Scott......Your thatch layer may be so thick that you're actually suppressing seedling growth with a clean pressed mat like that. Just something to consider. Be sure to watch that video "Undercover Farmers". Pay particular attention to the part where they're showing how well they suppressed weed growth by pressing a mat in the same fashion. The reason their seedlings were allowed to come through the mat is because they cut out opening in the mat with their no-till drills.