Just noticed the thatch is starting to build up in my lawn. (about 1/4"
deep)

I understand if the thatch is less than 1" deep, aeration will be as
beneficial to the lawn as removing the thatch.

Which would be the best way to proceed? Any pros or cons would be
appreciated.

Thanks

\Don

On Aug 20, 7:03*pm, "freckles" wrote:
Just noticed the thatch is starting to build up in my lawn. (about 1/4"
deep)

I understand if the thatch is less than 1" deep, aeration will be as
beneficial to the lawn as removing the thatch.

Which would be the best way to proceed? Any pros or cons would be
appreciated.

Thanks

\Don

Understand the cause of thatch, it is quick release liqued fertilisers
and short watering periods. Eliminate both and thatch wont be an issue.

On Aug 20, 8:03*pm, "freckles" wrote:
Just noticed the thatch is starting to build up in my lawn. (about 1/4"
deep)

I understand if the thatch is less than 1" deep, aeration will be as
beneficial to the lawn as removing the thatch.

Which would be the best way to proceed? Any pros or cons would be
appreciated.

Thanks

\Don

Well it does depend on your type of grass, the soil the local
weather conditions etc.

A quarter inch is desirable in my book. It denotes a normal
healthy lawn in my area. No "thatch" is not normal and it leaves the
soil uncovered so it dries out faster and is subject to causing wide
swings of soil temperature, which is not good.

De-thatching is over sold in my opinion. In most areas a healthy
lawn will not need it. Over fertilizing can cause to much of a build
up in some areas.

wrote:
On Aug 20, 8:03 pm, "freckles" wrote:
Just noticed the thatch is starting to build up in my lawn. (about 1/4"
deep)

I understand if the thatch is less than 1" deep, aeration will be as
beneficial to the lawn as removing the thatch.

Which would be the best way to proceed? Any pros or cons would be
appreciated.

Thanks

\Don

Well it does depend on your type of grass, the soil the local
weather conditions etc.

A quarter inch is desirable in my book. It denotes a normal
healthy lawn in my area. No "thatch" is not normal and it leaves the
soil uncovered so it dries out faster and is subject to causing wide
swings of soil temperature, which is not good.

De-thatching is over sold in my opinion. In most areas a healthy
lawn will not need it. Over fertilizing can cause to much of a build
up in some areas.

One oft-overlooked method, IMHO, is raking - not that I would do it,
mind you. I HATE raking...

On Aug 20, 9:26*pm, Shanghai McCoy wrote:
wrote:
On Aug 20, 8:03 pm, "freckles" wrote:
Just noticed the thatch is starting to build up in my lawn. (about 1/4"
deep)

I understand if the thatch is less than 1" deep, aeration will be as
beneficial to the lawn as removing the thatch.

Which would be the best way to proceed? Any pros or cons would be
appreciated.

Thanks

\Don

* * Well it does depend on your type of grass, the soil the local
weather conditions etc.

* * A quarter inch is desirable in my book. *It denotes a normal
healthy lawn in my area. *No "thatch" is not normal and it leaves the
soil uncovered so it dries out faster and is subject to causing wide
swings of soil temperature, which is not good.

* * De-thatching is over sold in my opinion. *In most areas a healthy
lawn will not need it. *Over fertilizing can cause to much of a build
up in some areas.

One oft-overlooked method, IMHO, is raking - not that I would do it,
mind you. I HATE raking...- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


1/4" of thatch is perfectly normal and not a problem. Thatch only
becomes a problem when it becomes so thick and dense that water can't
penetrate. That's probably around an inch or so. Most people
mistake the normal decaying matter on the soil surface as thatch,
which it really isn't. Sounds like that is what you have here.
Google a bit and you can find pictures of real thatch. When you take
a 6" square piece of turf up, it looks like a thick, dense layer,
almost like a thatch hut roof. It's generated in varying amounts by
different types of grass and as the previous poster pointed out,
excessive fertilization will increase it.

If you want to aerate, you can do it. I would not do it based on the
observation of 1/4 of thatch. If you want to do it to reduce
compaction, overseed, etc, that that could be appropriate. And I
would definitely not de-thatch, because you don't appear to have a
thatch problem and de-thatching is more destructive in the sense that
it rips apart and kills a lot of good grass in the process.

Find the most expensive answer, and spend your stimulus check. GWB will
thank you.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"freckles" wrote in message
...
Just noticed the thatch is starting to build up in my lawn. (about 1/4"
deep)

I understand if the thatch is less than 1" deep, aeration will be as
beneficial to the lawn as removing the thatch.

Which would be the best way to proceed? Any pros or cons would be
appreciated.

Thanks

\Don

On Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:03:17 -0500, "freckles"
wrote:

Just noticed the thatch is starting to build up in my lawn. (about 1/4"
deep)

I understand if the thatch is less than 1" deep, aeration will be as
beneficial to the lawn as removing the thatch.

Which would be the best way to proceed? Any pros or cons would be
appreciated.

Thanks

\Don





Unless your lawn is compacted, aeration is not really necessary.
Removing 1/4" thatch is not needed, unless you plan to overseed
shortly thereafter. Use less the recommended lawn fertilizer salts
and consider applying an organic fertilizer (composted manure,
seaweed, pellitized chicken manure, Milorganite, etc) once a year to
encourage earthworm activity which will aerate your lawn.

On Aug 20, 7:03*pm, "freckles" wrote:
Just noticed the thatch is starting to build up in my lawn. (about 1/4"
deep)

I understand if the thatch is less than 1" deep, aeration will be as
beneficial to the lawn as removing the thatch.

Which would be the best way to proceed? Any pros or cons would be
appreciated.

Thanks

\Don

Lawn maintenance guys push it since they make about 250 an hour here
doing it, I see neighbors do it, and my lawn looks better without
doing it.