What is thatch ?
Thatch is not soil; it’s actually the residue of broken-down grass, weeds, roots and other organic matter that clumps onto the roots of the grass in your lawn. This residue blocks all the necessary nutrients, water and air from getting to those roots. If the thatch isn’t removed, the grass in your lawn can literally suffocate. Thatch layers can accumulate so that they’re several inches thick. If your lawn is looking brown and tired, it’s a good idea to pull up a small clump of grass and check the roots. You may find that a thick accumulation of thatch is the culprit.

When is the best time of year to detatch ?
The best time of year to dethatch a lawn is typically right before or during the season when the grass is growing most vigorously; that way, it will recover from the dethatching process more quickly. Likewise, it’s best to complete the dethatching process about a month before the end of the mowing season. For Cary’s climate, the best time for dethatching is between late August and early October. If you have a small lawn, dethatching can easily be a do-it-yourself project. If you have a large lawn or field, however, then it’s best to hire a professional gardener or landscaper with a motorized commercial thatching rake.

What Kind of Tools Should You Use?
For any kind of dethatching job, you’ll need a thatching rake. A thatching rake has a long, horizontal metal attachment with two different blade types. On one side, the blades are slightly curved in order to facilitate loosening up the soil. On the other side, the blades have straight edges to pull and rake the thatch up. A good thatch rake also has an adjustable blade attachment so you can dig even deeper and more aggressively into the soil. One example of this type of rake is the Ames True Temper Adjustable Thatching Rake sold on Amazon.com. The Ames has an adjustable, two-sided blade tool attached to a 54-inch wooden handle. If you’re experienced with using commercial grade equipment and you don’t mind tackling large jobs, you might consider renting a motor-powered, commercial grade thatch rake, also called a power rake. Somewhat resembling a lawn mower, a power rake can dethatch a large yard or field in just a matter of minutes. Power rakes are sometimes available for rent from hardware stores, and will help you do the job at top speed if you’ve got a large area to cover.

Things to Do Before You Dethatch:
- Mow the grass to approximately half of its height so that you’ll be able to see the thatch layer without obstructions.
- Place small landscaping flags on areas where there are irrigation heads and other protruding objects; otherwise, the thatching rake can damage them.
- Check the moisture content of the soil. If it’s slightly moist, it may actually make it a bit easier to dethatch. Don’t do the job on a day when the lawn is too moist, however, because the thatching rake won’t be able to slice effectively through the soggy soil and the thatch won’t separate.

If you’re doing the job properly, you’ll be able to see the thatch separate itself from the soil and fall onto the surface of the lawn. While you’re dethatching, it helps to backtrack a bit and go back over the places where you’ve already been, because by overlapping you’ll ensure that you’ve taken care of every square inch of your lawn. After you’ve thoroughly dethatched and opened up your lawn, now is the perfect time to reseed it. A bluegrass/fescue/rye blend works beautifully for Cary’s sub-tropical, warm, sunny climate. When you’re seeding, it’s a good idea to spread the seed with a regular grass rake. Angle the rake slightly sideways and use a gentle turning motion to work the grass seed into the soil. After seeding, it’s also a good idea to treat the lawn with a good brand of pre-emergent crab grass control that also contains a fertilizer. Make sure, however, that the product you use is a type that won’t damage the new grass seed you’ve just put down. Scotts Lawn Step 1 for Seeding, which is available on Amazon.com, is a crabgrass prevention/fertilizer product made especially for lawns that have just been newly-seeded.

Things You Should Do After Dethatching and Seeding Your Lawn:
– Water the dethatched lawn often to help the grass recover; this is especially true if you’ve also reseeded the lawn.
– Dispose of the thatch by using it as compost or mulch; however, you should only do this if you haven’t used any weeding/nutrient chemicals on the grass for at least four weeks.
Within just a couple of weeks after dethatching your lawn, you’ll start seeing a difference in the new growth of green grass coming out. The good news is that, once you’ve thoroughly dethatched your lawn, further dethatching needn’t be a regular part of your lawn maintenance. If you continue to water, fertilize, mow and aerate your lawn regularly, it may not be necessary to dethatch it again for a long time to come.

Recommended tools:
Amazon: Ames True Temper Adjustable Thatch Rake – Ames 1914000 54″ Handle 15″ Head 19 Tine Lawn Groom Thatch Rake The True Temper thatching rake is an all-purpose lawn rake. The curved tines are designed to clear dead grass (thatch) clippings from the lawn. This will allows air, sunshine, water, and fertilizers in to keep the grass healthy. Ames 1914000 54″ Handle 15″ Head 19 Tine Lawn Groom Thatch Rake Features: Self-cleaning tine crimped on one side for scratching and loosening soil prior to seeding Other side runs parallel to ground picking up litter and lifting low lying crab grass runners Adjustable head 54″ handle, no replacement handle available 19 teeth 15″ wide

Amazon: Scotts Lawn Step 1 for Seeding – Scotts, 5,000 SQFT Coverage, 18-23-4, Step 1 For Seeding, Starter Fertilizer Plus Crabgrass Preventer, Apply When Seeding, Allows Seed To Germinate While It Prevents Crabgrass, Foxtail, Oxalis, Spurge & Other Grassy Weeds.

1. Dethatch your lawn at least once a year. Thatching is where you rake it deep to remove any pine needles or dead grass that has accumulated over the months. This organic material can settle gradually and become compacted down and over time can suffocate the delicate grass blades. It will also prevent water from absorbing where the lawn needs it the most.

2. Fertilize once a month. Mix liquid lawn fertilizer with water and spray on using even strokes. If you are using granular fertilizer, then use a caster or spreading cart to dispense the fertilizer for you. Or if you want you can throw out handfuls yourself; make sure that it is evenly distributed over the entire lawn. After you do this, water the grass throughly so the fertilizer does not burn the grass.

3. Reseeding your lawn gives it that fresh green look. It is vital to reseed a minimum of twice a year to prevent bald spots in the lawn and to eliminate weeds. Cast the seed by hand, either for cool season grasses or warm, depending on the time of year. It will also depend on what type of grass you prefer. Some grasses like fescue do not have the wide grass blades that other types have, but they also do not take as much water. It’s a choice you will have to make.

4. Mowing is important to the look of the lawn. Do not cut the lawn too short because it will make it more vulnerable to disease and drought. A good rule of thumb is if you can see the soles of your shoes while standing in the grass, then it’s too short.

5. Spraying for weeds is a common lawn maintainance activity. Dandelions may bloom pretty, but not in the center of your grassy yard. Spray these promptly, and they will not spread all over your yard.

6. Watering the lawn on a schedule is vital. You cannot let the grass dry out one week, and then over water it to compensate. Stick to a regular watering time, and it will thrive. Use a rotating sprinkler to do the job. Set timers as a reminder to move the sprinklers to different areas of the lawn, to avoid over watering.

A beautiful lawn is possible for anyone, if they put in the work required to accomplish it. It is not a one time thing, but an ongoing process that will reap luscious green rewards.

Below is a list of free and pay options for landscaping software. Feel free to contribute in comments (especially free).

• Google sketchup
  http://sketchup.google.com/
  *FREE*
• Realtime Landscaping Plus
  http://www.ideaspectrum.com/
  $79.95

• Home & Landscape Design
  http://www.punchsoftware.com/
  $49.99
• Better Homes and Gardens Landscaping and Deck Designer
  http://www.chiefarchitect.com/
  $79.99
• Turbo FLOOR PLAN Landscape & Deck
  http://www.imsisoft.com/
  $34.95
• Total 3D Home & Landscape Design Suite
  http://www.individualsoftware.com/
  $34.99