Common Questions About Dethatching Your Lawn

Recently we have been receiving a lot of inquiries about dethatching  Dethatching is an important aspect to maintaining a healthy lawn so below we are going to answer the most popular questions consumers have about it.

What Is Dethatching?

Dethatching, also know as power raking, is the process of removing dead grass (aka thatch) from your lawn.  This process can be completed using a handheld rake or a special tool that is attached to a lawn mower that works the same way a handheld rake does.

What Does Dethatching Do For Your Lawn?

Dethatching removes the dead blades of grass from your lawn allowing the healthy blades of grass to store nutrients and grow healthy and strong.  Dethatching also loosens up the top layer of soil allowing air and moisture to penetrate deeper into the roots of your lawn.

What Is The Difference Between Dethatching and Aeration?

Dethatching removes a dead layer of grass roots that is found between the grass and the top layer of soil.  Aerating is the process of punching holes in your lawn to giving water and other nutrients the ability to soak deep down into the roots of your lawn.

Can You Dethatch Your Lawn When It Is Wet?

Dethatching your lawn when it is wet is not recommended because it can cause damage to healthy blades of grass by pulling out their roots.  This will ultimately lead to a thinning lawn.

When Is The Best Time To Dethatch Your Lawn?

With most lawns in Minnesota being a cool season turf, it is recommended to dethatch your lawn in the early spring or early fall.  Timing is everything, especially in the fall because you need to give your lawn ample amount of time to grow and re-establish its roots before frost begins to form on your lawn.

Conclusion

Dethatching your lawn is an important process to grow a healthy lawn and there is a small window of time when dethatching is in season.  At Peter Doran Lawn, our dethatching schedule does fill up fast making it essential to get on our schedule no later than early-October.

If you found this article informational or have any questions about dethatching, please leave a comment below.