How to Dethatch a Lawn in Tulsa: Your Get-Started Guide

What is lawn thatch, what causes it, and how can you tackle it? That’s what we’re exploring here, along with a step-by-step guide on how to detach your Tulsa lawn. 

First though, what exactly is thatch? Lawn thatch is a layer of grass stems and debris that gets matted down into something that looks like a woven carpet beneath your grass. If you lift your grass and take a peek at the base of the blades, that’s where you’ll likely see a brown layer of thatch. 

Thatch gets a bad rap, but it isn’t always a negative. Having a thin layer of thatch can actually lead to a healthy lawn, as it protects your grass and encourages growth. It also prevents water from evaporating out of the soil and adds a natural cushion that reduces soil compaction. A half-inch layer of thatch is beneficial, but when it grows beyond that — you’ve got a problem.

Too much thatch becomes an issue when it gets thick enough to strangle the grass roots, preventing water, air, and nutrients from reaching your turfgrass. It can also trap disease and bacteria that can harm your grass, making it difficult to seed new grass, as it will sow into the thatch rather than the soil.

Luckily, detaching is a relatively easy solution that you can often DIY (depending on the size of your yard and the extent of the thatch). Below, we’ll help you identify when you have a thatch problem, and the steps you can take to handle it and prevent it from building up again.

Identifying the Need for Dethatching 

If your lawn isn’t quite as lush or as fast-growing as you’d like, you’ll want to check to see if you have too much thatch buildup. Here’s how you can determine whether you need to detach your lawn:

• Measure: Take up a small piece of the turf (down to the soil) and look for the brown matted layer near the base of the grass blades. If it measures above half an inch, it’s probably too much.
• Watch for brown patches: Grass needs nitrogen to thrive, but too much of it can lead to unsightly browning. Thatch traps nitrogen in the soil, leading to widespread brown patches. Over-fertilizing and pets can also lead to excess nitrogen, but checking your thatch is a good place to start.
• Take a walk: A significant thatch buildup will make the ground feel spongy, so if you notice that your feet sink when walking across your lawn, it might be dethatching time.
• Understand your grass type: Different types of grasses are more prone to excess thatch. In Tulsa, Bermuda grass, one of the most popular warm-season grasses, is very susceptible to thatch buildup. Zoysia grass is less likely to develop problematic thatch. Knowing what type of grass you have will help you decide how to proceed.
• Pay attention after mowing: Take a look at your lawn after you’ve mowed. If it appears browner across large areas, it could be because you have too much thatch.

So, once you know you have a thatch problem, what should you do about it?

Best Practices & Steps for Dethatching 

If you catch thatch issues before they can damage your grass, it’s an easy enough problem to solve on your own. If the thatch is still fairly mild, you should be able to dethatch using tools you may already have, like a thatching rake, for example. If the thatch is too far gone, you may need to seek the help of a professional. Remember that it’s always best to dethatch while the grass is actively growing. For cool-season grasses, that’s early spring and early fall. For warm-season grasses, wait until late spring or early summer. Follow the steps below for simple lawn dethatching.

Step 1: Gather Your Tools

The dethatching process starts with some tools you probably already have, and a couple you may need to purchase, borrow, or rent. These tools include:

• A standard garden rake (the kind used to rake leaves)
• A special dethatching rake (called a cavex rake with close, semi-circular metal tines)
• A lawn mower
• A power rake (called a verticutter or vertical cutter, can be rented for larger lawns)

Step 2: Mow the Lawn

To make it easier to get to the thatch, mow the grass lower than you normally would — up to 50 percent lower. This will help you see the thatch and access it more effectively with your chosen dethatching tool. Be sure to avoid fertilizing the lawn before you dethatch it.

Step 3: Dethatch

Before you begin this step, do a walk-through of your yard and mark off any objects you want to avoid, like irrigation lines, sewer drains, sprinkler heads, etc. This is especially important if using a power rake. Using your dethatching rake or vertical cutter, begin pulling up the thatch. With a standard dethatcher, dig in the tines and then pull upward. You will be able to see the brown thatch pulling away from the grass and soil.

Step 4: Rake Up the Debris

Once you’ve removed as much of the thatch as possible, rake it up using a standard garden rake. The yard may look rough at this point, so give it a good watering and then allow it to recover. Dethatching can be traumatic for the grass, so watch it carefully to ensure it bounces back. Aggressive dethatching can also create space for more weeds to grow, so be prepared for that as well.

Post-Dethatching Lawn Care 

After you’ve dethatched your lawn, you want to turn your thoughts toward maintaining a healthy level of thatch and preventing the growth of excessive thatch. Here’s how:

Aerate Your Lawn

Some people think aeration and dethatching are one and the same, but they are very different lawn treatments that serve different purposes. Lawn aeration works to prevent soil compaction that can damage your grass. Aeration makes it easier for nutrients, air, and water to penetrate the soil and get to the roots. It can work in conjunction with dethatching to contribute to a healthier, thicker lawn.

Adjust Your Watering Schedule

Your dethatched lawn needs to be watered deeply, but not too frequently. Overwatering can cause problems that will negatively impact your grass and soil. Cut back on the frequency, but ensure that your watering schedule is set up to give the lawn a good soaking.

Fertilize Sparingly

Too much fertilizer can leave you with a nitrogen-rich lawn, which can cause brown spots and lead to another round of excess thatch growth. Check the fertilizers you use and look out for those with high nitrogen amounts. Also, be sure to take a look at any herbicides you apply. Some may damage the earthworm population, which can also lead to greater thatch growth.

How Green Group Oklahoma Can Help

If you have a large yard or extremely thick thatch, you may need to look for a professional with the right tools and team to take care of the job. Luckily, Green Group Oklahoma is here to help. We offer a liquid dethatching service that provides similar benefits to traditional mechanical dethatching. The liquid solution acts as a bait to attract microorganisms in the soil by baiting them with things like natural sugars. Once the “bait” is gone, they continue to eat the decaying plant material such as grass thatch. It speeds up the process of natural decay and can give a small boost to the color of the lawn. We offer this service during the summer as warm temperatures are crucial for the decomposition of the thatch layer. Contact us today to learn more about dethatching or lawn aeration services. 

Local Lawn Care in Tulsa

You’ll want a trusted partner who can explore services like lawn aeration or tree and shrub care, and make sure you’re applying the right fertilizers and weed control to promote healthy growth without reversing the progress made by dethatching. That’s where Green Group OK can help. We offer comprehensive lawn care services to take care of any issues that arise, keeping your lawn lush and green. Get in touch today to get a quote for all your lawn care needs!