Is Aeration and Seeding a Substitute for Dethatching?

From proper watering techniques to consistent fertilizer application and pH testing to weed control, there’s always something you can be doing throughout the year to keep your lawn healthy and green. As we head into the fall, it’s time to start setting your lawn up for success next year. During this time, you’ll often hear about dethatching and aerating your soil, which can seem similar. Is aeration a substitute for dethatching? Read on to find out.

What is Dethatching?

Dethatching is important when your lawn has a build-up from grass clippings, stems, shoots, and undesirable roots. When excessive layers of thatch build up, it’s more difficult for grass roots to absorb the nutrients it needs, making a lawn more vulnerable to lawn disease and certain pests. Dethatching is the process of reducing this undesirable layer of build-up.

What Is Aeration and Seeding?

Aeration is the process of pulling out “plugs” or “cores” of soil from the lawn with an aerator to help alleviate compaction. It is often combined with adding new grass seed to your lawn, known as seeding. Aeration and seeding is used when:

• You need to reduce compaction. Aerating the lawn breaks up this compacted soil and improves the oxygen flow to the root systems of the healthy grass.
• You need to add new seed. Filling in patchy areas of your lawn with healthy grass will restore the uniform healthy look to the lawn and will crowd the turf to lessen the ability of invasive weeds to continue to spread in the lawn. Aeration greatly increases soil-to-seed contact, which is essential for the germination of new seed.

Is Aeration and Seeding a Substitute for Dethatching?

Aeration and seeding are not a substitute for dethatching because they address different issues to help improve air, nutrient, and water availability in the root zone.

Aeration is important for every lawn, while not every lawn needs to be dethatched. In fact, lawns don’t need to be dethatched every year unless there is a buildup of over 1/2″. Therefore, if you only have time for one or the other, your lawn is most likely to benefit from aeration and seeding.

Set Your Lawn up for Success with Green Lawn Fertilizing.

Excessive thatch and compacted soil can cause your lawn to lose its healthy green luster. Call Green Lawn Fertilizing to help keep your yard as healthy and green as can be. Our Green Lawn Program features eight applications throughout the year to take care of the entire health of your lawn. Contact us today at 855-469-0692 to learn more and schedule a service.