Thatch build up, otherwise known as lawn thatching, is a build-up of dead grass that can negatively impact any lawn. Thatching takes place when dead grass forced between the other blades starts to form a layer over time. As the layer becomes more pressurized over time, it has a greater impact on the lawn. Thatch prevents normal grass growth, and can often lead to the rise of crab grass in yards.
There are many situations in which layers of thatch can form, including snow, intense heat, foot traffic, and over-mowing of lawns. During the winter season, snow forces dead grass onto the ground. The severity of thatching caused by snow is dependent on the amount of snow and how long it sat on the grass.
After a winter with heavy, erratic storms like we just had, yards will have areas that are heavily thatched because of snow. Snowbanks can be very heavy, creating immense pressure on the ground below them, which can cause thatching. In the winter, thatch is still pliable and wet. This makes removing thatch in the spring difficult, and often time consuming, as it doesn’t always come free with the first attempt.
In the dry parts of summer, thatching can occur from the heat and constancy of the sun. Dead grass withers, curling down to the ground and forming the thatched layer. Because it is often brittle, thatch from dry periods is often the easiest to remove. It will be light and fragile from being in the sun for so long.
Thatch formed by yard use/foot traffic or over-mowing is simply formed by pressure. For larger yards, over-mowing is more difficult to do, as areas will most likely be traveled over less times in total. In smaller yards, with lots of back and forth mowing, the weight of mowers can flatten grass if mowed too frequently. There is little to be done about the weight of mowers causing thatching, other than being precise with mowing and planning mowing paths before starting.
Foot traffic and recreational yard use, can unfortunately lead to thatching. Tables and other lawn items can cause very thatched areas directly underneath them due to their weight being imposed on the grass for a long period of time. Moving heavy yard items like tables, wooden Adirondack chairs, and outside heaters is a good way to prevent thatching.
Comments