Is dethatching more important than aerating?

• <div><p>No. Both processes are important for a healthy yard and work toward a similar goal, although dethatching serves a slightly different purpose. Making sure the thatch doesn’t grow too thick prevents other lawn problems, such as attracting pests if the plant decay layer gets too big. Aeration puts less strain on your lawn than dethatching, but both are of equal importance.</p></div>

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Q: Is it better to power rake or aerate?

• <div><p>Raking only moves soil, leaves, and debris around on the surface. Aerating your lawn addresses compacted soil. Core aeration loosens up the soil, which makes it healthier and creates more verdant grass from the richer nutrients and stronger root systems that develop. Raking only provides short-term benefits, while aeration creates higher-quality soil and grass growth in the long term. Rake or dethatch before aerating for a bigger benefit to your lawn.</p></div>

Q: How do you prepare your lawn for core aeration?

• <div><p>To prepare your lawn for core aeration, water it the day before you aerate. (Alternatively, you can wait until it rains and aerate the following day.) Aerating after watering or a rainy day will make the process easier since you can penetrate moist soil better than dry soil. You should also flag your sprinklers so that you don&rsquo;t accidentally hit them while aerating. If you have a lot of thatch buildup in your yard, you might need to <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-dethatch-your-lawn.htm">dethatch your lawn</a> before aerating as well.</p></div>

Q: How do I revive my lawn during a drought?

• <div><p>Water your yard a little more deeply after a drought for about two weeks (while still avoiding overwatering). Continue to water in the early morning hours before 10 a.m. You'll also want to invest in some high-quality fertilizer to get more nutrients to your roots and help them grow back stronger and quicker. Look up your grass and soil type, or do a soil test, to see what type of fertilizer you need.</p></div>

Q: How do I maintain my lawn after aeration?

• <div><p>Water the lawn thoroughly, apply fertilizer, and overseed if necessary to promote healthy growth.</p></div>

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Verified Reviews for Lawn Service pros in Elk Horn, IA

*The Angi rating for Lawn Service companies in Elk Horn, IA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Lawn Service needs.

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Last update on October 05, 2025

Reviewed in March 2012
They do well with the yard and we have the greenest yard in the neighborhood. I have never had anything bad happen.
TruGreen Lawn Care - 5744
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Reviewed in March 2015
They do a wonderful job don't even have to call them they know when to come and mow our yard every week they do an excellent job we are very pleased with this company.
Rychnovsky Pest Solutions
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Reviewed in March 2012
They showed up to give us the bid and then did the work. The yard looked great. The neighbor had him do some work for them also. They were prompt and they cleaned up when they were done.
SMITTY'S LAWN CARE
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Reviewed in August 2012
They have offices in 6 different locations. I heard about them through the advertisement on TV. They were good. They spray in early and late spring, they also spray in early and late fall. I got a discount last year because I was a new customer. The price was pretty good because I called some...
All American Turf Beauty Inc
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Reviewed in May 2014
Good! Very good! It was probably fast response, price was good, and almost did it. Everything was good about it. I was so happy to deal with it.
Mikes Lawn Service
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Reviewed in January 2014
They do well on simple jobs. I wouldn't have them work on the furnace again as they didn't seem to understand it correctly. Really good at yard work and snow clearing and simple electrical work.
A-1 Handyman
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Reviewed in October 2014
He did a really good job and I was very happy with his work. He was on time and very professional. I would highly recommend him to others and will probably have him back out to clean up my yard again next spring.
Sam's Lawn Service
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Reviewed in May 2014
They are really very good as far as landscaping and that kind of work. They are reasonable and do a good job. The man who came did what he said he will do and stayed on the quote. They establish a good rapport with you and talk to you.
Clark's Landscaping
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Titan Excavating, LLC

Titan Excavating, LLC

Customers say: Quick response

Recommended by 94% of Angi customers

5 years of experience

Titan Excavating is your local company you can trust. We have all the equipment necessary for any job you could ask for. No job too big or too small for us. We do everything from site clearing , driveways, grading , demolition and much more. We service a 100 mile radius and are open to working within the entire state. If you need us call today.

"Titan did a magnificent job on my property during the past week. I needed the following done: Grading work on my 3 acre property and three different types of rocks delivered. I also needed additional black dirt brought in to make it perfect. From start to finish the communication was excellent with Will. He let me know what time they would get to my job and everything that was going on during the work process. This is something that a lot of contractors just fail to do in my past experiences. They provide top notch equipment, with many different attachments for various types of jobs during the entire process. This ensures that the job is done correctly, the first time! Lastly, customer service could not be better. They (Will and Tim) stayed with the job until I was completely satisfied. Always keeping a great attitude no matter how many questions I asked. Even going the extra nine yards finishing the job better than I expected. "

John B on September 2025

"Titan did a magnificent job on my property during the past week. I needed the following done: Grading work on my 3 acre property and three different types of rocks delivered. I also needed additional black dirt brought in to make it perfect. From start to finish the communication was excellent with Will. He let me know what time they would get to my job and everything that was going on during the work process. This is something that a lot of contractors just fail to do in my past experiences. They provide top notch equipment, with many different attachments for various types of jobs during the entire process. This ensures that the job is done correctly, the first time! Lastly, customer service could not be better. They (Will and Tim) stayed with the job until I was completely satisfied. Always keeping a great attitude no matter how many questions I asked. Even going the extra nine yards finishing the job better than I expected. "

John B on September 2025

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Lawn Care Maintenance and Mowing

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Titan Excavating, LLC

Titan Excavating, LLC

Jerald's Tree and Handyman Service

Jerald's Tree and Handyman Service

CMG Enterprises

CMG Enterprises

Andersen Home and Land Improvement

Andersen Home and Land Improvement

Ratzlaff Lawn Care

Ratzlaff Lawn Care

Zed Construction

Zed Construction

Jeff's Lawn Care

Jeff's Lawn Care

T & J Lawn Care and Landscaping Service

T & J Lawn Care and Landscaping Service

Shore Side Lawn and Landscaping, LLC

Shore Side Lawn and Landscaping, LLC

L. Miller Landscaping

L. Miller Landscaping

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