Dethatching Is the Lawn Care Chore You Should Never Skip—Here's How to Do It

Dethatching allows moisture and nutrients back into the soil.

Dethatching a lawn is an important process that keeps your landscape healthy. When thatch (a layer of dead grass and organic plant material) builds up, it can limit moisture from reaching the soil and promote disease. Ahead, lawn care experts explain when and how to dethatch your lawn, which can be done with a garden rake.

Meet the Expert

• Craig Elworthy, founder of Lawnbright

• Sean Dwyer, senior product manager for Husqvarna

Related: How to Diagnose and Troubleshoot the Most Common Lawn Problems, From Brown Patches to Weeds

What Is Thatch?

Thatch is a spongy layer of dead grass and root material that sits between your healthy turf and the soil. "It builds up over time as your lawn matures and can get thick enough to the point that it blocks water and nutrients from reaching the root zone, where they’re absorbed," says Craig Elworthy, the founder of Lawnbright.

The Importance of Dethatching Your Lawn

Dethatching is the process of gently removing the top layers of thatch from your lawn, which better allows moisture and nutrients back into the soil, says Sean Dwyer, senior product manager for Husqvarna, a manufacturer of outdoor power products. When thatch builds up, it acts like a blanket, absorbing the water and nutrients that would otherwise reach the root zone of your lawn and trapping heat. "Dethatching removes this layer and allows your turf to breath easier," says Elworthy.

When to Dethatch Your Lawn

The best time to dethatch is when your lawn is actively growing. "It’s a very invasive process, so you’ll want to make sure it can quickly recover," says Elworthy. "In warm season grasses, late May to early June are the best times." In cooler climates, you can dethatch either between March and April or in September. "If you have a thick layer of thatch, shoot for both options. Otherwise, just pick one," says Elworthy.

Related: 7 Spring Lawn Care Tips That Will Set Your Grass Up for Success

Before Getting Started

A few days before dethatching, you should use a fast-release liquid fertilizer. This ensures your lawn grows quickly and recovers well, as dethatching can be strenuous on your lawn. The day of, mow your lawn on one of the lowest settings and bag the clippings to make it easier for the tines to dig in and cause less tearing of the grass, says Elworthy.

How to Dethatch Your Lawn

You can manually dethatch your lawn or use special tools, like a power rake or vertical mower. The option you choose comes down to your budget and how much physical labor you're willing to do. No matter the method, you should always dethatch on a day when the turf is completely dry.

• Manual dethatching: Manually dethatching is the most affordable option, but it's also the most physically demanding, says Elworthy, adding that this method is best for smaller yards. To manually dethatch your lawn, use a sturdy garden rake with metal tines and rake the entire lawn, pushing down deeply so you reach the thatch.

• Power rakes: Similar to manual rakes, these use electrical power and have flexible tines that quickly "rake" up debris in your lawn. Move the machine over your lawn like you would a push mower, making sure to cover the entire lawn evenly as you walk over it with the machine, says Elworthy.

• Vertical mowers: Also known as verticutters, these use metallic blades that make vertical cuts into the lawn and remove thatch and debris. "Before you begin, check the blades to ensure they’re sharp. Dull blades can tear up the grass," says Elworthy. Move the machine over your lawn like you would a push mower, making sure to avoid any sprinklers.
  

What to Do After Dethatching

After dethatching your lawn, rake up the debris or use a leaf blower to remove it from your lawn. "You will need to water thoroughly afterward and stay off it for a couple of days to help it recover from the process," says Elworthy.

Related: How to Keep Weeds Out of Your Lawn—Without Chemicals

When to Call a Professional

If you have a large lawn or a lot of thatch build-up, consider calling a professional rather than dethatching your lawn yourself. "If you do hire out, make sure you use a company with a built-for-purpose vertical mower," says Elworthy. "Sometimes lawn care company will just put hard tines on the back of the ride on mower and drag them over your lawn and call it a dethatch, which is not nearly as effective."

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