Does My Lawn Need Dethatching?
An easy way to tell if your lawn needs dethatching is by measuring the thatch layer with a ruler. If the layer is ½ to ¾ inches thick, there is no need to take action. This amount of thatch helps to cushion the soil from compaction, insulate the grass from extreme temperature swings, and slow water loss in dry conditions. When lawn thatch measures more than ¾ inches, dethatching becomes a necessity. This much thatch prevents sunlight from reaching lower parts of grass blades, blocks nutrients from reaching the soil and soaks up water, raising the risk of grass diseases. Another way to detect excessive thatch is to run your fingers through the turf — if there is too much resistance to do this effortlessly, thatch may be piling too high in your lawn.