You can decide to dethatch and aerate at the same time especially if it is in the spring and you have lawn debris and compaction problems. It will help with establishing a better lawn for the season ahead.
Should I aerate or dethatch first?
Excess thatch blocks out air, light and water from reaching root zones. Dethatching and aeration services go hand in hand. Dethatch first, then aerate .
How often should you dethatch and aerate your lawn?
Plan on doing it every five years or so if your lawn needs it. You might want to give your lawn a quick check every year just to see how much thatch has accumulated. Time your long-term dethatching and aeration (we'll get to that momentarily) schedule.
Can dethatching hurt your lawn?
Dethatching causes a lot of damage to your grass and should be done at a time when the grass is growing so it can fix the damage before the next dormant period. Warm-season grass can be dethatched in late spring or early summer after it starts to grow. It is best not to do it in the middle or late of summer.
Does aerating break down thatch?
Aerating and dethatching are both highly important lawn care projects that take place around late winter through late spring. ... However, aeration results in the breakdown of compacted soil whereas dethatching removes layers of thatch , or dead grass and other debris, from the top of the soil.
Should I fertilize after dethatching?
Because you fertilize your yard immediately after dethatching , it is best to wait until your yard has “greened” up before applying nitrogen. If you fertilize while your grass is still dormant, you encourage weeds to compete with your grass. ... Too much nitrogen will exacerbate your thatch problem in the future.
Is it better to dethatch in the spring or fall?
The best time to dethatch your lawn is when it's actively growing and the soil is moderately moist. For cool-season grasses, that's early spring or early fall . For warm-season grasses, dethatch in late spring through early summer (after the second mowing).
What time of year is best to dethatch a lawn?
Dethatch the Lawn
For northern grass the best time to dethatch your entire lawn is in late summer to early fall when the grass is actively growing. For southern grasses, dethatch in late spring. In early spring, and for small areas, use a thatching rake, which is a sharp-tined rake that rips the thatch out of the lawn.
Can you aerate too much?
As a general rule, you shouldn't need to aerate more than once a year at any time (“too much of a good thing” applies here, since you don't want to damage your soil).
How do I know if my lawn needs dethatching?
When to Dethatch Your Lawn
If your thatch is 1–2 inches or more, you've probably already seen signs of poor grass color and weak, thin growth. Once you' ve confirmed your thatch exceeds the healthy mark , the time for dethatching has come.
What do I do after I Dethatch my lawn?
The first thing to do after dethatching is to remove the piles of thatch from your yard. After dethatching, seed the lawn and consider topdressing . If you've taken plugs of soil, that soil can be left as a topdressing. But the planty thatch material should be removed.
Should I mow after dethatching?
If you are planning to apply preemergence herbicides, do so after dethatching. ... The reason for this is that the dethatching equipment will pull the soil and tear at the roots instead of slicing and lifting the thatch. Mow the lawn to the lowest recommended height for your particular grass .
What month Should I aerate my lawn?
Ideally, aerate the lawn with cool season grass in the early spring or autumn and those with warm season grass in the late spring. When experiencing prolonged dry conditions and drought, aeration is recommended. This will improve the passage for water and nutrients to reach the lawns roots when watering is limited.
How do you get rid of thatch naturally?
- Dethatch. On a dry day, use a thatch rake or a stiff-tined rake to comb through the grass in a back-and-forth motion applying enough pressure to reach the bottom layer of thatch and slightly penetrate the soil. ...
- Collect the Thatch. ...
- Aerate and Seed. ...
- We Know How to Get Rid of Thatch.
Does liquid aeration help with thatch?
Liquid Aeration is an excellent tool because it can loosen the soil deeper than Core Aeration can. ... Finally, a good Liquid Aeration product should contain enzymes or bacteria that are specifically designed to break down thatch.
