Thatch is like cholesterol for your green. A little is fine—it cushions the surface. Too much, and you get anaerobic conditions, black layer, poor drainage, and disease.
So what keeps thatch in check in a natural system? The answer lies in the soil food web—a complex, living ecosystem made up of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and arthropods. When this system is working properly, organic matter is broken down and cycled efficiently.
In particular, the natural decomposition of thatch relies on a cast of specialist microbes:
- Fungi like Trichoderma harzianum and Trichoderma viride are powerful decomposers. They release enzymes like cellulase and ligninase that break down the tough, woody materials in thatch.
- Bacterial species such as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, and Pseudomonas fluorescens help to digest organic matter and stimulate the activity of fungi.
- These microbes also help regulate moisture, compete with pathogens, and release nutrients in plant-available forms.
However, in many modern bowling green rootzones—especially those high in sand and low in organic matter—these vital organisms are either missing or severely suppressed. Without a thriving microbial community, thatch accumulates rapidly, leading to a lifeless, compacted surface that invites disease and drainage issues.
For more on how green ecology impacts this, read: Bowling Green Ecology
Reviving the Soil Food Web The solution isn’t more machinery. It’s more biology. By restoring balance to the soil food web with targeted biological inputs, we can reintroduce the organisms responsible for breaking down thatch naturally.
That’s why we developed BioActive Thatch Reduce.
BioActive Thatch Reduce (enough for 6 bowling green applications)
Effectively reduces thatch in all sports turf situations
• Optimises organic matter degradation
• Increases humus content in the root zone
• Releases nutrients for plant assimilation
• Improves root zone structure
• Reduces requirement for mechanical thatch removal, so less playing surface disruption
• Prevents build up of excessive organic matter in turf grass surfaces
This specially formulated product contains a balanced mix of thatch-degrading microbes—including beneficial bacteria and fungi like Trichoderma species and Bacillus strains—along with organic feed materials to kickstart their activity in your green.
Used regularly, BioActive Thatch Reduce helps to:
- Reduce surface thatch with minimal mechanical disruption
- Improve soil structure and oxygen availability
- Boost microbial diversity for long-term resilience
No chemicals. No harsh interventions. Just a biological solution to a biological problem.
If your green is suffering from thatch buildup and poor surface performance, it’s time to let nature do the heavy lifting.