Lawn dethatching: What is it, is it worth my time, and when should it be done?

Dethatching your lawn involves the process of mechanically removing dead grass and plant material (thatch) from your lawn. Dethatching typically uses flexible metal spring-tines to pull dead grass (thatch) up to the surface so it can be removed. This process can be very labor intensive and result in a lot of debris removal. Dethatching your lawn is beneficial when you have a high amount or thick layer of “thatch” that can interfere with proper sun, air, water and nutrient requirements for healthy grass growth.

Dethatching lawns in Urbandale, Polk City, Johnston and Ankeny lawns is best done in early spring or late fall. Dethatching should be done in early spring before a crabgrass preventer treatment is applied or before you overseed if seeding in the spring. If you dethatch after a crabgrass preventer application you will break the weed “barrier”, increasing your chances of sprouting crabgrass and other annual weeds. Dethatching early in the spring will also help stand the grass up after being matted down by snow and help get it off to a quick start. Dethatching in the fall can be beneficial if doing it before aeration and overseeding as it will allow more seed-to-soil contact. A thick layer of thatch can result in seed just sitting in the latch layer and not germinating.

Is dethatching necessary?

Dethatching every year is typically not necessary. We do however, recommend aerating your lawn every fall. Doing this allows thatch to rapidly decompose naturally and provides other benefits such as relieving soil compaction and improving air circulation, nutrient availability, and water infiltration. We provide both stand-alone aeration services as well as lawn treatment service packages which include fall aeration. A little thatch is ok and perfectly normal, but if you feel your lawn may be smothering itself and you don’t remember the last time it was dethatched, please reach out. Call us at 515-639-0604 or request an estimate online. LawnOxygen would love to provide you with a free lawn analysis and consultation on options.