At Lewis Landscape Services, we’ve been providing top-notch lawn care and landscaping services to residential clients in Portland, Beaverton, and the greater Washington County area in Oregon for 29 years. We’ve seen it all when it comes to lawns in the Northwest, and we’ve worked with many local lawn aeration and dethaching companies over the years. We’re happy to share our expert advice and recommendations regarding lawn aerating and dethatching here with you.
When it comes to lawn aeration and dethatching, you can trust us to provide the most honest and reliable advice. We’re not here to sell you on these services – in fact, we rarely perform them ourselves. Our goal for this page is to empower you to make the best decisions for your lawn’s health, based on years of experience and a deep understanding of the unique needs of lawns in our region. Owner Jim Lewis has been working with lawns in the Northwest for nearly three decades and can offer you expert advice on what your lawn needs.
Want the quick and dirty? Here’s the gist:
Keep reading for a more in-depth look at these practices.
Lawn aeration, also known as core aeration, is the process of removing small plugs of soil from your lawn. This allows for better air circulation, water penetration, and nutrient absorption, leading to a healthier and more vibrant lawn. Lawn aerating is one of the best things you can do to promote a healthy lawn.
Benefits of Lawn Aeration:
The ideal time to aerate your lawn is in April or May, on a dry day when the soil isn’t too wet. A second good time for lawn aeration is September or early October.
While Lewis Landscape Services occasionally performs lawn aeration as part of a larger clean-up or yard renovation project (with a minimum job cost of $1600), we typically don’t offer it as a stand-alone service. For stand-alone aeration services, we recommend Ace Aeration, a trusted company we’ve partnered with for nearly 30 years.
You can also rent an aerating machine and do it yourself, but keep in mind that the rental cost often approaches the price of professional service. Hiring a lawn aeration company like Ace Aeration is usually the most cost-effective solution.
Keep reading for a more in-depth look at these practices.
Often called “thatching,” the correct term for this process is dethatching because it involves removing thatch from your lawn. Thatch is a layer of dead grass, roots, and other organic matter that accumulates between the soil and the green blades of your lawn. While a thin layer of thatch can be beneficial, a thick layer can prevent water, air, and nutrients from reaching the soil. Dethatching is performed using a machine called a dethatcher or power rake, which mechanically removes the thatch layer.
Use Caution! Important Considerations:
Lewis Landscape Services does not offer dethatching as a stand-alone service. We may include it as part of a larger landscape clean-up or lawn renovation project (with a minimum job cost of $1600). If you’re looking for a stand-alone dethatching service, we recommend contacting recommend Ace Aeration, a trusted company we’ve partnered with for nearly 30 years.
Q: How often should I have my lawn aerated?
A: Once per year is ideal. The best time is in the spring on a dry day, but it can also be done in the summer or early fall.
Q. Aerating leaves plugs all over my lawn – should those be removed?
A: No. Leave the plugs where they are. They might look a bit messy initially, but they will break down within a few weeks and disappear. The soil in those plugs is beneficial to your lawn.
Q. How can I tell if my lawn needs aerating?
A: If your lawn was installed in the current year, you don’t need it. But otherwise you should have this done annually. If it hasn’t been done this year, you should have it done.
Q. How can I tell if my lawn needs dethatching?
A: Inspect the lawn visually. If it is in need of dethatching, you should be able to see a thick layer of white dead grass built up underneath the lawn. Usually if the thatch is built up enough the lawn will often feel spongy as you walk on it as well.
Q: How much does lawn aeration and dethatching cost?
A: We don’t offer these services individually. For current pricing, please visit the Ace Aeration website.
Q: How often should my lawn be dethatched?
A: It depends on how quickly your lawn develops thatch. Lawns with thatch-prone grasses might need dethatching as often as once a year. However, we recommend switching to a grass variety that doesn’t require dethatching. See our page on new sod lawn replacement here for more information on that service.
Q: What varieties of lawn create thatch problems?
A: In the Northwest, the most common culprits are Creeping Bentgrass and Fine Fescue. Creeping Bentgrass is generally undesirable due to its appearance and excessive thatch production. We strongly recommend replacing lawns with this grass type. Fine Fescue is often used in shady areas, where it performs well, but it can produce thatch over time. Consider replacing Fine Fescue in shady areas with synthetic turf for a low-maintenance, clean, and usable space. Lewis Landscape Services specializes in synthetic turf installations. Learn more about our Portland Oregon Synthetic Turf Installations on this page here.
We hope this page has provided you some good information regarding the need for lawn aeration and dethatching services. Please keep Lewis Landscape Services in mind for any of your other outdoor landscaping or hardscape needs.
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Our mailing address is: 21500 NW Farm Park Dr. Suite A Hillsboro, OR 97124
Office Phone: 503-524-3679 (Call or Text)
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Winter = 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Summer = 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
To set up an appointment for a free evaluation and free quote, please complete the form below.
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LCB #8112 CCB# 231440
Portland Metro Lic.# 9303
