Most of the newer areas n the Villages are planted with Empire Zoysia. If the lawn is mowed at the recommended 2 to 2 1/2 inches then you should be OK on thatch. My lawn company mowed the lawn too high last year, I think at 3 1/2 to 4 inches. I had contracted for "push mowing" and if the grass gets too tall you can't lower it very easily without the mower constantly stalling. This spring I tried to get them to cut it lower as I read a zoysia lawn will deteriote if you mow it over 2 1/2 inches, but they resisted and cut it at 3 inches. I went out and bought my own mower and got it down to 2 inches with a struggle. I bagged 8 large bags of brown thatch. Mowing high prompts thatch buildup. If you keep it shorter and use a mulching mower you should not need to dethatch. Aerating and applying top dressings such as compost can help dethatch a lawn naturally.
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