Dethatching/Airation of St. Augustine

[horn4life]

I have never done either, but I have noticed that at least in my front yard I probably need to dethatch, and possibly airate.

Is there an all in one machine I can rent?

Thanks in advance!

 

[wolfman]

If you have an underground sprinkler system be sure to mark where your heads are before aerating. Those machines can tear up your heads if you run over one with a spike.

 

[EEE]

i don't know if there is a machine that does both, but one of those rental dethatcher/vertical mowers will really tear the **** out of your lawn. then you have to manually rake up the debris. they do remove the thatch really well, but take most of the grass with it.

 

[washparkhorn]

Is it possible to dethatch St. Aug. grass?

I would think the nature of the St. Aug. runners would make it impossible.

If water penetration is the issue, I would aerate and then rake the plugs. I aerate my lawn 3 times a year (Kentucky Blue Grass in a clay soil) for water penetration. As stated above, just mark the sprinkler heads. It costs very little up here (Colorado) to have someone else do it ($25 a pop for a good sized yard), but it is also more common up here and most lawn guys own an aerator.

I remember very little about my parent's St. Aug grass in Texas, other than the long runners, but I would think dethatching would be difficult and aeration might be a better answer.

 

[PatBateman]

Washpark is correct - you do not dethatch St. Aug. because the runners are all located on the surface of the soil.

 

[Mrmyke709]

Aerate and then top dress with compost.
Dethatching is strictly for Bermuda strains.

 

[hollisdude]

chiming in - never try to dethatch St. Auggie. Hole poking is good for it though.

 

[gecko]

I aerated my St Augie last Fall and couldn't be happier. The timing was perfect, I ran the aerator, dropped down some Ironite and fertilizer and a soft rain came in that afternoon. My lawn is smokin' right now....all the neighborhood chicks dig me for it.