As someone who keeps a close eye on your lawn, we're sure you've seen a layer of thatch appearing over the spring-summer months, but what causes it? Well, there are a few different things that cause lawn thatch, but the most prominent is an imbalance of microorganisms and fungi in the soil. When your soil lacks these cultures, it's incapable of breaking down the dead organic material on the surface of the soil. Over time, the organic matter builds up and becomes matted together, creating lawn thatch. This isn't, however, the only cause of lawn thatch...
Other causes of thatch in lawn include:
- Over or under watering your lawn
- Using harsh fertilisers
- Over-using herbicides and fungicides
- Failing to aerate the soil regularly
Is thatch bad for my lawn?
If you allow thatch to build up in your lawn over a long time, it can increase the chances of your lawn developing a lawn disease. The thick organic material is a breeding ground for all kinds of lawn diseases! Worse still, thick layers of thatch can make your lawn less tolerant to extreme temperatures and can prevent water and nutrients from penetrating the soil properly. In short, leaving thatch in your lawn is likely to have a detrimental impact on the health of your lawn.
Can I prevent lawn thatch from building up?
Yes! If you want to take preventative action against lawn thatch, we recommend aerating your lawn and choosing your lawn fertilisers and treatments carefully. Aeration is especially great for preventing lawn thatch build-up because it improves the health of the soil and encourages microbial activity. Better microbial activity means the dead organic matter on the surface of the soil will be broken down before it has a chance to become lawn thatch.
Here at Lawn and Weed Expert, we offer a professional aeration service that you can use to keep lawn thatch at bay. Click the button below to find out more about our aeration services:
Lawn Aeration Service >
How can I remove lawn thatch?
Realised that a lot of thatch has accumulated on your lawn? Don't worry, there's a way you can remove it without destroying your lawn - scarification! Lawn scarification is a great method of clearing thatch because it doesn't affect the balance of microbes or fungus in the soil, and therefore promotes healthy decomposition later down the line.
What is scarification? Scarification is the process of pulling thatch off the surface of your lawn using a rake. Of course, doing it this way can take a lot of time, a much better option is to employ a lawn technician who has access to a mechanical scarifier.
Here at Lawn and Weed Expert, we offer a lawn scarification service that will rid your lawn of thatch! You can find out more and enquire by clicking the button below:
Lawn Scarification Service >
So, now you know what causes thatch in your lawn, how to prevent it and how to get rid of it, we hope you take some steps to reduce the thatch in your lawn. As always, if you have any questions about the services mentioned in this blog, or if you'd like to make an enquiry, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
