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DETHATCH

WHAT IS THATCH?

Thatch is a layer that develops between your grass and the soil, which is comprised of old lawn clippings, dead leaves, intermingled roots and stems.  Thatch in small amounts is beneficial but can increase quickly and become a problem.  

PROBLEMS WITH TOO MUCH THATCH 

Large amounts of thatch can lead to various problems in your lawn which are listed below.  

  • Limited absorption of air, water, and nutrients to the main root level

  • Stunted growth of grass 

  • Increased weed growth

  • Decreased drought resistance

  • Increased susceptibility to lawn diseases 

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED A DETHATCH?

Yearly dethatch is a great maintenance service to keep thatch at bay for states that grow Northern Grasses which include Iowa.  A couple ways to tell if your lawn needs a dethatch is if it feels spongy when walking or the thatch layer measures more than 1/2 inch when you take a core or wedge sample.  New developments with sod tend to develop thatch quicker than established lawns so dethatch is a must to maintain! 

SUSTAINABLE STEWARDS CAN HELP!

Sustainable Stewards can help identify if a dethatch would be recommended for your lawn. We use a tow behind dethatcher and lawn sweep attached to our electric zero-turn rider mower to extract and gather thatch from your lawn.  Thatch can be hauled away or placed in a compost or brush pile at the property.  Dethatch is highly recommended as a first step to Overseeding.

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