How Often Should You Thatch Your Lawn?

Most lawn services suggest an annual routine of services, many of which include thatching. Thatching is a serious procedure for turf, and lawn owners would be wise to consult an expert before giving the go-ahead.

Identification

De-thatching, or just thatching, is the removal of matted grass and matter that has packed tightly around the bases of grass plants.

Benefits

Thatching allows soil to "breathe" and water to get to plant roots.

Considerations

Thatch must become very dense (at least half an inch deep) before it harms a lawn, a depth more often than not due to heavy clay, wet soils or soils with an unusually high pH.

Warning

Grass and other plants that grow through stolons and rhizomes need the protection that thatch provides to shield roots from heat and dryness; its removal can threaten the health of the lawn.

Insight

Grass clippings contain water and nutrients and nourish a lawn. Aeration often is more beneficial than thatching because it breaks up thatch but does not strip the soil of its protective cover and cut growing roots.

Time Frame

Problem soils should be corrected if thatch is a problem; thatching should be done no more than every two or three years if soil problems persist. Many lawns never need thatching.

Resources

• Aerating and thatching