This spring, there are two things that you probably haven’t done in a while that you should do.  These two things are to aerate and thatch your lawn.  Aside from mowing and fertilizing your lawn on a regular basis, aerating and thatching are probably the best things that you can do for it.  The reason why  is because aerating helps to reuse the existing soil.  It also helps the new grassroots to get established and to bury themselves deeper into the ground.

The reason I prefer aerating in the spring and aerating in the fall, is that it seems like most clay soils expand the most during the summer.  During the hot summer months, it is really hard for the water to soak into the ground where it is needed because the ground won’t allow it to pass through.  When you aerate your lawn, you can avoid this obstacle.  If your lawn is soggy, or it doesn’t really ever dry out, you may be better off aerating your lawn in the early fall.

The major benefit of  lawn aeration is that it helps to provide you with a thicker and healthier turf.  Yes, when you aerate your lawn that has been well taken care of, the roots will generally grow deeper into the soil.  The water will soak deeper.  On top of all that, you also have an easier time when you overseed or fertilize your lawn after you have aerated it.

Aside from aerating with a lawn aerator, you should also consider having your lawn thatched.  When you thatch your lawn, you take out all dead grasses or unwanted materials from your grass.  After you’re done thatching, your lawn will look sparse, but it should be able to rejuvenate itself and come back looking really good in 6 to 8 weeks.  Most people who have never thatched their lawns before are surprised at how much stuff you can really pull out from it.