Like a lot of homeowners, chances are you’ve heard of thatch and worry that it’s something that could be harming your lawn. You care about having a healthy and thriving lawn and want to take the proper steps to keep it that way.
The good news is that thatch buildup is not a significant problem here in Ohio and Northern Kentucky, mostly thanks to our common grass types. But that’s not to say that thatch is never an issue.
In this article, we’ll tell you everything that you need to know about thatch, including how to handle it, so that you can have a lawn that you’re proud of.
Jump to:
What is Thatch in a Lawn?
What Causes Thatch?
What Does Thatch Look Like?
How to Address Thatch Buildup
Choosing Lawn Care Services in Cincinnati, Dayton, OH and Northern Kentucky
What is Thatch in a Lawn?
Thatch is the organic layer made up of dead and living stems which naturally occurs on the lawn. It builds up between the surface of the soil and the bottom of the grass blades. A little bit of thatch is normal and naturally occurring. The trouble starts when a half-inch or more of this layer has collected on your lawn.
A heavy thatch layer can lead to trouble. Excessive thatch may increase the likelihood of pest problems by harboring insect populations. It may also make your lawn more prone to turf disease, because the thatch layer remains moist and dark (an ideal environment for fungus growth).
What Causes Thatch?
As we mentioned, thatch can be naturally occurring. But sometimes the health of the soil and a lack of beneficial microbial activity can play a role in excessive thatch growth.
The grass type can also play a role in thatch buildup. Bluegrass lawns are much more prone to thatch growth due to its rhizomatous growth habits - that’s when grass grows horizontally underground via shoots rather than in clumps like most fescues.
Fortunately, we don’t deal with a ton of thatch buildup since most lawns in our area are not primarily Bluegrass lawns.
What Does Thatch Look Like?
Thatch looks like a brown, spongy layer of grass.
It’s not usually very noticeable, particularly if you only have a small amount (as most lawns here do). But if you have some thatch buildup, you might notice a spongy feel when walking across those areas of the lawn.
It can be a little confusing understanding the difference between thatch vs. dead grass. While dead grass is one component of thatch, true thatch is a layer of the lawn itself whereas dead grass is going to be completely brown throughout.
How to Address Thatch Buildup
The best way to deal with thatch is with lawn aeration. There is an antiquated service called dethatching which is an incredibly stressful process that often ends up harming your healthy grass more than doing any real good.
When a dethatcher is run on the lawn, the idea is for it to mechanically pull the thatch layer out. Unfortunately, this equipment can also cause collateral damage when the dethatcher pulls up not only the thatch but a significant amount of healthy grass and soil as well.
Instead, lawn aeration works by pulling cores of soil from the lawn and creating holes. Because thatch can hold some really beneficial nutrients and organic material, we don’t want to strip it from the lawn. Instead, by making these holes, the thatch can fall into them and break down over time. This adds beneficial nutrients to the soil.
Aerating annually is typically sufficient. However, if you have a Bluegrass lawn and you have some significant thatch buildup, you will want to consider aerating in both the spring and the fall.
We also recommend seeding with turf type tall fescue at the time of lawn aeration. This grass species is much less prone to thatch buildup. It’s also more disease-resistant and drought-tolerant, making it an overall excellent choice.
Choosing Lawn Care Services in Cincinnati, Dayton, OH and Northern Kentucky
Keeping your lawn in optimal shape boils down to working with the best lawn care service.
Ultimately, you want to seek out a lawn care company that offers lawn aeration as a part of its program, as this is one of the best things that you can do for your lawn. It not only helps prevent thatch buildup but it keeps your soil from becoming compacted. This is valuable when it comes to circulating water, oxygen, and nutrients down to the root zone.
Making a wise choice in lawn care services is an investment in your lawn’s health.
At Oasis Turf & Tree, we are always available to answer your questions whether they are about thatch or anything else that might be concerning you with your lawn. We can also offer high-quality lawn aeration services that will keep your lawn looking its best.
Given the turf and soil conditions in our region, lawn aeration is not only the most effective way to eliminate thatch, but it is also one of the best things you can do to improve your lawn’s health, and that’s why we recommend aeration as a valuable component of any comprehensive lawn care program.
If you’d like to find out more about our lawn care programs including a lawn aeration service for your Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio, or Northern Kentucky home, give us a call at 513-697-9090 or contact us for a free estimate.
