How To Aerate and Thatch Your Lawn:
Watch video or see text below.
Correct Usage of a Rented Aerator
First time users may need a little help operating a rented aerator. Here are some tips to help you use your rented aerator safely and correctly. Your local, ARA-affiliated rental store can provide you complete instructions for using your rented aerator.
Safety tips:
- Read all manufacturer warnings and instructions prior to using the rented aerator.
- Follow safe lifting practices when loading and unloading rented aerator from vehicle.
- Secure rented aerator when you transport it.
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety glasses and gloves.
Preparation tips:
- For extremely dry soil, water the lawn a day before aerating. A moist, but not muddy soil leads to the best aerating results.
- Remove all lawn furniture, hoses and other items from the lawn. In addition, clear the lawn of any rocks or debris where you plan to aerate.
- Mark sprinkler system, buried cables or other stationary items you could damage when you aerate.
- Mow the lawn.
Usage tips:
- If necessary and recommended, add weights to the rented aerator to achieve the desired aeration penetration depth.
- Adjust the speed of self-propelled, rented aerators as needed. Use a slow speed on rough terrains and until you become familiar with how the aerator operates.
- With tines down, go over your lawn with the rented aerator in the same manner, as you would use a lawn mower. Use the aerator only on grass, avoiding steep slopes and paved surfaces. If necessary, lift tines when turning to begin a new pass. You may need to go over your lawn two or three times, depending upon your soil’s condition.
- Many lawn professionals recommend leaving turf plugs on the ground to break down on their own. Raking or mowing over these plugs will help dissolve them quicker.
- Water or fertilize the lawn after aerating.
Usage Tips for a Rented Dethatcher
Using a rented dethatcher is similar to using other lawn tools, such as a lawnmower or aerator. The tips below can help you use your rented dethatcher safely and correctly. Your local, ARA-affiliated rental store also can provide you complete instructions for using your rented dethatcher.
Safety tips:
- Read all manufacturer warnings and instructions prior to using the rented dethatcher.
- Follow safe lifting practices when loading and unloading rented dethatcher from vehicle.
- Secure rented dethatcher when you transport it.
- Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as safety glasses, steel-toed boots and gloves.
Preparation tips:
- Mow the lawn a little lower than normal
- Ensure the lawn is dry.
- Remove all lawn furniture, hoses and other items from the lawn. In addition, clear the lawn of any rocks or debris where you plan to dethatch.
- Mark sprinkler system, buried cables or other stationary items you could damage when you dethatch.
Usage tips:
- Set depth level on the rented dethatcher in a corner of the yard to do a test patch
- Adjust the speed of self-propelled, rented dethatchers as needed. Use a slow speed on rough terrains and as you test the dethatcher to become familiar with how it operates.
- Go over your lawn with the rented dethatcher in the same manner, as you would use a lawn mower. Use the dethatcher only on grass, avoiding steep slopes and paved surfaces. You may need to go over your lawn a second time to ensure the removal of all thatch, if so rake lawn first and bag old thatch and go over lawn in the opposite direction.
- Manually rake lawn to remove all thatch. It is normal for the lawn to look stressed after dethatching.
- Overseed and fertilize the lawn after dethatching.
