Thatch
The very first thing that any visitor or passerby will see on the property is the lawn and yard. The impression and health of your lawn will give a better curb appeal to any property and by that virtue to the entire neighbourhood surrounding the property. Maintaining the healthy lawn is not difficult or impossible task as long as some common sense and few simple tips are followed.
Thatch is the middle layer in between an active area growth and ground root area. Because of its composition, it is resistant to breakdown and decomposition and can accumulate and thicken over the time preventing moisture and nutrients from reaching roots as well as become a medium where pests and other diseases may find a home.
Some thatch is beneficial to your lawn as it provides insulation to root system as well as softness and resiliency improving footing to your lawn. In general, about ½ inch of thatch is the most your lawn should accumulate. Anything over one inch is considered excessive and is harmful to your lawn (should be therefore removed and thinned). Power raking, deep core aeration etc. all help mediate thatch and keep it at the recommended thickness. However, in case where thatch is extremely thick (older lawns, lawns that had been overfertilized or overwatered consistently as well as with some specific types of grass that produce more thatch than others), you have to be careful with power raking as majority of roots will be located within the thatch and by removing thatch you will also remove healthy roots. In those extreme cases, topdressing and overseeding may need to be considered (applying the thin coat of dirt and seed over the existing area of your lawn).
To remediate the thatch problem before it becomes a problem you should aerate your lawn at least once a year (twice a year, once in spring and once in late fall may be needed if the lawn is older or has heavier than usual thatch production and buildup). Deep core aeration involves punching plugins through the thatch area to allow moisture and nutrients to reach past thatch area and into the soil, therefore, stimulating the root growth deeper into the soil where it will not be damaged by power raking. Furthermore, the deep-rooted lawn will push thatch closer to the surface allowing for easy removal and management of thatch problematic areas.
Your Maxigreen professional can advise you on deep core aeration for your lawn and if required we can perform the deep core aeration in addition to fertilizer and weed control services we offer as a core of our service offerings.
