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Dethatching your yard is a lawn care method to maintain healthy growth. If your home has never undergone this treatment before, you may wonder why you need it and what it entails. All types of grass form thatch, which may cause it to wilt over time if not addressed. To help you care for your landscaping, here’s more information about this material and detaching as a service.

FAQ About Dethatching

What is thatch?

It forms at the base of grass, where the stems meet the roots and soil. It’s a mixture of living and dead plant material. A thin layer of thatch is beneficial to your lawn because it breaks down into nutrients.

Why is thick thatch a problem?

Thick thatch prevents the grass from receiving fertilizer and water. Grass roots also get trapped in the area, making the lawn more vulnerable to heat damage and dehydration.

How do I know when thatch becomes too thick?

Take a trowel and dig up a small wedge of grass and soil. This will allow you to measure the thickness of the present thatch, which will be a brownish color. If it’s over half an inch, you may need this service from a lawn care specialist.

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How will professionals dethatch my yard?

Buying the necessary equipment for detaching is costly. Lawn care professionals can dethatch the area efficiently with their own tools. They’ll usually attach a unit to the front of a riding lawnmower that will dig up the dead matter. It can then be bagged up for disposal.

Is there a time of year when I always need dethatching?

When to dethatch your lawn often depends on whether your grass is warm- or cool-season. Some popular warm-season grasses are Bermuda grass, buffalo grass, and carpet grass, while annual ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, and creeping red fescue are common cool-season types.

If your lawn is cool-season, it will thrive in temperatures between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, so dethatch it in the early spring or early fall. If you have warm-season grass, perform this in the late spring, which is right before temperatures reach the optimal 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.


If your lawn needs dethatching, turn to the professionals at The Lawn Surgeon LLC. This lawn care company is based in Cromwell, CT, and serves the Middlesex and Greater Hartford counties. They offer a range of comprehensive services like weed control, plain core aeration, weekly lawn maintenance, and spring lawn dethatching. Visit their website to learn more about their services or call (860) 635-1127 to make an appointment.

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