Yard Care in Charleston: What You Need To Know About Thatch

Pretty Woman playing with cute puppy on manicured green grass after Lawn Doctor provided Yard Care in Charleston

Is thatch buildup bad for your lawn? What is thatch, anyway? When you have questions about yard care, Lawn Doctor of Charleston has answers. Our expert technicians can demystify lawn care issues, identify specific concerns, and apply treatments to give your grass a boost.

First and foremost: what is thatch? It’s a layer of organic matter that accumulates on the soil’s surface. This organic matter, whether dead or living, can be made up of grass clippings, stems, roots, and other plant materials.

Let’s take a look at how it affects your lawn’s health.

How Thatch Affects Lawns in Charleston 

When should you worry about thatch, and why? And what next steps need to be taken? Here’s what you need to know about thatch:

  • When is it a problem? A thin layer of thatch offers some benefits for your lawn. It insulates grassroots during very hot or very cold temperatures. It can reduce the potential for weeds and help to seal moisture into the soil. But too much thatch can pose a concern for your lawn, too. If a thatch layer is thicker than 3/4 or 1/2 an inch, it can prevent nutrients, water, and air from reaching your grass.
  • What causes thatch buildup? When you start to see significant thatch buildup, it’s a symptom of underlying problems. It can be caused by under-watering or over-watering, poor drainage, certain fertilizers, and even an infrequent mowing schedule. These factors can reduce microbial activity within the soil and create other problems, making it harder for organic matter like thatch to break down properly.
  • What should you do about it? Understanding the cause of thatch buildup is essential when addressing it. With our professional yard care services, we can take a look at your turf and evaluate what’s happening. From there, we can offer tips and recommendations for reducing the potential for thatch in the future. We can also balance pH levels in the soil and take other steps to help you deal with this problem.

Comprehensive Yard Care With Expert Results 

With comprehensive yard care from trusted technicians, you can always get results for your lawn. We offer treatments and expertise in:

  • Charleston
  • Summerville
  • North Charleston
  • Mt. Pleasant
  • James Island
  • Moncks Corner
  • West Ashley
  • Charleston County
  • And throughout the surrounding area

For yard care in Charleston, contact us today!