Best time to dethatch?

[Black_Thumb]

Hello all. I just bought a dethatcher and an aerator/fertilizer combination unit for my tractor. I'm wondering if there is a "best" time to dethatch. Thoughts?

 

[mac1911]

I would wait for fall , cooler temps and more rain.
I dethatched last year in August and I think that do more bad than good . Lawn eventually recovered.

I only did it when I did for lack of free time.

 

[DirtMechanic]

In TN I imagine you have fescue. My fescues are the worst for thatch making of the different types I have. If you have snow I would think after green up before the strongest growth of the season occurs would be most reasonable. The plants do need time to recover.

 

[Black_Thumb]

In TN I imagine you have fescue.

I honestly have NO IDEA what kind of grass(es) I have...LOL There is a wonderful nursery just up the road a couple miles, and so I really need to take some photos and see if they have a resident grassologist (yes, I made that word up) who can tell me what I'm dealing with. The only one I know for sure is the stupid crab grass and Bermuda grass.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

I so often see you all discussing what type of grasses you have. My experience is that unless you use a cylinder mower it doesn't matter what people plant, withing a year or two the local grasses have taken over, maybe climatic conditions are a factor, we tend to be cool and wet, hence 'England's green and pleasant land'.

 

[Black_Thumb]

I spoke to a grassologist yesterday (yes, I made up that word) and she said the predominant grass in this region is tall fescue. At least I can tailor my seed and fertilizer to that end. That helps. I've managed to tame the dandelions, and now I'm moving on to getting ride of the crabgrass and some other nasty weeds in my yard. Looking forward to getting the yard under control. It'll take me a couple of years, I'm sure.

 

[mac1911]

I spoke to a grassologist yesterday (yes, I made up that word) and she said the predominant grass in this region is tall fescue. At least I can tailor my seed and fertilizer to that end. That helps. I've managed to tame the dandelions, and now I'm moving on to getting ride of the crabgrass and some other nasty weeds in my yard. Looking forward to getting the yard under control. It'll take me a couple of years, I'm sure.

Depending on your approach it can take a few seasons.
My lawn started going bad around 2015 by 2019 I had to tell the “lawn care” people to not come back . So spring 2019 till Present day took me to revive my lawn.
Between , weed control, dethatching, aerating , over seeding it took 2 full seasons.
Took 2 heavy lime applications over one season just to get my PH in check! Then had to bring up the deficiencies and over seed. All took time and money that was running thin past 2 years

 

[mac1911]

I so often see you all discussing what type of grasses you have. My experience is that unless you use a cylinder mower it doesn't matter what people plant, withing a year or two the local grasses have taken over, maybe climatic conditions are a factor, we tend to be cool and wet, hence 'England's green and pleasant land'.

How does a cylinder mower dictate what grows?

 

[DirtMechanic]

How does a cylinder mower dictate what grows?

They are really only useful for short grass that is especially dense. Zoysia would be an example of a grass that likes a reel more than a rotary and St Aug an example of a grass that would like a rotary more than a low reel. Other than height and density I cannot think of another reason and use a rotary myself. I can imagine someone going for that reel finish is a big sprayer of herbicide too so weeds are a so-so threat imo.

 

[mac1911]

They are really only useful for short grass that is especially dense. Zoysia would be an example of a grass that likes a reel more than a rotary and St Aug an example of a grass that would like a rotary more than a low reel. Other than height and density I cannot think of another reason and use a rotary myself. I can imagine someone going for that reel finish is a big sprayer of herbicide too so weeds are a so-so threat imo.

So a cylinder mower set at 3.5” would promote cool season grasses ?
Seriously can one of these reel mowers work well on tall fescue?

Im in the market for a new mower. My ride on is 27 years old and getting tired.

 

[DirtMechanic]

So a cylinder mower set at 3.5” would promote cool season grasses ?
Seriously can one of these reel mowers work well on tall fescue?

Im in the market for a new mower. My ride on is 27 years old and getting tired.

I do not see why not. It is just scissors. Will they even go that high? My next riding mower is battery powered. The JD L130 just will not die. Maybe I should stop all the silly maintenance and treat it like an electric.

 

[mac1911]

I do not see why not. It is just scissors. Will they even go that high? My next riding mower is battery powered. The JD L130 just will not die. Maybe I should stop all the silly maintenance and treat it like an electric.

Where are you , if close enough I will take that JD130 off your hands!
I have not ruled out electric yet. Although my doubts in the batteries is high.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Where are you , if close enough I will take that JD130 off your hands!
I have not ruled out electric yet. Although my doubts in the batteries is high.

You do not want to drive to the deep south right now as your tires would melt.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Those little engines go on and on. There is no huge strain on them, my mowers usually go when the plate the engine is mounted on finally rots through. I never do get round to cleaning out the bottom every time I use it, and I always mean to paint it with something heavy duty before I use it, but I bought it because I need it now, not in a week when the paint's gone off.

 

[mac1911]

You do not want to drive to the deep south right now as your tires would melt.

What Electric options have you been looking at.
Im leaning to a smaller zero turn for about 3/4 acre of lawn.
Lots of turns and objects to go around..