Aeration vs. Dethatching: Which Does Your Lawn Actually Need?
One of the most common questions we get in the Chicago suburbs is:
“Do I need to aerate my lawn, or should I dethatch it?”
Both services deal with improving turf health, but they’re not the same thing. And in most cases, core aeration is the right choice for lawns in Joliet, Shorewood, Plainfield, Minooka, and Channahon.
What Is Dethatching?
Thatch is a layer of dead stems, roots, and organic matter that builds up between your green grass and the soil. When it gets thicker than ½–1 inch, it can block water, nutrients, and air from reaching the roots.
Dethatching uses a special rake or machine to tear that layer out. It can be helpful if your lawn truly has a thatch problem — but most residential lawns don’t. In fact, over-aggressive dethatching can stress your turf and leave bare spots.
What Is Core Aeration?
Core aeration uses a machine to pull small plugs (cores) from the soil. This relieves compaction, opens pathways for water and nutrients, and stimulates new root growth. Unlike dethatching, aeration works with the soil instead of against it.
Here in Illinois, where clay-heavy soils are common, compaction is a much bigger issue than thatch buildup. That’s why aeration almost always delivers more benefit than dethatching.
Why Aeration Is Better for Most Lawns in the Chicago Suburbs
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Compaction is the real problem: Our clay soils get packed down by mowing, kids, and pets. Aeration solves this directly.
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Supports overseeding: Aeration opens the soil for better seed-to-soil contact, which is critical in fall overseeding.
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Gentler on turf: Dethatching rips into the crown of grass plants; aeration stimulates growth instead of damaging it.
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Improves weed control: A thicker, healthier lawn from aeration + overseeding naturally resists weeds better than a lawn thinned out by dethatching.
When Dethatching Might Be Needed
We rarely recommend dethatching, but it can make sense if:
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You have a heavily fertilized, irrigated lawn with over 1 inch of spongy thatch.
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The lawn feels springy underfoot and water sits on top instead of soaking in.
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You see runners of grass growing in the thatch layer instead of rooting in soil.
Even then, we’ll usually recommend aeration first, and only dethatch if the thatch is truly excessive.
The Bottom Line
If you live in Joliet, Shorewood, Plainfield, Minooka, or Channahon, chances are your lawn needs fall aeration and overseeding, not dethatching. Aeration relieves compaction, improves root health, and sets the stage for a thicker, greener lawn by next spring.
Dethatching is a niche service, and doing it when you don’t need it can actually hurt your lawn.
👉 Ready to give your lawn the boost it needs? Book your fall aeration and overseeding before the short seasonal window closes.
