Q. Is it too cold to dethatch my Bermudagrass lawn? Do I have to wait until next year now? What about
overseeding; too late also? If I need to wait, then when?
overseeding; too late also? If I need to wait, then when?
A. It is not too late to dethatch in Las Vegas. Dethatching,
sometimes called power raking or vertical mowing, is the removal of dead,
grassy material that accumulates on the soil surface where grasses are grown.
sometimes called power raking or vertical mowing, is the removal of dead,
grassy material that accumulates on the soil surface where grasses are grown.
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| Dethatching machine, power rake or vertical mower |
Bermudagrass
is a warm season grass and so becomes dormant or turns brown when temperatures
get cold. Bermudagrass produces a lot of this thatch or dead grassy material,
more than most grasses. If this thatch is not removed regularly the appearance
of a lawn will decline.
is a warm season grass and so becomes dormant or turns brown when temperatures
get cold. Bermudagrass produces a lot of this thatch or dead grassy material,
more than most grasses. If this thatch is not removed regularly the appearance
of a lawn will decline.
Years
ago it was burned in the fall. In some rural areas it is still permitted.
ago it was burned in the fall. In some rural areas it is still permitted.
In place
of fire we use machines that pull the thatch from the lawn. This thatchy material
is then disposed of. The best time to dethatch is when the Bermudagrass is
actively growing in the summer months or just before overseeding.
of fire we use machines that pull the thatch from the lawn. This thatchy material
is then disposed of. The best time to dethatch is when the Bermudagrass is
actively growing in the summer months or just before overseeding.
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| Thatch |
Overseeding
is planting a new lawn of cool season grass, such as ryegrass, in the fall just
as Bermudagrass is becoming dormant. Thatch will interfere with the seeding of
a winter lawn in Bermudagrass. Dethatching the Bermudagrass just before
overseeding is commonly done for a better looking winter lawn.
is planting a new lawn of cool season grass, such as ryegrass, in the fall just
as Bermudagrass is becoming dormant. Thatch will interfere with the seeding of
a winter lawn in Bermudagrass. Dethatching the Bermudagrass just before
overseeding is commonly done for a better looking winter lawn.
Dethatching
now won’t affect your Bermuda lawn but you are getting a bit late for the ideal
time to overseed. As temperatures get lower, it takes longer for cool season
grass seed to germinate. The ideal time is mid-September through mid-October.
Later than this can be a little chancy because we don’t know what the weather
will do.
now won’t affect your Bermuda lawn but you are getting a bit late for the ideal
time to overseed. As temperatures get lower, it takes longer for cool season
grass seed to germinate. The ideal time is mid-September through mid-October.
Later than this can be a little chancy because we don’t know what the weather
will do.
 |
| How thatch accumulates |
It is
warmer in the city than in the suburbs so overseeding in the city is more
successful later in the fall. As you get closer to the desert or higher in
elevation overseeding should be done earlier.
warmer in the city than in the suburbs so overseeding in the city is more
successful later in the fall. As you get closer to the desert or higher in
elevation overseeding should be done earlier.
If you
miss this time for dethatching, the next best time would be June July and
August.
miss this time for dethatching, the next best time would be June July and
August.