Thatch is the layer of organic material that lies on top of the soil. Some thatch is healthy and will help to retain moisture and protect your lawns root system. Heavy thatch, however, can be extremely damaging to turf! When thatch gets to be over 1/2″, disease activity will increase, water will start to run off, fertilizers will get caught up in thatch and encourage the roots to begin growing upward. A very high percentage of lawn problems in our area stem from heavy thatch. Power raking does not need to be done every year, in normal situations, as long as other control measures are taken, such as aeration. We will be happy to come out and measure your thatch to determine the need for power raking. Simply call or request an estimate online.
A power raker or dethatcher; is designed to comb into the thatch layer and pull up the excess thatch. This will be adjusted on each property to leave about 1/2″ of thatch. The dead grass that is pulled out will be raked up, removed from turf and hauled away. We always also do a short spring mowing to remove any winter growth and pick up the finer debris left behind. Power raking is NOT a method of cleaning up leaves, pine needles and debris. Upon completion of this service, you will see greener turf, and a lawn that looks great for the entire season.