Aerating and Dethatching
Aerating
This should be done late summer or early fall. This may need to be done every 2 – 3 years depending on your location.
The machine used will pull plugs about as long as your little finger. These holes allow for air, rain, and nutrients to penetrate the soil better, and gives roots room to grow. The lawn will look rough for a few weeks until these cores dissolve. The soil cores contain millions of microorganisms that help digest thatch naturally, creating a healthier lawn.
Core aerating encourages deep rooting, increases air in the soil, improves water and nutrient penetration, and encourages growth of beneficial microorganisms. The only down side of core aeration is that it brings up weed seeds from the soil. You may want to consider a preemergence herbicide the following spring to minimize the weed growth.
Dethatching
Thatch is a layer of debris, usually made up of grass clippings, leaves, and things that accumulate between the blades of grass laying on the top soil. A healthy layer of thatch is good. This protects the grass crowns of the plant, it provides protection from drought, and also provides nutrients to the lawn. Dethatching can be accomplished by raking deep in the lawn back and forth, the aerating machine can also be used, if you have a deep layer of thatch.
When to dethatch -
The best time to dethatch is mid to late spring or early fall, while grass is in a growing stage so the grass can quickly recover from injury. If your lawn has a bouncy feel when you walk on it, thatch is probably built up. A general rule is thatch should not be more than ½” deep. To determine the thickness, remove a small square of your lawn to a depth of about 3” an measure the brown layer between the grass blades and the soil surface.
