Reno Landscaping Dethatching Tips from Action Lawn & Landscape

This is what the actual layer of thatch build up looks like up close. As you can see it would be very hard for moisture to reach the roots.

Reno Landscaping Thatching Tips: Like many plants, grass has a belowground root system topped by a living, aboveground shoot that’s green and growing. In between lies a layer known as thatch. Some thatch is natural and good for a lawn, but too much can usher in problems.

Causes of Thatch

Although thatch forms naturally in most Reno Landscaping, some situations promote rapid thatch formation:

Over fertilizing with too much nitrogen
Overwatering
Always mowing too high
Heavy clay soil

How to determine if your lawn needs dethatching

Have Action Lawn & Landscape come and visually inspect your Reno Landscaping. We will explain the process and show you what to look for while we visit.
Measure the thatch . Another way to examine thatch is to excavate a lawn sample. Use a trowel or spade to remove a wedge-shaped layer of grass and soil about 3 inches thick, or just pry up a small section of turf. Look for the thatch layer lying directly on top of soil. Measure the thickness. A layer thicker than half of an inch signals it’s time to dethatch.

A combination of leaves, stems and roots – some living, some dead – thatch forms as a natural part of turf’s growing process. Remember It lies on top of the soil not the grass itself, a tightly woven layer beneath the visible grass blades. As long as it doesn’t get thicker than 1/2, thatch actually contributes to lawn health in these ways: