If you aerate and put down some form of humate, be it in compost or one of the
humate liquids, you do not need to dethatch. Thatch build up comes as a direct
result of poor watering practice. People water too shallow, and too often.
Watering once a week, laying down a full inch of water will send the plants
roots into the soil. When you water shallow, the roots stay up at the top near
and above the soil, thus, thatch.

I live in Texas and just had my lawn core aerated. I will probably do it again
in the fall, but once a year is all you need if you water properly. Watering
one inch sends water 8 inches into the soil.


On Fri, 25 Apr 2003 08:22:15 -0400, "lbbs" wrote:

Does it matter on the order you do it. Also, what time of the year to do
it?