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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.

Try the tool test first. A screwdriver or a similarly long, thin tool will work best, as spades and shovels are too big. If something still seems off despite the screwdriver smoothly going into the soil, look for other signs that you need aeration, like thinning grass, discolored areas, and puddles forming on your lawn after light rain. This indicates poor drainage because of too many areas being compacted.

Almost all lawns can benefit from aeration, but not all lawns need aeration services. If your lawn has puddles of standing water, uneven grass growth, thinning grass, dries out quickly, or has a good amount of thatch, aeration is worthwhile. On the other hand, if your lawn is healthy and your soil isn’t too compact, you may be able to skip a year of aeration.

Carpetgrass is a low-maintenance grass requiring little fertilization that thrives in subprime growing conditions. However, regular mowing is necessary to avoid the growth of unsightly seed stalks, and you may have to water it frequently to prevent drying out the soil. That includes watering the grass over dry winters to help keep it healthy, and it may start dying out in particularly cold climates where it grows poorly. Carpetgrass can also be vulnerable to some types of turf fungus, so it’s important not to overthatch.