Lawn care help (Chicago)!

 I know this is about gardens, but seems to be the closest usenet group
where I may find some expertise about lawns. Specifically:

(1) What is the best way to "dethatch" and "aerate" a small lawn
manually?

(2) When is the best time to apply organic weed-preventers like Corn
Gluten Meal? Before or after dethatching/aerating?

(3) Simialry, do I overseed a few weeks before or after applying Corn
Gluten Meal?

This is in Chicago. Thanks for any advice.

 

heavy duty rake & lots of spare time

 On Fri, 24 Sep 2010 08:40:36 -0500, Newbie

Scarify with a spring tine rake, aerate with a garden fork.


I have no idea what that is, but do the manual work on the lawn before
applying any products.


I would say read the Corn Gluten Meal packet, it may tell you.


This is Buckingham. No problem (^_^)

Steven
--
You're a great friend, but if the zombies chase us I'm tripping you.

www.baldman.org.uk

 
: Scarify with a spring tine rake, aerate with a garden fork.

Thanks! A little extra clarification -

1. I thought a rake is to *collect* things like leaves that are already
loose. Will a rake, even metal one, actually *cut* the thatch, which is
what I think will be needed?

2. In aerating with fork, do I just punch holes in the ground, or do I
have to actually turn the soil over?

Just trying to be careful and not do more harm than good.

 A heavy duty garden rake only has heavy tines about 3" long.  (You are
probably thinking of a leaf rake, which has light tines a foot or more
in length.)   The heavy rake is used to move soil and mulch around,
dethatch, etc.  There are probably a dozen tines on the thing, so it
is long and low.   Dethatching is a fairly easy chore with a heavy
rake.  

The fork, which can be used to aerate, would be used by just punching
holes about 1" into the ground.  This job would be long and
exhausting.  I have about 1/4 acre and will only aerate if I can rent
the machine - heavy clay soil is a pure *itch to aerate manually.