Coming out of winter, you might find that your grass is starting to feel spongy. This is the first sign of thatch build up, and if you leave it untreated it can ruin your lawn. Here are ANCO Geelong’s top tips for dethatching your lawn.

A thin layer of thatch is actually beneficial. It works to insulate your grass from extreme temperatures, keeps moisture in the soil and acts as a protective layer. Thatch is naturally occurring. It’s a layer of dead grass that gathers above the soil and is broken down by microbes. Thatch only becomes a problem when the build up is too fast for the organic processes to handle and it forms a thick layer.

When you have a large build up of thatch it can seriously damage your lawn. It creates a barrier that stops air and moisture from reaching your grass. This can lead to a weaker lawn that’s less drought tolerant and more susceptible to pest and disease problems.

How to treat Lawn Thatch

Here are our recommended methods for dethatching your lawn.

1. Low cut mowing

Also known as scalping your grass, this method uses equipment you’ve got on hand; just set your mower to the lowest setting. This process will remove your layer of thatch quickly and effectively, but it may take multiple runs. It’s important to use a catcher mower for scalping and to make sure that all grass clippings are removed from your lawn. This will give your lawn a fresh start and allow even regrowth.

2. Scariffer

A lawn scariffer is a motorised walk-behind machine equipped with blades that slice vertically through your lawn to pull out thatch and thin out your lawn. After using the scariffer you will need to remove the thatch with a catcher mower. This is a simple, effective process for removing thatch and scariffers are readily available from most hire companies.

The time is now

If thatch build up is a problem for you, now is the time to get on top of it. For warm variety grasses, remove thatch from late October to early December. Before this time, your lawn is still recovering from winter and will be more vulnerable to weeds. Plus, make sure that your grass isn’t entering its first spring season as this means it’s still in the infancy stage of its lifespan. Young lawns are still developing strong root systems as they enter summer, so adding extra strain isn’t advisable.

After Dethatching

Once you’ve effectively dethatched your lawn, you’ll want to fertilise and water it for best results and regrowth. After dethatching is a great time to topdress your lawn. You’ll end up using less sand and getting better, more even results.

Dethatching is a common problem with many simple solutions. Plus, there are significant benefits to dethatching your lawn. Your grass will have young, fresh regrowth with a softer leaf and better colour and vigour. This means that the grass will recover faster from wear and be less prone to disease.

If you’re not sure which method of dethatching will work best for you, or you’re looking for more guidance, talk to the expert team at ANCO Geelong.