If your lawn is dull, yellowing and lifeless it may be due to an excessive amount of thatch. Thatch is a layer of dead stems, roots and clippings between the soil's surface and the green vegetation, which can deprive your lawn of vital nutrients. A thatch layer of one-half inch or more also prohibits water and air from entering the grass roots and provides the perfect breeding environment for insects and disease. A simple process called dethatching provides the best solution to thatch build-up and can restore an unhealthy yellowing lawn.
Dethatching is a process that mechanically removes accumulated thatch using steel flail blades or rigid wire tines to slice through the turf, lifting that debris to the surface for removal. In our Western Washington climate, the flail blade unit is the most successful and this is what 410 Rentals carries in its inventory. Once this build up is eliminated, air, water and nutrients can flow freely to the roots, rejuvenating a yellowing lifeless lawn.
Dethatching may cause some minor damage to the turf, or browning for a short period after using a lawn comber. To expedite the recovery of the lawn, all thatch should be removed using a rake. You can also use a lawn vacuum or your mower with a catcher, but hand raking is still the most proven method of success. Fertilizer and herbicide should then be applied to prevent the growth of weeds and moss while replenishing vital nutrients that the lawn needs to regain its green, lush appearance.
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