Thatch is the buildup of decomposing blades of grass. It's the grass your lawnmower cuts off. A regular lawnmower cuts a blade of grass off in one cut. A mulch-mower cuts the blade of grass many times to help speed up the decomposition of the cut grass, or "thatch". We've all heard that it is good to leave the cut grass on the lawn as it returns valuable nutrients. All perfectly true. A problem occurs when the decomposition process is too slow in decomposing the thatch. Thatch then builds up into a thick layer. Heavy thatch impedes the movement of nutrients and water to the roots of the grass. Secondly, it can prevent the emergence and growth of new blades of grass. It also can harbor plant disease that is harmful to your lawn.
De-thatching lawns help in overall lawn growth and health, when thatch buildup is excessive. De-thatching is the process of removing the cut, decaying layer of dead grass. It's accomplished by simply raking out the thatch. If the task of raking your lawn seems overwhelming, WALLS LAWNCARE SERVICES can do it for you.
In most cases, de-thatching need not be a regular lawn care chore. It only needs to be done when thatch buildup is excessive. Usually done every 3 to 5 years.