There is some controversy as to dethatching a lawn and using a dethatcher. But first, there are some things to know about what thatch is. Thatch is builtup of dead grass, dried soil, crushed leaves, and other things that may lay dormant on the lawn. Most of this is created during the winter season. If you are thinking that the lawn needs dethatching you can either rent and/ or buy a dethatching machine and do it yourself, or pay a company to do it for you.
One way to help de-thatch, and fix thatch spots is to aerate which is a much more cost-effective alternative. Plugs from aeration will show how healthy your lawn is. On the top layer, you will see the fresh, green grass. The second layer will be where you see the thatch, and the third layer will be where the fresh soil is. Here is where you can the ratio of the three layers. Aerating will help the fresh soil and root system breathe and take full benefits of watering.
What are some problems with aerating?
One of the biggest controversies about aerating is that because it is a machine that pulls the thatch from the ground it can tear up the lawn and cut the roots. Then you have a bigger problem because now your root system is destroyed. The root system is the foundation for a healthy lawn. Recently, Erbert Lawns has switched to liquid aeration which removes the chance for something to go wrong. Additionally, liquid aeration creates a healthy root system longer than traditional aeration.
If you are going to dethatch the lawn make sure you either know what you are doing or pay a good company to do it properly. You can always try other methods first that are safer for the lawn to see if that will help.
