Mowing. Raise that mower. Have 2 1/2 to 3 inches clearance between the bottom of the deck and the ground. That's right. No more putting green lawn. The grass won't grow if we cut off all the grass leaving no grass left to grow. Grass cut too short allows weeds in, water to run off or evaporate before being used, leaves roots unprotected, allows for burning in the heat of summer, is less resilient to foot traffic and more susceptible to pests and diseases. A mowed lawn should be higher than the top of your foot when you stand in it. Yes! We're gonna stand in our grass, not on our grass.
i understand your basic point here, which is cut higher, which i would definitely recommend for home owners. but what you're stating isn't wholly true. as far as traffic tolerance, short cut grass on athletic fields will actually form a more dense root system, although not as deep, and can increase traffic tolerance. as far as insect, weed, and disease pressure, i will agree with you that when a grass is cut short and only cut once a week, you are increasing the stress level by violating the "1/3 rule". however, when you cut grass often and short, you increase lateral growth & tillering, getting a thicker, healthier lawn, so it will, in fact, be less susceptible to pests of all kinds.
Thatch holds in moisture. Less watering to be done with more existing water utilized. It holds back weeds. It insulates the roots from cold and shades them from heat. Thatch is also fertilizer. No need to buy what you make for free each time you mow. Green lawn clippings are great sources of nitrogen. Nitrogen makes green grass. Look at that bag of whatever fertilizer. That first number, the highest number- that's nitrogen. Thatch also improves soil composition as it biodegrades. It also makes a great place for essential soil microorganisms to grow.
Thatch is fertilizer? Not sure what you mean by that. Returning clippings is a great practice, and it does provide some nutrients, but not nearly enough if you want a truly green/lush lawn. "De-thatching" is kind of a catch-all term. While I agree that power raking isn't necessary, aerating is one of the best practices you can do for your lawn. A small layer ~1/2" of thatch can be beneficial for lawns, but a large thatch layer can actually trap water and nutrients and harbor insects and disease. The nice thing is most homeowners don't need to worry about too large of a thatch layer because earthworms love to eat it. And just to add in, returning clippings will NOT significantly contribute to your thatch layer.
If you normally mow left to right, mow up and down a few times a season. If you normally mow up and down, mow left to right a few times a season. Alternating the direction opens up the lawn.
Great suggestion, quit burning in those lines just because it looks good.
