Landscaping Tip - Spring

Dethatching? You may not even know that your lawn has thatch, much less that the thatch might need to be removed.

If you have a healthy, established lawn, you probably have thatch. In fact, lush lawns that get a lot of attention -- watering, fertilizing and other forms of TLC -- are prone to thatch. You just don't see it. That's not bad, unless you have too much thatch. Then your lawn will stop being healthy.

Thatch develops after you've been tending the lawn a couple of years. It's the light brown layer that builds up between the soil and the green grass. It's made up of living, dead and decaying organic matter -- compressed roots, stems and runners. Despite what many people think, grass clippings don't cause thatch. They're mostly water, so they decay rapidly.

In moderation, thatch is a good thing. It makes the turf a little springy and comfortable to walk on. It can conserve water, protect the soil and help the lawn hold up better.

But when the organic matter between the green grass and the soil builds up faster than it decays, thatch becomes a problem. It may look somewhat harmless, but it can make it harder for grass roots to take hold in the soil. Excessive thatch could also become a breeding ground for pests and disease.

You may have too much thatch if your lawn:

  • Feels spongy and soft
  • Has dry spots despite watering
  • Looks scalped, or brown, after mowing
  • Is thinning and dying, despite fertilizing

You can measure thatch by sticking a wire or screwdriver into several spots in your lawn. When you hit soil, measure the amount of thatch between the soil and the green grass. Or, use a knife to cut a few small wedges out of your lawn. Then measure the distance between soil and grass. If you have more than one-half inch (1.27 centimeters) of thatch, you need to get busy.

Fire Pits

Fire pits offer an excellent alternative to outdoor fireplaces and may better suit your landscaping needs. A fire pit is often the focal point of a social gathering of friends and family. Fire pits can be designed and custom built us in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit your tastes, space, and backyard landscape needs. Fire pits are often used as accents in a well designed landscape and can be custom built using a selection of styles and materials, including natural stone, pre-cast concrete, slate, bluestone, brick, and stacked stone.

Water Features

Running water has a soothing and calming effect and helps to drown out other background noises such as traffic or neighbors. You can create your own quiet corner, a relaxing and peaceful place to getaway and enjoy the sights and sounds of water. Water gardens can be created in a variety of designs from koi ponds to elegant water falls.

A water garden adds sophistication and value to your property. In addition to increasing your property value and making your property more appealing, water gardens and water features provide habitat for wildlife. Birds, bees, butterflies and other critters will enjoy a refreshing water source.

Other water features include landscape ponds such as Koi ponds, water falls, fountains, and landscape streams. If you have an existing pond, stream or other natural water feature on your property we can improve its beauty and function.

Poison Ivy & Poison Oak

Poison Ivy Removal

Poison Ivy (above) and Poison Oak (below) are most easily removed early in the season before growth begins. Landscaping With Hart can identify and eliminate these irritating plants before they sprout identifying leaves.

Poison Oak Removal

Later in the season, removal of these plants is more difficult when rash-inducing oils are "ripe". Both Poison Ivy and Poison Oak tend to grow among and around rocks, trees and other protective structures, adding to the difficulty of removal.

Weed-whacking these plants explode the oils into a fine mist that can penetrate to any skin covered by loose-fitting clothing and garden gloves. Call Landscaping With Hart to eradicate these nuisances before they come into contact with family or guests, especially children.

Landscaping With Hart, LLC • Guilford, CT • 203.915.8763