Keeping a lawn healthy and verdant in color is not an easy task to do. Many think that grass can grow anywhere, so it does not need any care and maintenance. Unfortunately, owning a lawn is not as easy as the grass is very delicate and requires special treatment to stay healthy and vibrant. A professional lawn care provider has an annual plan to take good care of a lawn with correct lawn aeration, dethatching, fertilization, and overseeding.
What are the dethatcher and aerator?
Many lawn owners often bewilder the difference between a dethatcher and an aerator, as they sound the same. They are similar in removing excess matter present in the soil to promote better air passage, water, and nutrients to reach the grassroots. However, they differ in the process and the tools and equipment used to perform the task.
Dethatching- It comes from the root word thatch, an organic matter that builds upon the soil’s surface. It may include garden matter like fallen leaves, fruits, flowers, grass clippings from mowing, etc. Thatch is helpful for the lawn because it can add nutrients, moisten, and protect it from heat, but in a moderate amount. Once it builds up on top of the soil, it prevents air from penetrating the ground, which is unsuitable for the roots. Dethatching is a method to remove excess thatch and leave a thin layer.
Lawn Aeration- Every lawn soil suffers from compact soil every once in a while, so it needs aeration. It can happen due to heavy foot traffic, weight, and gravity. When soil is compact, it is hard and compresses, and can suffocate the roots. First-time lawn owners can choose to hire a professional lawn care provider to do a lawn aeration service. The process will remove minuscule plugs on the surface and allow the soil and roots to breathe. The process makes the soil loose to allow roots to get enough nutrients and provide space to grow.
Things you need to know about Dethatching
It is important to carefully inspect the soil’s condition to know if you need lawn aeration or dethatching. Also, you may want to consider a soil test to find out the quality of the soil.
1. Signs the Soil Needs Dethatching
It is very easy to know if soil needs dethatching by pressing your hard on top of the soil. If it feels bouncy like a cushion, then it means that thatch already builds up. Also, look at the shoots because a new shoot will not resurface from a pile of thatch. If you see these signs, it is the right time to do dethatching. You can choose to do it on your own or hire a professional. You need to ensure that thatch is only ¾ of an inch to keep the soil healthy and well nourish. Unlike lawn aeration, dethatch only if necessary. You do not need to dethatch more often as the soil needs a thin layer to protect and keep moisture from evaporation.
2. The Best Time to Dethatch
It is expected during the spring season, but it is essential to consider the weather, soil condition, and grass type. Also, take note only to apply any soil treatment if necessary because it is useless if you take away a large amount of thatch on top. It is helpful to dethatch before overseeding because the process will remove most of the seed and be overseed again.
3. Dethatching by Part
Remember that you do not need to dethatch the entire lawn. You only do the process on areas with thatch build-up. Lawn care professionals do inspect the lawn first before the process to know which part needs dethatching and lawn aeration. Most of the time, areas with more foliage suffer from thicker thatch. The process requires a machine to rake the surface of the soil. It is important to ask for help from experts as they know how much they need to remove. Because stripping too much thatch will also cause harm to your lawn.
Things you need to Know about Lawn Aeration
Lawn aeration is different, but it also requires equipment called a core aerator. The process can make the soil loose to allow oxygen to pass through the soil going to the root system. Enough oxygen improves the soil’s overall condition, thus providing a suitable environment for good microorganisms to thrive and help decompose excess thatch. The good thing about lawn aeration is that it does not damage the lawn compared to dethatching.
