Thatch buildup happens if there is poor soil aeration and drainage. Improper lawn watering practices (usually too much water or too frequent water), cold soil temperatures, the use of chemical pesticides, and the use of synthetic fertilizers are all factors that increase thatch accumulation in lawns.

How do I stop thatch on my lawn?

To prevent thatch buildup, use a high quality, slow release nitrogen fertilizer, such as a GreenView Fairway Formula Fertilizer, and mow to keep the grass about 3 inches tall.

Why does my lawn get so much thatch?

Thatch is a layer of dead turf material. By applying too much fertiliser to your turf, you can cause it to grow too fast for the natural soil fungi to destroy it, and thus thatch accumulates. It is okay for turf to have no thatch if you like firm turf, but your turf will suffer if the thatch layer grows too thick.

What is the main cause of thatch?

The primary component of thatch is turfgrass stems and roots, and accumulates as these plant parts buildup faster than they breakdown. In our area, environmental factors typically are another primary cause of thatch. Conditions favoring thatch include heavy, wet soils; alkaline, or high pH soils; and soil compaction.

Will lawn thatch go away?

It can take a couple of years to fully break up the thatch, but it will happen. Here are some other factors and tips to help you get rid of thatch through decomposition: You need to keep the soil moist underneath the thatch layer. When it dries out, decomposition ceases.

How do you get rid of thatch naturally?

Here’s how to get rid of thatch.

1. Dethatch. On a dry day, use a thatch rake or a stiff-tined rake to comb through the grass in a back-and-forth motion applying enough pressure to reach the bottom layer of thatch and slightly penetrate the soil.
2. Collect the Thatch.
3. Aerate and Seed.
4. We Know How to Get Rid of Thatch.

Does bagging grass prevent thatch?

Misconception #2: Collecting or bagging lawn clippings will reduce the amount of thatch in my lawn. Turf leaves (which are what we are cutting when we mow) contain little lignin and are easily broken down by soil microbes over the span of a few weeks and do not significantly contribute to thatch.

What does too much thatch look like?

Measure the thatch or brown spongy layer between the soil surface and the green grass plants. If the layer is greater than 3/4 inch, you have too much thatch. Roots can’t penetrate compacted soil very well.

How do I know if my lawn has too much thatch?

Take a garden trowel or spade and dig up a small wedge of your lawn grass and soil. You’ll be able to see and measure its thatch layer. If your thatch is 1–2 inches or more, you’ve probably already seen signs of poor grass color and weak, thin growth.

How is thatch created?

Thatch is a loose, intermingled organic layer of dead and living shoots, stems, and roots that develops between the zone of green vegetation and the soil surface. Thatch build up begins when turf produces organic debris faster than it can be broken down.

Does grass clippings cause thatch?

Contrary to a popular lawn myth, leaving clippings on the lawn does not cause thatch, which is a layer of partially decomposed grass-plant parts between the soil and live grass. Grass clippings are mostly water, so as long as you mow regularly at the right height, they will break down and disappear rapidly.

Do you have to pick up thatch?

Thatch, however, is a pretty light material, and there should be no problem picking it up with a lawn sweeper.

Will compost break down thatch?

It is possible to compost thatch, though it takes longer than other garden debris to break down. The other option is to mix the thatch pieces in with your leaves and garden debris in your regular compost pile. Keeping the pile moist and turning it occasionally may help the thatch break down more quickly.

Is it better to dethatch or aerate?

A dethatcher works well when you have a lot of dead grass on top of the soil, making the lawn feel spongy. An aerator is best used when the core has a thick layer of thatch, usually more than 0.5 inches.