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While dethatching first often makes the aeration process faster and easier, both actions can be done on the same day. Aeration can also loosen up the thatch, even if you have a harder time aerating the soil because the thatch got too thick. Because both dethatching and aeration have the common goal of making it easier for the soil to get water and nutrients, it’s safe and possible to do both at the same time.

Buffalo grass starts to turn brown when encountering drought during the normal growing season. You can water the grass when you begin to notice some browning to prevent it from going dormant. Additionally, buffalo grass turns brown after the first freeze of late autumn or early winter, and this is a natural time for the grass to go dormant.

Aerating a lawn before seeding it or adding new grass seed is a smart decision. By loosening up compact soil and allowing it to take in more air and water, your seeds will have an easier time establishing roots and growing. Aerating beforehand also means your seeds will have better contact with the soil, so more of your seeds have a chance to germinate. If you do plan to aerate your lawn before seeding, aerate about two days before you plan to start seeding.

Power seeding machines do a great job of creating narrow trenches in the soil to plant grass seeds into, but aerating before power seeding can be beneficial for your lawn. By aerating first, more water, oxygen, and carbon dioxide can reach the roots of your germinating grass seeds. Plan to aerate your lawn about once or twice a year, whether you plan to power seed or not.