Lawn Dethatching Vs Lawn Aeration

Spring is dropping off quickly and summer will soon be rushing in, but it is never too late to aerate! You guys know I am a huge advocate of lawn aeration, but what if you think you need to dethatch?

De-thatching the lawn means you use a machine, appropriately called a “dethatcher” that literally combs through the lawn just above the soil line with a spiked roller. These spikes rip and pull the thatch from the lawn. I rarely recommend dethaching unless there is an extreme case.

Recently in my lawn care travels (yep, I see many lawns each week here in the Midwest) I have stepped on several that desperately needed dethatching.

Thatch is the layer of mostly dead grass roots and other organic matter that reside just above the soil line. If the layer of thatch is less than a half inch thick, we’re good, but when it gets thicker, and the lawn feels “spongy” underfoot, then something must be done.

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