👨🏼‍🌾Give Your Lawn a Breath of Fresh Air: Spring Power Raking and Aeration

Spring is here, folks, and you know what that means—time to dust off the mower, untangle the hose (again), and figure out why your neighbor’s grass is always greener. Spoiler alert: It’s probably because they power rake and aerate their lawn every spring. If you’re not doing the same, well… let’s change that.

Maintenance Minute

Where Small Fixes Make a Big Difference!
This Weeks 5 Minute Focus

• Lubricate garage overhead door rollers

• Lubricate garage overhead door hinges

• Lubricate garage overhead door springs

• Test garage overhead door safety stop/autoreverse

Pro tip: Test your garage door’s safety stop and auto-reverse every three months to prevent accidents and ensure it's working properly.

Here’s how:

1. Safety Stop Test: Lower the door and place a solid object (like a 2x4 or a roll of paper towels) in its path. If the door doesn’t stop and reverse when it touches the object, the pressure sensitivity needs adjusting.

2. Photo Eye Sensor Test: Wave a broomstick or your foot in front of the sensors while the door is closing. If it doesn’t reverse instantly, the sensors may be misaligned or dirty—clean them and adjust their positioning.

🚨 If your door fails either test, check your opener's manual for troubleshooting steps or call a pro before someone or something gets hurt!

Why Bother? My Lawn Looks Fine!

Look, I get it. You survived another winter, and now your lawn looks mostly green. But underneath, it’s probably suffocating under a layer of thatch—dead grass, roots, and whatever else has been lurking under the snow. Too much thatch blocks water, air, and nutrients from reaching the soil, leaving your lawn weak, patchy, and prone to weeds.

Aerating and power raking in early spring give your grass the best possible start. It’s like sending it to a fancy spa—except you don’t have to leave the house or spend a fortune.

Step 1: Power Raking – Spring Cleaning for Your Grass

Power raking is like giving your lawn a deep-tissue massage (if grass had muscles, of course). It removes that thick layer of dead grass and debris so new growth can thrive.

How to Power Rake Like a Pro

1. Pick the Right Time – Wait until your lawn starts to green up but before it’s in full growth mode. Usually, early to mid-spring is perfect.

2. Use the Right Tool – Rent a power rake or use a dethatching blade on your mower. If you have a small lawn, a good ol’ dethatching rake will do—just be ready for a workout.

3. Go Light on the Raking – You’re not trying to scalp the lawn, just loosen the thatch. Too aggressive? You might tear up healthy roots.

4. Bag Up the Junk – Once you’re done, rake up the debris and compost it or toss it.

Step 2: Aeration – Give Your Lawn Some Breathing Room

Once the thatch is out of the way, it’s time to let your lawn breathe. Over time, soil gets compacted—especially if kids, pets, or your BBQ-loving self spend a lot of time on it. Aeration punches holes in the soil, letting oxygen, water, and nutrients get down to the roots where they belong.

How to Aerate Like a Lawn Boss

1. Get the Right Tool – A core aerator is your best bet. It pulls up little plugs of soil, making space for nutrients and new root growth.

2. When to Aerate – Same as power raking—early to mid-spring before peak growth.

3. Leave the Plugs – Those little soil cylinders might look weird, but they break down fast and help enrich your lawn naturally.

4. Water After Aeration – Give your lawn a good soak to help it recover faster.

Final Step: Feed, Seed, and Relax

Now that your lawn is clean and breathing easy, it’s time to reward it:

• Overseed any bare spots – Now’s the perfect time to fill in gaps.

• Fertilize – A light application of spring fertilizer gets things growing.

• Water it well – Keep it hydrated, especially after aerating.

Then, sit back, grab a cold drink, and enjoy knowing that this year, your lawn will be the one making the neighbors jealous.

Final Thoughts: Worth It? Absolutely.

Aeration and power raking take a little time and effort, but they set your lawn up for success all summer long. And hey, if you don’t want to do it yourself, you can always hire it out (we won’t judge). Either way, your grass will thank you.

Now, get out there and give your lawn some TLC—it deserves it.

Want more DIY home tips? Don’t miss next week’s Handy Homeowner Newsletter, where we tackle the great mulch debate: wood chips vs. rubber vs. rocks.

Q&A- When is the best time to do do Spring Yard Cleanup?

The best time to do spring yard cleanup is early to mid-spring, once the ground has thawed and dried out a bit but before your grass and plants enter full growth mode. The exact timing depends on your location, but here’s a general guide:

Best Timing by Region:

• Northern States & Canada: Late March to early May (wait for snow to melt and soil to dry)

• Midwest & Northeast: Mid-March to mid-April

• Southern States: Late February to early March (spring starts earlier)

• West Coast & Pacific Northwest: March to April (depends on rainfall)

Signs It’s Time to Start:

✔️ The snow is gone (if applicable)
✔️ The ground isn’t too soggy (if it’s muddy, wait a bit longer)
✔️ Daytime temps stay above 50°F (10°C)
✔️ Your plants are starting to bud (but not fully growing yet)

Key Spring Cleanup Tasks:

✅ Rake up leaves & debris – Clears out mold and prevents lawn suffocation
✅ Cut back dead plants & shrubs – Helps with healthy regrowth
✅ Aerate & dethatch your lawn – Allows water and nutrients to penetrate
✅ Edge garden beds & walkways – Keeps things looking sharp
✅ Fertilize & overseed your lawn – Gets grass off to a strong start

The earlier you start, the better your yard will look when summer rolls around! 🌱☀️