifying machines have adjustable height blades, so you can go heavier ( deeper) or lighter (sha llower) depending on the needs of your lawn. This feature makes the scarifier more versatile when it comes to performing other lawn care procedures.
Can scarifying your lawn damage it?
Scarifying Cons. Lawn may look temporarily rough until fresh growth fills in. Overuse can damage your lawn by tearing up too much of the root system. Depending on how neglected the lawn is, you may need several passes at varying blade heights to properly clear the thatch.
What is the best way to aerate a lawn?
Liquid aeration is the better method of aerating a lawn because it provides entire coverage. The liquid is spread over the entire lawn and it essentially turns the lawn into a sponge by creating thousands of microscopic holes in your lawn. This method doesn’t leave a bunch of gopher holes and even provides better results.
Why is it important to aerate your lawn?
Over time you will notice your lawn will grow thin and shorter. Your lawn’s soil will get compacted from activities, rain, and even snow! This compacted soil doesn’t allow for your lawn to soak up nutrients and breathe properly. The key to proper lawn aeration is knowing ...
Why do we need to oversee in the fall?
The cool air and a freshly aerated lawn are the ideal settings for seeds to germinate. The reason we don’t recommend overseeding in the spring is that we spray pre-emergent. Pre-emergent is used to prevent crabgrass from growing but also prevents any new seeds from growing as well.
Does Erbert aerate lawns?
As of 2019, Erbert Lawns primarily does liquid aeration instead of core aeration for many reasons. The main reason is that it works better, but let me explain why.
