March and April are good times to start planning to aerate and/or thatch your lawn. Thatching is best performed while the grass is still dormant. We recommend thatching your Central Oregon lawns at least every other year, if not every year. You should aerate your lawn every year. These are important routines to develop for the healthfulness of your lawn. Due to our High Desert climate, we do not get enough moisture to break down thatch in a timely manner. If allowed to build up, thatch will begin to plug up your lawn and not let the water, fertilizer and air get through to the roots. This will have severe effects on your lawn’s ability to not only survive, but ward off diseases and pests. See the Aerating & Thatching page for more information.