Doing a lawn renovation this year. In the middle of gly applications now.
I have a power rake, tow behind aerator, and slice seeded. The dirt is hard, compacted soil. Lawn is always mowed with side discharge (zero turn), so besides thatch, there is quite a bit of debris.
Most articles I read say aerate or dethatch. Some give an "and" statement but don't mention order.
So, if doing both, which do you do first?
My thought is
1. dethatch first, remove thatch and debris with lawn sweeper.
2. Mow with push mower as low as it will go while bagging.
That should open up the dirt for better seed to soil contact.
3. Aerate.
If I swapped to aerate first, power raking would break up the cores (and create a ton more dust). But that leads to my next question...
If I kept the above order, do I remove the cores or let them sit? It seems like quite of few of you let them sit and run the slice seeder over them to help get better seed to soil contact.
4. Slice seed (broadcast at a low rate, then 2x passes at about 1.5lb/k. I have enough seed for about 4lbs/1k'. KBG is generally 3lb/k). Haven't used the slice seeded before and heard some horror stories with people dropping too much seed so I'll be watching it carefully.
5. Take a roller (it's a tow behind but might see if I have the strength to just manually pull it) over the yard.
6. Water.
Anyways, I got off topic.
Dethatch then aerate or aerate then dethatch? Pick up debris after both?
I have a power rake, tow behind aerator, and slice seeded. The dirt is hard, compacted soil. Lawn is always mowed with side discharge (zero turn), so besides thatch, there is quite a bit of debris.
Most articles I read say aerate or dethatch. Some give an "and" statement but don't mention order.
So, if doing both, which do you do first?
My thought is
1. dethatch first, remove thatch and debris with lawn sweeper.
2. Mow with push mower as low as it will go while bagging.
That should open up the dirt for better seed to soil contact.
3. Aerate.
If I swapped to aerate first, power raking would break up the cores (and create a ton more dust). But that leads to my next question...
If I kept the above order, do I remove the cores or let them sit? It seems like quite of few of you let them sit and run the slice seeder over them to help get better seed to soil contact.
4. Slice seed (broadcast at a low rate, then 2x passes at about 1.5lb/k. I have enough seed for about 4lbs/1k'. KBG is generally 3lb/k). Haven't used the slice seeded before and heard some horror stories with people dropping too much seed so I'll be watching it carefully.
5. Take a roller (it's a tow behind but might see if I have the strength to just manually pull it) over the yard.
6. Water.
Anyways, I got off topic.
Dethatch then aerate or aerate then dethatch? Pick up debris after both?
