If your lawn has a thick layer of
The main disadvantage of the aeration process is excessive aeration absorb too much oxygen and water becomes corrosive.
Will my grass grow back after I dethach it 🤔 This content isn't available. After dethatching your lawn it is a great time to aerate your lawn. After aerating, overseed and fertilize with Milorganite®. It should take about 3-4 weeks for the lawn to recover and show signs of new growth.
Aerating your soil
It helps establish a deeper and healthier root system and also stimulates the microbial activity involved in decomposing the thatch layer. The aerifier must have hollow tines or spoons that bring the cores of soil to the surface to be effective long term.
Use a trowel or spade to remove a wedge-shaped layer of grass and soil about 3 inches thick, or just pry up a small section of turf. Look for the thatch layer lying directly on top of soil. Measure the thickness. A layer thicker than ½ inch signals it's time for dethatching.
If your lawn has a thick layer of thatch that prevents water from reaching the soil, dethatching is the way to go. However, if the soil is compacted, making it difficult for roots to grow and absorb nutrients, aeration is more beneficial.
When to Dethatch Your 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).
The best time to aerate your lawn is in late summer or early fall, as this will allow your grass to recover completely before going dormant in the winter. While Fall is recommended, you can also aerate and overseed your lawn in the spring between March and May.
After dethatching, rake up the debris and then aerate the soil. An aerator pulls cores of soil from the surface, loosening it and allowing moisture and oxygen to penetrate.
Aeration makes holes in the soil to alleviate compacted soil, improve air flow, prevent runoff, enhance nutrient and moisture retention, and maintain healthy roots. It is possible to dethatch and aerate at the same time, and it's generally preferred.
Dethatching in the spring is a bad procedure for several reasons. First, it tears and rips turf that is often still dormant and therefore will be unable to recover after winter injury, snow mold and ice damage. Spring dethatching hits a lawn hard when it is already in a precarious condition.
Contrary to popular belief, leaving clippings on the lawn does not contribute to increased thatch.
Remember that you should only dethatch your lawn a maximum of once per year for warm-season grass and between once and twice a year in early spring and autumn for cool-season grass. Warm-season grass should be dethatched in late spring or early summer.
Aeration Type
Aeration comes in different forms depending on the type of aerator to be used. Some aerators are more effective than others and therefore more expensive too. For instance, core aerators will cost more to rent than plug aerators.
Aeration and overseeding will help to reduce weeds.
Opportunistic weeds germinate in areas where they can be successful.
Whatever option you choose, finish the job by raking up all the thatch debris and watering your dethatched lawn thoroughly.
For established turf with bare or weakened thinning areas, professionals tend to dethatch and overseed at the same time. Dethatching first to remove any matted thatch and then overseed. Doing both allows for the best possible penetration of seed and root establishment to quickly thicken up the turf.
Several warning signs indicate your lawn needs aeration, including thatch buildup, heavy foot traffic areas, clay soil, puddles on the lawn, and thinning grass.
The best time to dethatch is late summer or early fall. That's when your grass is growing most vigorously. Before dethatching, mow a little shorter than normal. Also, you'll achieve better results if you do it after a light rain or watering.
Liquid aeration costs $80 to $150, core aeration costs between $75 and $250, and spike aeration ranges from $40 to $250. Some aeration companies offer packages, costing $28 per 1,000 square feet on average. Learn more about lawn aeration costs and what may impact the price you pay.
Your ailing lawn is suffering from compact soil and thick thatch, but can you dethatch and aerate at the same time? Absolutely. Performing both treatments at once benefits your lawn by improving water absorption, nutrient uptake, and air flow to the roots.
Aerate, Overseed, Fertilize
After dethatching your lawn it is a great time to aerate your lawn.
Dethatching can be a DIY project. However, if the thatch is really thick, it may be necessary to hire professionals to avoid damaging the lawn too much. No matter what you do, a lawn with thick thatch will need some significant recovery efforts after dethatching.