YOUR LAWN
Which Lawn Does Your Grass Look Like?
If your lawn looks like this, then you don't need to do much. All I can recommend is aeration. Aeration isn't just for dead or poor grass, it should be done to all lawns, regardless of what is looks like.
If your lawn looks like the one above then you most likely need dethatching, aeration, and fertilization. The dethatching will help get the dead grass out, and then the fertilization and aeration will help give your grass a new look.
If your grass looks like this one, then you need aeration and fertilization. You might also need a little bit of dethatching. One way to know if you do need dethatching, is to spread your grass blades, if there is a layer of visible dead grass, then you need dethatching.
If your grass/lawn looks like this, then you first need to till the spots that are dead and rock solid. After, dethatch, aerate, and then fertilize the spots that have grass.
I'm Not A Biologist, But Through Some Personal Experience & Quite A Bit Of Research I've Given Responses To Questions That You May Be Thinking About!
If You Are Looking To Aerate Without Fertilization
Something that essential to your grass is proper fertilization. This can come through healthy soil, or by fertilizing it yourself. If you are doing our aeration without fertilization, I recommend fertilizing it yourself! Fertilization should happen the day of or within days after aeration, same goes for watering. To get the most out of your aeration you should have already had your sprinklers on days or even weeks before aeration so that the grass isn't starting from ground zero when we aerate, and also so that our aerator can reach further depths to enrich your soil further!
All Yards Have Thatch
Since we live in Montana, our grass is dead long enough to the point where every yard in Billings will have a layer of thatch. Some yards need dethatching less than others, but all yards need it every now and then. If you are unsure if your yard needs it, then first, think about the last time it was dethatched. A well kept yard should have it every 3 years. Second, go outside to your grass, if it is all dead currently then you should wait because dethatchers will pull up anything that doesn't have strong roots, which in this case would be your whole yard. This is bad because a lot of your grass is revivable through watering, aeration, and fertilization. If it isn't dead and looks green, then use your fingers to brush past the alive grass and reach the soil. There should be a layer of thatch resting directing on the soil. You will know if it is thatch if it looks dead and doesn't appear to be standing straight up. A layer of thatch should also being fairly easily to pull out with your fingers. If there is an abundance of thatch, then it could be blocking water and fertilization from reaching the soil, killing all the grass around it.
What Should You Do After Dethatching?
After dethatching your lawn, you should note that previous fertilizer might not have worked as well as it should have. I recommend fertilizing directly after dethatching, followed by water.
In What Order Should I Treat My Lawn
If you are looking to do a full lawn care procedure, you should first turn your water on and wait till a lot of your grass has began to show a little green. Once you have green, you should remove thatch through dethatching machines or raking thatch manually. Aeration should happen after dethatching. Aeration allows moisture, air, and minerals to reach your grass. Once aerated, leave the pellets and fertilize. Directly after fertilizing you should water your grass, and continue to water on a daily basis, this will ensure that the fertilizer will dissolve easily into the soil. Water also allows those pellets to dissolve. At this time your grass should be on a good track, but to make your grass look its very best, you should consider edging and maintaining overgrowth. Overgrowth often can cover sprinklers making it difficult to fully water the whole yard.
How Often Should I Aerate? & Why Should I Aerate?
Aeration pokes holes in your grass, allowing moisture, carbon dioxide, and water to be let in. Aeration also oxidizes many minerals in the soil than have been sitting for a long time and turning the minerals into chemicals that grass intakes for nutrition. Aeration can also let out built up gas that grass doesn't use for nutrition. The built up gas is sometimes stuck due to the barrier grass roots make, or just the thickness of the soil. The longer the unwanted gas builds up, the less room there is for good nutrients and even water. Aeration should take place every year. Sometimes twice a year. Why? Well because your grass needs to breathe to live, and sometimes settled dirt and really thick grass can make it hard for the entire blade of grass to get the carbon dioxide needed to survive.