Before you start dethatching, it’s always a good idea to clearly understand what thatch is and how it can affect your lawn. Once you know what thatch is and what to look for, you can make a few informed decisions about when to dethatch, how often to dethatch, and which dethatching equipment to use. So, let’s take a closer look at lawn thatch and see what all the fuss is about.
This article may contain affiliate links, meaning I may get a small commission if you make a purchase through links on this site at no additional cost to you. Visit our affiliate disclosure page to learn more.
What is Lawn Thatch? (Overview)
Lawn thatch is the organic layer of material that accumulates on top of your lawn topsoil and begins to decompose. This organic material is typically made up of dead grass, grass clippings, and leaves that work their way down through your lawn and start to decompose. As a result, all these materials that sit above the topsoil are classified as lawn thatch.
Why Does My Lawn Have So Much Thatch? (A Closer Look)
Lawn thatch is simply any organic material on top of your lawn that is allowed to decompose. The thatch lawn will vary from lawn to lawn depending on a few specific factors, such as do you collect your grass clippings, the type of grass you have, and what other vegetation makes its way onto your lawn. So, let’s take a closer look at these different factors that can affect lawn thatch.
Grass Clippings Accumulation
The bulk of lawn thatch is made up of the grass clippings which are left on the lawn after your mow. Now depending on whether you use a bagger on your lawn mower, the volume of organic material varies.
For example, if you use a bagger, you’ll collect the bulk of the material but not all of it. There will still be a certain percentage that makes its way down through your lawn. Now if you don’t use a bagger. For example, if you have a large lawn mower, such as a riding mower or a zero-turn, these mowers typically don’t have collection systems. If that’s the case, all the grass clippings are left on your lawn, just waiting to become part of the thatch.
Type of Grass
The next factor that will affect how much organic material becomes thatch is your type of lawn grass. For example, warm-season grasses such as Zoysia, Bermuda, and Centipede grass are all notorious for creating a lot of thatch, along with cool-season grasses such as Kentucky, Creeping Bentgrass, and Red Fescue. But, if you have grass such as Ryegrass, you’ll have little to no thatch produced naturally by your lawn. Another thing to remember is that many of us have more than one grass type on our lawn. Now this could be from using blended grass seeds, or in my situation, my neighbor’s lawn has grown into mine, and we have different types of grass. So as you can see, thatch can be different from one grass type to another.
Neighboring Vegetation
Neighboring vegetation can include a whole bunch of different things, from trees, shrubs, and plants dropping leaves and flowers. I’ll rarely spend much time, if any, picking this type of vegetation up. Usually, I’ll just use my lawn mower to mulch up anything that has fallen. Also, when it comes time to trim my shrubbery, I typically mulch up the trimming with my mower. So, even if you are bagging, some of this material will still make its way through your lawn and down to the soil.
Will Thatch Go Away By Itself?
Well, thatch will naturally decompose over time and finally becomes topsoil. But this takes quite some time. Typically what you will find is the rate at which new material is being added to the thatch layer is too quick, and there isn’t enough time for the material to decompose. What ends up happening is the thatch layer becomes too thick too quickly. So, will thatch go away by itself? It’s very unlikely that thatch will decompose quickly enough so it doesn’t become overwhelming for your lawn. Hence why you need to dethatch your lawn to avoid thatch problems.
How Do You Prevent Lawn Thatch?
I wouldn’t say you can completely prevent thatch, but you can reduce how much is produced. To try to keep your thatch from accumulating too quickly, I recommend that you bag your clippings and collect any fallen vegetation. This would include picking up all the fall leaves, shrubbery trimming, plus any other organic material that could work its way to becoming thatch over the year.
How to Tell If You Have Thatch
To determine if your lawn has thatch, I recommend taking a soil sample. By this, I mean removing a small section of the grass/soil/thatch with a tool such as an Edward’s bulb planter to get a good look at the different layers. So, what does lawn thatch look like? Well, it’s all the material above the topsoil. Usually, what you will find is a spongy brown material just above the topsoil. This is the thatch. If your lawn has more than ½” of thatch, then you should dethatch your lawn.
Lawn Thatch FAQ
If you discover that your lawn has more than 1/2 inch of thatch, then you’ll want to schedule a time to dethatch. Dethatching can be done in two ways, the right way and the wrong way. Therefore, to avoid any problems associated with dethatching incorrectly, here are a few frequently asked questions about lawn dethatching to get you off on the right foot. Let’s take a closer look.
How Do You Remove Thatch?
To remove thatch, you will need to use a lawn dethacher tool which will rake/cut out any unwanted thatch. The process of dethatching a lawn includes mowing, dethatching, and cleaning up.
What Tools Do You Use to Dethatch a Lawn?
Dethatching equipment is available in a variety of different tools. These include tools ranging from manual hand-held tools, powered equipment, and towable attachments. Personally, I use the Sun Joe Scarifer/Dethacher AJ80 for my medium-sized yard. Here are a few examples of different dethatching tools.
Lawn Dethatching Equipment Examples
| Equipment | Power Source | Suitable Yard Size |
|---|---|---|
| Dethatching Rake | Hand-Held | Small |
| Power Dethatcher | Gas Corded Electric Battery | Small-Medium-Large |
| Power Scarifier | Gas Corded Electric Battery | Small-Medium-Large |
| Verticutters | Gas | Medium-Large |
| Power Rakes | Gas | Medium-Large |
| Towable Dethatcher | Ride-on / Tractor Mower | Medium-Large |
Which Is Better, Scarifying Vs. Dethatching?
Depending on the thickness of your lawn thatch, you may want to choose between a scarifier vs. a dethatcher. Or you may want to use a combination of both tools. Typically you would use a dethatcher to remove the very top of the thatch, including new organic material, whereas, for deeper/thicker lawn thatch, I recommend using a scarifier. Here are a few tools that come with dethatching and scarifying attachments that suit the typical yard: Best Lawn Dethatcher 2023
When Should You Dethatch a Lawn?
When picking the right time of year to dethatch a lawn, it’s suggested that you plan for when the grass is actively growing. Typically, grass grows in late spring and early fall. However, if your lawn is dormant due to the heat of summer or due to pests or disease, you should avoid dethatching altogether.
How Often Should You Dethatch a Lawn?
It’s pretty standard for most homeowners to schedule dethatching at least once or twice a year, whether they are DIY’ers or hire professionals. When figuring out how often you should dethatch your lawn, the main thing to remember is to check the thickness of the thatch, make sure it’s the right time of year, and use the right equipment. If you tick all of these boxes, then twice a year should be as much as you need to dethatch.
What Should You Do After Dethatching?
Once you have finished dethatching your lawn, you should take several dethatching aftercare steps. These steps ensure that not only will your lawn bounce back quickly but also that your lawn will flourish in the future.
Here are the six dethatching aftercare steps.
- Dispose of the Thatch
- Mow Your Lawn
- Give Your Lawn a Good Soaking
- Aerate Your Lawn
- Overseed as Needed
- Apply Fertilizer
What are the Dethatching Mistakes to Avoid?
I’ve already mentioned a few dethatching mistakes to avoid, such as dethatching at the wrong time. Still, there are a few more mistakes you’ll want to steer clear of. Here are a few examples:
- Using the Wrong Dethatching Equipment
- Trying to Dethatch Wet Grass
- Dethatching When There Are Lots of Weeds
- Dethatching an Unestablished Lawn
- Not Following the Aftercare Steps
Can Dethatching Harm Your Lawn?
While there are definitely more pros than cons to dethatching, there are still some ways dethatching can damage your lawn. However, you can take steps to avoid harming your lawn by carefully planning and keeping an eye on your lawn’s health. Here are a few examples of how dethatching can damage your lawn:
- Damage From the Dethatching Process
- Spread of Disease & Fungus
- Promotes Weed Growth
- Vulnerable to Hot/Cold Weather
- Creates High Levels of Stress
