What is thatch?
Thatch is a layer of organic matter consisting mostly of dead grass plants and leaves. This thatch lays down horizontally between the grass plant and the soil. Overtime thatch can build up to a point where it no longer allows air, water, and fertilizer to the roots, resulting in poor turf health.
Al’s Lawn and Garden has crews that specialize at reducing your lawns thatch layer. Our dethatchers have sharp knives that vertically cut into this thatch layer. This process brings thatch to the lawn’s surface where it is then raked and disposed of by our crew. This reduction of thatch will allow water, air and fertilizer down to the roots resulting in improved turf health. Dethatching is primarily done in the spring and fall.
Overseeding after dethatching is a common practice, as dethatching encourages good seed to soil contact which is vital for seed germination.