Dethatching Charlotte NC

1. Soil aeration and better water

The most important benefit of dethatching is the increased air space provided by the removal of thatch. When a lawn is dethatched, all or a portion of the thawed winter ground may be converted into air space by raking and removing the grass and roots. Without dethatching, air space in the soil would normally only be present in small pockets created by rainfall or from cultivation.

The improved aeration allows for better soil water movement and less puddling, which can provide better conditions for shallow-rooted turfgrass species as well as help prevent soil crusting. Thatch accumulation often leaves soils compacted and poorly drained with no available water for plants, leaving them susceptible to drought stress or disease issues such as the brown patches.

2. Lesser risk of disease and blight

A healthy lawn is less vulnerable to diseases and can better tolerate a variety of stresses that are often associated with unhealthy lawns. There is a lower risk of diseases such as Pythium, Verticillium, Fusarium, or Septoria when there is ample air space in the soil. For example, if you remove thick thatch from your lawn called “root-knot nematodes” (which cause brown patch) you will reduce the risk of them spreading to new areas. The disease cannot spread on bare soil surfaces but water and sunlight can favor the development of pathogens on a turf surface. It also allows for better soil drying which prevents disease problems in extreme heat.

3. Better new growth and establishment

Thatch can act as a barrier to water and sunlight, preventing root development in the soil. Dethatching not only provides better aeration for roots but removes thatch and opens up the soil for root development. Thatch removal can also provide a greater source of organic material which is a key component of soil structure. This organic matter can be enhanced by compost, mulch, or topsoil application.

4. Improved overall health of your lawn

Thatch accumulation often inhibits the ability to grow new grasses when there is a lack of water in the soil. A turfgrass that grows in a soil filled with thatch will lack vigor, due to the restricted growth of new roots. As a result, the lawn as a whole will have decreased fitness and may be shorter than other portions of your lawn, due to less growth at the base. There is also an increased risk of disease, brown patch, and weed populations when there is an over-accumulation of thatch in your lawn.