for publications like The Telegraph and Italy Magazine, as well as pondering the strange winds that blew an urban vegetarian to a farm in Umbria. Key Things to Know About Dethatching a Lawn You cut, fertilize, and water your lawn, but it’s still not the lush, verdant carpet you imagine. It’s easy to confuse dethatching and aerating a lawn, because both activities improve the state of your grass by giving roots the nutrients they need to grow better. In general, you only need to dethatch a lawn every two to three years, as thatch builds up over time.

Allowed to grow unchecked, thatch forms an impenetrable barrier that prevents water, air, and nutrients from reaching roots. If you're worried that your lawn is suffering from a build-up of thatch, we highly recommend getting in touch. The problem occurs when the buildup of these materials outpaces decomposition and the thatch layer thickens. Rather than assuming your lawn requires yearly dethatching, however, diagnose your lawn first to decide if the advantages outweigh the drawbacks, if you can prevent the problem from developing, or whether you need to perform core aeration, instead. Pros familiar with using power dethatchers are less likely to damage the lawn than a homeowner using a rental tool for the first time.Scarifier rakes also commonly known as dethatcher will aerate and remove dead moss, the best time to use it will depend on the weather and location but as a guide target when the lawn growth is at its prolific. Core aeration is especially valuable if the lawn is badly compacted, which can easily occur in yards with excessive foot traffic and sports activity. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her trying a new restaurant, at a theme park, or sprucing up her apartment. g. Ride On lawn movers, Rollers, Chippers etc) will sometimes incur an additional charge due to their weight and the specialist offloading equipment required.

Since a thatch problem is the result of new organic matter building up more quickly than the older organic matter can break down, avoid practices that result in your grass growing too quickly.If you think you have a lawn that needs dethatching, look for these telltale signs of distressed grass. Although some leaf rakes may be rigid enough for dethatching, having a specific rake on hand for all your dethatching needs is wise. The wheels add stability and maneuverability, making for an easier time dethatching and removing moss. You will appreciate this rake’s hardwood 54-inch handle and 15-inch self-cleaning rake head, as these features will make it easier for you to maneuver and clean (and that’s always a bonus when it comes to yard work).

Thatch is a mix of dead and living plant material that blocks or traps water and nutrients from reaching grass roots. At Oak Garden Machinery, our entire team is dedicated to giving the best possible service and quality. Always use the appropriate tools to ensure you’re not stressing out your lawn more than is necessary, and follow up dethatching with aeration when required. Vertical mower: Lawns with thick thatch or those in need of total renovation would benefit from this aggressive approach. The goal of dethatching is to remove this debris barrier by raking it away, which helps your grass get the nutrients it needs for improved growth.Instead of blades, a power rake has rotating tines that dig into thatch and lift it out as you push. For small lawns, use a dethatching rake to work across the lawn using the same motion you would when raking leaves. The two rows of heavy duty spring tines draw through the surface to remove all unwanted thatch and dead grass to promote new and healthy growth. Core aeration is a process of using a manual device to remove small plugs (cores) of turf with attached roots, leaving small cylindrical holes through which air can penetrate to the root layer. Thatch is a mat-like layer of organic materials, such as dead grass, rhizomes, mulched leaves, and other debris that has not yet decomposed.