Is it better to aerate or dethatch?

It is best to dethatch first before aerating your lawn.

Aerating is best done when there's the problem of compaction. Both dethatching and aerating your lawn will improve air, nutrient, and water penetration into the root zone of your grass. Thatch is the main problem these two processes address.

Do 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 aerate and dethatch 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 Damage

Spring dethatching hits a lawn hard when it is already in a precarious condition. Secondly, dethatching in the spring with power equipment can bring up crabgrass and other noxious weed seeds, setting your lawn up for a future infestation.

When should you not dethatch a lawn?

Never dethatch when your lawn is dormant or stressed; you can damage it beyond recovery. Lawn aeration and dethatching are two different processes, but they can work together to help your lawn.

Aeration vs Dethatching // Which should YOU do??

Should you dethatch and aerate at the same time?

Should I aerate or dethatch first? It is best to dethatch first before aerating your lawn. This way, you'll remove the excess debris and promote healthy root development. Aerating is best done when there's the problem of compaction.

What month should I dethatch my lawn?

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). That's when your grass is growing most vigorously.

Will dethatching remove crabgrass?

A: A dethatcher will tear out some of the dead crabgrass but won't get it all. The crabgrass will break down and disintegrate over winter anyway. The real problem is the seed these plants let behind to germinate next year.

Does dethatching cause weeds?

If you do need to dethatch, it is important to remember that dethatching can be damaging. Dethatching tears and rips dormant turf. This can affect its ability to recover, especially after a hard winter. Using power equipment to dethatch can bring up weeds.

Is aerating your lawn worth it?

Almost all lawns will benefit from aeration, and a great lawn demands it. That said, most lawns do not need it. Lawns suffering from heavy foot traffic, excessive thatch (>1 inch thick) or grown on heavy soils will benefit most.

Should I overseed after dethatching?

After dethatching, thatch should be removed and put in the compost pile. If you do not already have a compost pile, then you should seriously consider adding one. After this has been done, high-quality grass seed.

Can you aerate your lawn too much?

Especially thick types of grass may also call for aerating more frequently. 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).

Should you overseed after aeration?

After the aeration is done, the overseeding can be done. This is done by spreading grass seeds uniformly over the entire yard. Extra grass seeds can be spread in areas that are thin or damaged. The grass should be watered regularly after this is done to ensure the seeds can grow.

Should I power rake or aerate my lawn?

I recommend using core aeration as an annual practice for lawns instead of power raking, which most everyone seems to do. Core aeration improves the lawn's health and vigor by breaking up soil compaction, which improves water drainage, nutrient absorption and air circulation to the roots.

How often should I aerate my lawn?

How Frequently Should You Aerate Your Lawn? As for frequency, Friell said aeration should be performed at least once per year on most lawns. Lawns with compacted soil or soil with high clay content may benefit from aeration twice annually.

Can I overseed over crabgrass?

You can overseed into existing grassy weeds like crabgrass and then apply pre-emergent crabgrass killer the following spring to remove crabgrass from your lawn. Do not plant new seed if you applied pre-emergent crabgrass killer earlier that growing season. The crabgrass killer will also kill germinating turfgrass seed.

Should you dig up crabgrass?

Crabgrass will die on its own in the fall, usually after first frost. However, if you don't remove it before it disperses its seeds, you will have to deal with the pesky weed again the following year. The best way to get rid of crabgrass is to remove the weedy clumps as you see them.

Should I pull crabgrass by hand?

You can also pull crabgrass by hand using a hand trowel or digging knife, but it should be done early in the season before the plants can produce seeds.

What will break down thatch?

Your lawn will need regular fertilizing because soil microorganisms need nitrogen to decompose thatch.

How do you speed up thatch decomposition?

They will go right through to the soil when watered in, and won't get stuck in the thatch Monthly applications of a salt and chlorine free liquid fertilizer (like our 16-4-8) will provide more available nitrogen and therefore will promote faster thatch decomposition.

Why is my lawn so spongy?

Why is my lawn soft and spongy? A good amount of growth in the previous years can lead to some build-up of surplus lawn runners in your turf. These runners eventually die and more grass tries to grow on top of it, however, this can restrict the amount of both oxygen and water getting to the roots of the plant.

What do I do after I dethatch my lawn?

After dethatching, rake up the newly exposed thatch. Mowing your lawn will also help to clean things up. Fertilizing at this time is also important. This will help your lawn recover and get much needed nutrients.