Thatch Lawn Problems
Most people who own or rent a home enjoy having their yard look fresh and neat. Many problems alter the appearance of a lawn, including pests, weeds and even a lack of regular maintenance, such as mowing and raking leaves. One major problem many homeowners are not aware of with lawn maintenance is thatch. Thatch is an accumulation of plant matter on the base of the lawn grass. "Thatching" a yard is actually the process of de-thatching, or removing thatch from the yard. Does this Spark an idea?
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Thatch
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Thatch is the "build up of excessive unwanted material in your lawn that can choke out air, water, and sunlight," according to the Aerate Lawn website. Thatch is usually formed from plant roots and old plants matter. Thatch can also be formed by dead layers of sod that remain from an insect infestation. These deposits build up a layer that creates a problem for the growing lawn and plants.
Effects
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A heavy thatch layer makes plants more susceptible to insects and diseases, such as root rot. When the thatch layer builds up, it can block the roots of plants from reaching the nutrient-rich soil beneath it. This causes the plants to try to derive their nutrients from the thatch, which has little to no nutrients in it. Finally the thatch layer can absorb the water and fertilizer sprayed on to the soil before it penetrates into the soil.
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Prevention
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According to a horticulture report put out by Kansas State University, it is better to prevent a thatch buildup then to try to deal with one when it occurs. One major way to prevent thatch is to water only when needed and soak the soil deeply, for a long period of time, instead of many short waterings. Cutting the grass shorter will prevent thatch from building up, as will cutting more frequently and removing all clippings from the yard.
Dealing with Existing Thatch
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First, determine how much thatch is present. Cut a small wedge of turf out of the soil with a knife and look at the layer of thatch at the base of the lawn. If there is more than ½ inch of thatch, de-thatching is necessary. Remove thatch one of one of two ways; aerating or verti-cutting. Aerating and verti-cutting involve heavy machinery that can be rented or the job can be hired out to professionals. These two machines are difficult to use and physically taxing.
De-thatching Schedule
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The frequency with which you should de-thatch is determined by the amount of thatch present on your lawn. If there is less than ¼ inch of thatch, thatching is not necessary. When dealing with ¼ inch to 1 inch of thatch, thatch once every one or two years. In extreme cases, such as when there is more than 1.5 inches of thatch, it is best to remove the lawn and replant it.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit lawn image by Allyson Ricketts from Fotolia.com
