Dethatching vs. Aeration: Which One Is Best For Spring Lawn Maintenance?

As we mentioned in a previous blog, this winter has been unseasonably warm for much of the United States. Although it’s only mid-February, many parts of the country normally covered in snow at this time of year are completely devoid of the fluffy white stuff, instead experiencing temperatures in the 40s, 50s, and sometimes even high 60s! This is NOT normal winter weather. However, as lawn care experts in the Spokane area, it’s our job to keep your landscaping looking beautiful no matter time of year it is and what Mother Nature has decided to throw at us in terms of wacky weather.

Our mission here at Impeccable Landscapes is to inform Spokane residents and business owners about the best way to take care of their lawns, all four seasons of the year. In addition to educating people about plants, trees, and lawn maintenance, we also pride ourselves on being one of the top local lawn care companies in Spokane, Liberty Lake, and Spokane Valley.

What Happens To Your Lawn Over The Winter?

Spring time is always a busy season for our landscaping company, because as soon as the snow is gone, plants, grass, and other living elements of your lawn know it’s time to grow. If you’re going to make changes or improvements to your lawn, spring is the time to do it.

Before you can make improvements, however, you’ve got to be sure that you’ve set down a solid foundation. This means taking a look at what’s beneath the blades of grass to ensure that we’re setting the stage for optimal growth during the spring and summer. During the winter, two very important things may happen to your turf:

Thatch Formation – Every time you walk on or mow your lawn, little bits of dead grass break off and fall in between the soil and the living grass blades on your lawn. This combines with stems, roots, and living grass shoots already existing at the base of your grass blades to form a layer we call “thatch.” The problem occurs when heavy, wet winter precipitation falls on top of this thatch layer, pushing it down and making it too dense to allow light, water, and to reach the grassroots.

Soil Compaction – When summer weather is particularly hot and dry, it’s easy for soil to become compacted. This means that the top layer of soil is so dry that it may become stiff, cracked, and impenetrable. During the winter, precipitation is prohibited from reaching grassroots because the soil is simply too dense.

Essential Spring Lawn Care Tasks

In order to correct these two problems, which winter tends to make worse, and get your lawn ready for overseeding and fertilization, two essential tasks must be completed. These are:

1. Dethatching
2. Lawn Aeration

Working With A Limited Lawn Care Budget? Choose Aeration

If you’re working with a limited lawn care budget, or enjoy most of your yard work but want to ensure that these essential tasks are carried out by a professional, Impeccable Landscapes highly recommends aeration.

Click the infographic below to learn more about how you could get your lawn aeration services at ZERO EXTRA CHARGE in 2017!