Lawn Thatch

Thatch in lawns is dead vegetation that sits between the living lawn and the soil. Since it is decomposing it contains microorganisms.

A good layer of thatch is need to protect the roots from drying out and to provide nutrients for the growing grass. However, too much can have a smothering effect on the lawn and even damage its health.

When thatch is allowed to build up it blocks the free movement of water through to the roots. Then, like a sponge, thatch holds water, not allowing it through and starving the roots of moisture. So instead of growing down the roots will grow up into the thatch layer to get at the moisture. A shallow-rooted lawn is more susceptible to breaking off and pulling out at the slightest wear.

In addition, too much thatch will prevent fertilizers from getting to the roots. Organic types will dry up and be blown away or sucked away by a lawnmower. Chemical types concentrate in the thatch layer creating a toxic barrier and killing off organisms which could break down the thatch. Earthworms will also stay away from a chemical-laced thatch allowing disease from destroying the grass. In addition, chinch bugs burrow under the thatch and have a free hand at the grass roots without interference from the sunlight or predators which natural feed off them.

Thatch is commonly removed by raking or combing with a de-thatching machine. This is usually done in the spring. This vigorous treatment breaks off growing lawn along with raking out the dead vegetation but the lawn will come back in a month. until then it usually looks dead because the live grass has been raked out along with the dead vegetation.

In addition to de-thatching, aeration is good to get oxygen and nutrients to the roots. This pulls out plugs of grass leaving conical holes down to the roots.

Human-Powered Lawn Mowers

In “the good old days” of lawns the reel push mower was the gold standard. Because no one wanted the alternative which was to scythe the lawn or cut it by hand clippers. Actually, the push mower has been around in England since the 1830’s where it was used to cut recreational fields where horse-drawn scything machines could not navigate. As lawn-based sports such as lawn bowling, rugby and football became popular the reel mowers became more sophisticated.

The reel mower mechanism has not changed much since its inception. A cutting blade is suspended horizontally to a level where the grass is to be cut. Rather than the horizontal blade of the power lawn mower there are 4 or 5 blades mounted in a cylindrical reel. These spinning blades drive the grass past to cutting bar and, in a scissor action, clip the grass cleanly, more cleanly than even the best rotary mower. And this helps the grass heal quickly.

Environmentally speaking, the reel lawnmower makes the most sense. There is no pollution and no oil or gas spills. It is also good exercise, and a good reel mower is so well-balanced and smooth that it does not take a lot of human power to work it. You can even hear the ball-bearings at work! The typical cutting widths are 12 to 20 inches.

Spring Lawn Care

Of course everyone knows that lawn is made up of individual grass plants which spread out to form turf. But happens every winter when the lawn turns brown and “dies?”

Like any grass or perennial plant lawn does not really die. Just the tops does. The root goes dormant until the spring. However, there is still the matter of the dead grass. Because lying on top of the new grass trying to get it does pose a problem.

De-thatching and aerating help alleviate this problem by both ridding the lawn of the choking dead grass and getting oxygen to the roots of the turf. The de-thatching machine basically rakes the lawn and lets the sun shine in on newly-forming grass plant strengthening the root system, allowing fertilizer and water to get to the plant.

It is also important to put on a mulching blade on your lawn mower or, if you have a push mower, cut you lawn twice as many times for the first couple of months. This will chop the grass into finer pieces allowing the microorganisms to digest it mow quickly and turn it into nutrients for the grass. This is a great depiction of a self-sustaining lawn system because your lawn does not need extra fertilizer. In addition when the summer gets hot the clippings will protect the roots from the sun and keep in the moisture meaning that you won’t have to water as much.

In addition a healthy lawn resists the common pests like chinch bugs when suck the sap from grass stalks leaving huge areas of the lawn dead.