Do you know a healthy, lush lawn may raise your property’s value? You read that right! A greener and more beautiful yard is vital as it attracts potential buyers. So, you can improve the health of your lawn by watering, fertilizing, mowing, aerating, and dethatching. However, many homeowners need clarification on whether dethatching is good or bad. In this article, you’ll learn more about the pros and cons of dethatching lawn.
The pros of lawn dethatching lawn include aiding nutrient absorption, preventing pests, disease infestation, and soil aeration. Additionally, the exercise helps boost the proper absorption of fertilizer and improves lawn aesthetics. The cons of dethatching are that it increases water bills, boosts weed germination, and eliminates beneficial bacteria.
Pros of Dethatching
1. Removing thatch helps aerate the soil by allowing a better flow of oxygen, water, and nutrients to the turf’s roots. The grass gets ample space to grow after dethatching.
2. Additionally, eliminating excess thatch aids in proper nutrient absorption, as thatch restricts moisture, sunlight, and nutrients from reaching the turf underneath.
3. A thick thatch layer allows pests like mites and disease-causing bacteria to flourish. So, removing thatch helps prevent pests and diseases from damaging the lawn.
4. Excess thatch hinders the soil and turf roots from accessing applied fertilizer. Therefore, dethatching boosts the proper absorption of fertilizer, leading to healthier lawn development.
5. Too much thatch makes your yard look untidy and unattractive. Therefore, dethatching helps improve your lawn’s aesthetics.
Cons of Dethatching Lawn
i. Dethatching your lawn may increase the water bills as the moisture evaporates quickly from the soil, increasing the watering frequencies.
ii. Removing thatch gives all kinds of plants ample space to grow. Therefore, the process may also boost weed germination.
iii. Compost piles contain beneficial bacteria that help the organic matter to decompose. So, dethatching eliminates these beneficial bacteria from the lawn.
iv. While I have not experienced this, some people argue that lawn looks bad after dethatching.🥱
What’s the Average Dethatch Lawn Cost?
Many people ask, “How much does dethatching a lawn cost?” And the simple answer is:
The typical dethatching cost ranges from $160 – $225 in the US. So, on average, you can pay $190 per hour or 35 cents per square foot to dethatch your lawn.
Lawn Dethatching Tips
- Dethatch your lawn during the grass growing season and when the soil is moist but not muddy.
- Water the lawn two days before the process.
- Use a dethatching rake instead of a machine if you aim for vigorous upper-body exercise.
- Before using a dethatcher, check where the sprinkler heads and irrigation lines are to avoid damaging them.
- Mow the grass before dethatching the lawn.
What to Do After Dethatching Lawn
After lawn dethatching, clean up all the thatch piles in the yard to prevent them from building up again. After that, water the lawn to accelerate recovery and overseed it to fill the bare spots. Then, fertilize the lawn to give it essential nutrients for grass development. From there, continue with all maintenance practices to achieve a lush lawn.
Lawn Looks Bad After Dethatching
It’s normal for a lawn to look bad after dethatching due to the following reasons;
a). Dethatching when the weather is scorching, or the soil is soggy after rain.
b). Carrying out the process in early winter or late fall when the grass is dormant.
c). Using a dethatching machine that removes more than thatch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How long does it take for lawn to recover after dethatching?
A: Once you dethatch your lawn, aerate, overseed, fertilize, and then begin following the new sod watering schedule. It will take approximately 3-4 weeks for your lawn to recover after these processes.
Q: Is dethatching really necessary?
A: Dethatching is vital to achieving healthy soil and grass. Remember, even if you carry out all lawn maintenance practices, you may still overwater and over-fertilize. These may cause excess thatch build-up, thus damaging your lawn.
Conclusion
To this end, you have seen the pros and cons of dethatching lawn. Dethatching can help you achieve a healthy, lush lawn as it aids nutrient absorption and prevents pests and disease infestation.
Additionally, it helps boost proper fertilizer absorption, improves lawn aesthetics, and helps aerate the soil.
However, the process can increase water bills, boost weed germination, and eliminate good bacteria. Nevertheless, dethatching correctly can help you accomplish a healthy and attractive lawn.
