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Thatch in lawn.

a-j-stirlinga-j-stirling Posts: 16
in Problem solving
Hello. 

Wondering if someone could offer some advice please. I am starting to suffer from some thatch in my lawn. 

It gets plenty of water and regular cutting on a medium/high setting, yet there is still thatch. Please see pictures.

What is best to address this issue?

Many thanks. 

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 9,637
    I'm not really seeing a lot of thatch there. Some of the grass blades have died, but that's not unusual. If it's happy more will grow. A feed might help (without weed/moss killer because it doesn't look as if it needs those).
    Mowing alone doesn't remove or prevent thatch - some of it is the buildup of small bits of clippings that the box doesn't catch. Have you tried raking/scarifying? I do mine once a year in autumn (my gardening books say scarify in autumn, only light raking in spring, but many people on here say scarify in spring so take your choice). I get out loads of stuff despite regular mowing with the box on. It looks worse afterwards but soon recovers.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,967
    Scarifying would improve your lawn although it looks pretty good anyway - and would gladly swap it with mine..
    Either a spring-tine rake or an electric scarifyer.
    It's amazing how much 'stuff' comes out. The lawn can look a bit bare for a short while, but then grows back with extra vigour.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,016
    Are the blades sharp enough on the mower?
    I think it looks quite short too, but it might just be the photos. It certainly looks quite pale.
    You could do as @JennyJ describes with a bit of light raking, and a feed alone and see if it improves. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • a-j-stirlinga-j-stirling Posts: 16
    Thanks @Fairygirl @Pete.8 and @JennyJ for your replies. Appreciate your help. I’ve taken another picture of what it looks like close up. I’m new to all this so hard to know what’s what haha. 
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    edited May 2020
    Its getting a bit late for scarification, but if its light and manual you should be fine going over it with a spring tine rake. 

    Id leave the heavy scarification until autumn now.

    Think of it as a twice yearly exercise that will improve the lawn over the next two or three years.
  • Rob LockwoodRob Lockwood Posts: 365
    a-j - if you haven't scarified before / for a while, prepare yourself for a huge pile come Autumn!  Absolutely tons of it.  Also, spring-tined scarification is the heaviest workout known to man!
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