What is “thatch”? It is the layer of debris made up of dead grass clippings that build up above the soil and below the blades of grass. Excessive thatch most often occurs when it is fertilized too often, the grass clippings are too long or there are not enough of the micro-organisms that can decompose the thatch. When the thatch layer gets too deep, the lawn will begin to thin. Lawns with heavy thatch will tend to have a shallow root system, making the grass harder to maintain. Thatch can keep water, air, and nutrients from getting to the roots. Lawns with excessive thatch are also more likely to have problems with diseases. **Gold Leaf recommends having your lawn de-thatched in early spring to help promote new seedling growth through-out the season.** |
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Why is too much Thatch bad?
What are the Indications that your lawn needs De-thatching?
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Gold Leaf likes to start lawn aeration in early spring. Depending on your soil type and the traffic on your lawn, it may need aerating every second or third season. Despite all the claims about aerating your lawn by wearing spikes attached to your shoes, core or plug aerators are the only good ways to aerate a lawn. These machines pull up a core of soil and leave it on the surface of the soil. This does the best job. These machines should pull out plugs that are about the size of your little finger. It may sound like a lot of holes, but the aerator should be run back and forth until there are 20-40 holes in every square foot. |
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The holes allow for air, water and vital nutrients to better penetrate the soil. It also gives the roots room to expand. The lawn will look somewhat rough for a few weeks, but the benefits you will see with your lawn will be well worth it. With the core aeration, the machines leave the cores on the surface to break down over the next few weeks. The soil in the cores contains microorganisms that help digest thatch naturally, creating a much healthier lawn. With core aeration it helps encourage a deep rooting system; increases air in the soil, improves water and nutrient penetration, and encourages growth of beneficial microorganisms. **Gold Leaf encourages all customers to consider lawn aeration to their lawn about once every year to ensure a healthy and lush lawn. |