When should I dethatch my lawn?

You should dethatch your lawn when the thatch layer is more than 0.5 inches (about 1.25 cm) thick, and the timing depends on your grass type and climate:

Cool-Season Grasses

(e.g., Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass)

• Best time: Early spring (after green-up) or early fall

• Why: These are active growing seasons, so the lawn can recover quickly.

Warm-Season Grasses

(e.g., Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine)

• Best time: Late spring to early summer

• Why: Warm-season grasses thrive during hot weather and recover well after dethatching then.

Signs It’s Time to Dethatch

• Grass feels spongy underfoot

• Water runs off quickly and doesn’t soak in

• Lawn looks thin or patchy despite proper care

• You can physically see a thick layer of brown material between the soil and the grass blades

Avoid Dethatching When:

• The lawn is dormant or stressed (e.g., in summer heat or winter cold)

• The soil is overly wet or bone dry

• You’ve recently fertilized or applied herbicides