Lawns, De-thatching

Undecomposed clippings may be dangerous to your lawn.

De-thatching can be done manually with rakes or mechanically with a machine called a "de-thatcher". Many garden and hardware equipment centers rent "de-thatchers" to homeowners.

Thatch is the term used to describe the accumulation or buildup of undecom-posed clippings in the lawn.

Harmful to grass.

Excessive thatch buildup is harmful because it slows the growth of grass and interferes with insect and disease control measures. It also keeps moisture from penetrating uniformly when the lawn is watered. A thickness greater than one-fourth inch is undesirable.

Prevention…

To prevent thatch buildup, remove clippings when you mow, especially if you have vigorous, dense grass like St. Augustine and zoysia.

Dethatching is usually done in the late summer but it can be done in late spring or early summer if the problem is serious. If excessive thatch buildup does occur, it should be removed. This can be done manually with rakes or mechanically with a machine called a "de-thatcher". Many garden and hardware equipment centers rent "de-thatchers" to homeowners.

For more information on dethatching lawns; contact your local County Extension Office.