How to Dethatch Your Lawn

From fertilizing to watering and mowing, you probably spent a good chunk of your spring and summer caring for your lawn. After all, keeping your yard green and lush takes hard work and dedication. Now that it's fall, however, the work is not over! Fall is the perfect time to dethatch your lawn and ensure it stays green and healthy.

What Is Dethatching?

Dethatching describes the mechanical process of removing a layer of dead turfgrass and tissue, known as “thatch,” from your otherwise healthy lawn. Thatch is considered a residue that's harmful to your lawn as it keeps water and nutrients from getting to where they need to go. While this may be a process that you don’t think is as vital or common as mowing your lawn, it’s actually just as important to your yard’s health!

How to Tell if Your Lawn Needs Dethatching

A telltale sign signifying your lawn needs dethatching is when you water the lawn and the fluid runs off without seeping into the soil. To check for thatch, get down on your knees so that you’re at ground level. Examine the grass, paying special attention to spot an underlying layer of thatch, which is a thin layer of organic debris forming between leaf blades and the roots of your grass. Characteristically, this substance is grayish-brown and looks like grass stems that have fused together. If there is an inch or more of this substance, you need to dethatch.

When Should You Dethatch?

One thing that separates the process of mowing a lawn from that of dethatching is the fact that there are specific times where dethatching is appropriate. The early fall is ideal for dethatching in climates that host “cool-season” lawn types. Creeping bentgrass, fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, rough bluegrass, and ryegrass all fall into this category.

You’ll want to dethatch your lawn early enough in the fall to allow it time to grow after the process is over, reestablishing itself before the winter brings a stifling layer of frost. For the best possible results, dethatch when your soil is moist rather than when it’s dry. However, you don’t want the soil to be over-saturated, as this could cause you to yank lawn pieces out by their roots, which leads to big “bald” spots in your yard. It’s also important to note that you should delay dethatching in the event of drought conditions or extreme heat. Finally, avoid late-fall dethatching as it could lead to the turf being weakened and damaged, which will only be exacerbated during the chilly winter months.

How to Dethatch

To dethatch your lawn, you’ll need to use a rake. However, a regular rake that you’d use to gather leaves is not the best option for the job. Instead, you’ll want to invest in a “power rake,” which is specifically made for this task. What makes this the easiest rake to use is its sharpened tines designed to lift thatch away from soil. If you don't want to purchase one, you can rent one of these rakes from a local hardware store or nursery. If the only available option is a run-of-the-mill leaf rake, then you can use that in a pinch.

This method should be used on thatch that is an inch or less thick across your lawn. Rake all the way across your lawn, digging deep in order to penetrate the thatch, loosening it and pulling it apart. If you have a larger lawn, use a power dethatcher (these are also available to rent for a reasonable price). When this part of the process is over, don’t be alarmed at how messy your yard will look. In fact, a mess means that you’re doing the chore correctly!

Next, it’s time to tidy the area. Gather the debris using a leaf rake and add it to your compost pile. Water the lawn and use this as a time to overseed and fertilize the area. This is particularly important in bare areas that were unveiled during this process. Keep in mind that it will take approximately three to four weeks for your lawn to recover from this process and for it to show new growth.

Dethatching Tips and Tricks

This is an easy process, but we have a few tips and tricks to make it more effective and simple. The first trick is to flag irrigation heads or any other items embedded into your yard to ensure that they’re not damaged during the raking process. Next, mow your grass to half its normal height before beginning dethatching. This will allow you to see the thatch more vividly as you work through the task. Finally, water your lawn often and well in the weeks following the dethatching process to promote swift new growth!

Complete this easy process as one of your fall projects and you’ll love the results you see in your yard within weeks and even next spring and summer!