Power-Rake: When is the best time?

"When do you begin lawn care in the spring?" This is a common question. Considering our winters here in Utah drag on for what seems like 9 months out of the year, understandably it's not an obvious answer. Specifically when it comes to Power-Raking. Power-Raking, or better known as de-thatching, can be a very time sensitive service. In order to properly remove the unwanted thatch in a lawn (and without damaging the crown of the grass) you need to make sure the following factors are all checked off your list:

• Cut lawn short (1 1/2 inch)- Having a short lawn will allow only the dead thatch to come up and prevent uprooting fresh grass roots from the soil. 
• Dry lawn. Very rarely can you aerate and power-rake a lawn on the same day. This is also a common request. Ideal aeration conditions require a soft lawn, so the tines can punch deep cores into the turf to remove 2-3 inch cores. power-raking requires a dry lawn because a wet or damp lawn can result in the blades ripping the grass out by the roots. No rain or irrigation for at least 2-3 days is a safe bet to power-rake. March is usually too wet or the soil is too wet from the winter. Mid April to mid May is an ideal time. 
• Flag every obstacle in the lawn. It's incredibly important to flag every drain, coverings, and sprinkler heads in the lawn. This not only avoids damage to your property, but damage to the equipment as well.  

These three items ensure the best results with removing the thatch from a lawn so that your lawn can air out property and have a quicker green-up and grow.