Is it a good idea to "thatch" your lawn and get out all the tan dead looking grass out or does it even matter?

Answer 1

Let me give you this example. Someone wraps a scarf around your neck, mouth and throat. Another person comes and does the exact same thing. To add to that, a third person duplicates the previous actions. Can you breath, maybe. Can you eat, not likely. Can you drink water, again, not likely. Welcome to thatch!
Your turfgrass is not unlike you. It need to have food, water, air, and support (maintenance). In the absence of either of these elements it dies. The thatch acts as the scarves.
If you can see, actually see yellowing, below the turf you will need to get a mechanical de-thatching machine. It will make a mess and create a lot of bags of debris. In the long run it will allow the air to infiltrate the soil, the fertilizers to penetrate, and the water to flow to the roots.
If the area is small enough you can go over it with a heavy (non moving) rake once then a metal tined lawn rake twice to remove the majority of the thatch. Use the Metal tine rake the opposite direction to which you normally mow to unbed the thatch.
If you are seeing yellow assume that the material you remove has already absorbed any seed, fertilizer, insecticide and weekiller you have applied. Begin your lawn program anew with this. Good Luck

Answer 2

Cut a plug from your lawn. Look at the layer just above the soil line. The thatch is a compacted layer on top, dead grass above that is not the thatch. Thatch is from dead rhizomes/roots, not grass blades........grass blades should decompose quickly....should.

Now if that thatch layer is more than 1/2-3/4 inch, yes have it removed. You can do it yourself with a good steel rake...it's a great workout!! Mechanical dethatchers can be rented. They are flailing tines that flick up the thatch. You want just the thatch removed, not the lawn, be careful.

After you rake up and dispose of the thatch, you might consider aeration. This rental machine poked holes down into the soil and removing them. Afterwards it looks like herd of poddles have deposited on the lawn. These you don't have to remove if you don't wish. Anyway, the holes left behind allow oxygen and fertilizer to reach the roots.

There's another type of aeration machine often used on bermudagrass lawns, it's a vertical slicer. Imagine running a giant knife through the lawn. It also opens up the soil, but doesn't live the little "corks" around the lawn.

Now, getting back to the thatch, if you have less than 3/4 inch, forget the dethatching and instead use the core aeration. The increase oxygen and water penetration will increase the natural decomposition of the thatch layer.

Ideally you should be managing your lawn to decompose the thatch layer. This is done by proper watering and fertilizing. Too much or too little of either promotes the thatch layer. Natural fertilizers....manure based.......also help control thatch.

Oh........!!! Why thatch? First the layer inhibits water, oxygen and fertilizer from getting to the roots. Water can actually run across the thatch layer and not into the soil. Second, thatch is a good home for soil insects like the sod web worm or Mayflies; one eats your lawn, the Mayflies fly up your nose and into your mouth....pesky critters.

Answer 3

A thin layer (1/2" or less) is actually good for your lawn. It helps to reduce water evaporation, cuts down on weeds, and protects from frost damage. If the thatch is thick, then it can prevent your lawn from receiving the proper amounts of air, water, and nutrients which can cause a reduction in the root growth of your grass. If you have more than 1/2" of thatch, you should de-thatch soon. Doing it in mid to late spring will help ensure that your lawn will recover from the process. To reduce the amount of thatch in your yard, avoid over watering or over fertilizing, remove grass clippings after mowing your lawn, and rake fallen leaves during the autumn months.

Answer 4

What type of lawn do you have? Most runner type of grass do need to be thatch at lease ever two years. If not they go very sponge like and water finds it hard to get under.

Answer 5

Yes it is a good ideal but if your lazy don't bust your but.