Thursday, June 19, 2008

Dethatching your lawn

What is thatch? It is a mat of plant material consisting mainly of grass stems and roots. A thin layer is good, because it acts as mulch, which reduces evaporation. Too much will repel water, cause shallow roots and make the grass less resistant to draught.
Excessive thatch is usually caused by over-watering or over-fertalizing. It thatch if over 1/2", it should be removed with a vertical ower or power rake.
Dethatch during the hot summer months so bermuda grass can quickly recover. After dethatching, apply fertilizer at a rate of 1/2-3/4 lb. of nitrogen per thousand square feet, and water the grass well to speed recovery. Do not dethatch your winter lawn if you have one.

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