Thatching

Thatch is the layer of living and dead stems, roots, stolons, and rhizomes between the green blades of grass and the soil surface. A thin layer of thatch (less than 1/2 inch thick) can be beneficial to the lawn because it helps to limit weed germination, reduce water evaporation, and protect from frost damage. However, thick thatch layers can prevent water, air, and nutrients from penetrating the soil, causing reduced root growth and increased potential for drought stress. Thatch also favors fungal growth and can harbor insect pests. Some turfgrass species, such as tall fescue and perennial ryegrass, do not produce much thatch. Other turfgrass species, such as bermudagrass, bentgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass, have creeping growth habits and rapidly build thick thatch layers.

Core Aeration

Process:

Over the course of the year, your soil becomes very compacted, which will impede your lawns growth. Gaudet Landscaping will provided aeration to your lawn by removing small (1.5: depth x ¾ diameter), pencil-sized plugs from your lawn. These "plugs" are left on the surface of your lawn to dry out. The next time Gaudet Landscaping  mows your lawn they are crushed up and the soil is mixed into the thatch layer on the surface, adding microorganisms to the thatch layer, allowing the thatch layer to decompose.

 

Benefit:

Aeration to your lawn allows essential nutrients, water and moisture to reach your lawns root system. It stimulates new growth, improves drainage and provides a better environment for over-seeding. This aeration process also allows your fertilizer products to work more effectively.