Customized solutions for your lawn.

Green Way also offers:

Core aeration

Core aeration will:

• help penetrate a thatch layer

• reduce compaction

• help a lawn recover from drought, insect, or disease damage.

• prepare for seeding, either to fill in thin areas or just to improve grass types.

This is an excellent complement to our fertilization program. It may not be necessary every year, but when done in late August through October, it can really help your lawn recover and be better prepared for the next season. We can add seeding if it’s needed or wanted. For lawns with an excessive thatch layer, adding dethatching is a good idea.

Dethatching

We consistently hear folks say that they plan to “dethatch” their lawn in the spring. Many of our clients believe our treatments simply won’t work as well if they don’t first dethatch; that the applied products will not reach the soil. However, most people are incorrectly calling surface dead leaves and debris thatch, and don’t really know what thatch is at all.

What is Thatch?
Thatch is a layer of living and non-living plant material that forms between the grass plant and the soil as the turf grows (red arrow in above photo). It is NOT the dead grass blades from the previous season. Thatch, contrary to common belief, is good for a lawn and is normal. A healthy thatch layer is generally considered beneficial up to ½” in thickness or less. Excessive thatch (½”and above) is an unusual phenomena which can occur over time with excessive fertilization and or improper maintenance such as avoiding core aeration when it’s recommended. Most lawns don’t have a thatch issue, especially with proper care.

Why is thatch beneficial?
A moderate level of thatch is beneficial because it acts as a blanket on the lawn surface helping to keep the soil cooler and reduce weeds from germinating. It also provides protection for the grass roots from traffic.

When is thatch is a Problem?
Excessive thatch can be a problem as it attracts and harbors damaging insects and diseases. An excessive thatch layer can also act as a dry sponge, in fact repelling water during the drier summer months. Bluegrass, common in sodded lawns, is an aggressive thatch maker. If dethatching is necessary, then fall is a better time frame.

What is “dethatching”? “Dethatching” means different things to different people. Most landscapers categorize running a tine rake attachment in front of their mower in the early spring as “dethatching” and is sold as such. That is just a good raking. Our definition is very different. We consider “dethatching” as done with a power dethatcher, which has flailing blades that actually remove some of the thatch (see red arrow in above photo). We do this in the fall and it is done in combination with core aeration. Doing this type of dethatching in the spring can severely damage a lawn.

Dethatching Damage
Dethatching, with a power dethatcher, in the spring is a bad procedure for several reasons:

• First, it tears and rips turf that is often still dormant and therefore will be unable to recover after winter injury, snow mold and ice damage. Spring dethatching hits a lawn hard when it is already in a precarious condition. We have seen perfectly healthy lawns thinned to actually destroyed from spring dethatching.

• Secondly, dethatching in the spring with power equipment can bring up crabgrass and other noxious weed seeds, setting your lawn up for a future infestation.

  Do something more productive, not destructive to your lawn this spring. Your lawn will love a light raking, or the light “thatch rake” version done by your landscape professional to remove leaves, old grass blades, and surface debris.

When is the best time of year to power dethatch?

Do it in the late summer/early fall for these reasons:

• Better growing and recovery weather.

• excellent time to seed, as needed.

• reduced competition from weeds.

Lime application

Lime helps condition the soil for maximum nutrient efficiency.

Power seeding

We can power seed to fill in a thin lawn, establish a new one, or repair a damaged one. This is best done in the late season (late August - early October) but can also be done in the spring.