Lawn care · Tauranga & Western Bay
Lawn dethatching and aeration in Tauranga
Lawn dethatching in Tauranga for kikuyu lawns that have gone spongy, and core aeration for lawns on hard, compacted soil. Dethatching, also called scarifying, cuts out the mat of dead runners that builds up under kikuyu. Aeration pulls small plugs of soil so water, air and feed reach the roots. Both lead to a thicker lawn that drains better and copes with summer. Prices start from $179.
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- Locally owned
- Regular crew
- Reply in 1 day
- Fixed prices
What's included
What's included
- A check of how thick the thatch is and how hard the soil is
- Dethatching or scarifying with a powered machine, in one or two passes
- Core aeration where the soil is compacted
- Raking up and taking away the thatch and plugs
- A low mow to finish
- Optional feed and overseed straight afterwards, priced upfront
Add to the same visit
Prices
Lawn dethatching and aeration prices
From$179
Dethatching and aeration start from $179 per lawn. Every job gets a fixed price first.
What changes the price
Lawn sizeMore lawn takes more time.
Thatch depthA spongy kikuyu lawn with deep thatch takes more passes.
Feed and overseedAdding a feed or overseed afterwards is priced in.
Both togetherDethatching and aeration together cost less than booking them separately.
You always get a fixed price before we start. See all our prices
Local know-how
Why kikuyu lawns go spongy, and when to fix them
Kikuyu spreads by thick runners that grow over the top of each other. Over a few seasons the old runners die and form a spongy layer, the thatch, between the green leaves and the soil. You'll notice it when the lawn feels bouncy underfoot, water runs off instead of soaking in, and every mow scalps it brown.
The right time to dethatch kikuyu in Tauranga is late spring to early summer, roughly November to January, when it's growing hardest. Straight after dethatching, your lawn will look rough and patchy. That's normal. In warm weather kikuyu fills back in within three to four weeks, thicker than before. Dethatch it in winter and it can sit bare until spring.
Compaction is a different problem. Many newer subdivisions around Pyes Pā, Tauriko and The Lakes were built on compacted fill, and lawns there can sit on soil that's hard as concrete in February and ponds after rain in winter. Core aeration in autumn or spring, while the soil is moist, opens it up so roots can go deeper.
How it works
How our dethatching and aeration works
We check your lawn and tell you whether it needs dethatching, aeration, or both.
We pick the right time, while the grass is growing fast enough to recover.
We do the work, clean up every bit of thatch and mow.
You water and wait
Kikuyu greens up again within three to four weeks in warm weather.
Why Lawn Squad
Why Tauranga homeowners choose Lawn Squad
Timed for kikuyuSo your lawn recovers fast instead of sitting bare for months.
All the thatch taken awayNot left in piles for you to deal with.
Mowing and feeding planned around itBy the same crew.
Fixed price before we start
We reply within one working dayFree quotes, no obligation
Reviews
What Tauranga customers say
Great lawn mowing service! Very professional, friendly and reliable. The lawn was done really well and everything was left neat and tidy. Highly recommend Lawn Squad
Payal T.Google reviewVery happy with the service the lawn was perfect mowed, the hedges were trimmed beautifully and everything was cleaned up afterwards. Great work 👍
Annapurna EnterprisesGoogle reviewBeen using LawnSquad for a few months — they’re friendly, on time, and my lawn looks great after each visit. Really happy with the service.
Dipak T.Google review
Service areas
Areas we cover
We dethatch and aerate lawns across Tauranga, including Pāpāmoa, Mount Maunganui, Bethlehem, Pyes Pā, Tauriko and Welcome Bay, plus Ōmokoroa and Te Puna. See every area we serve
Tauranga City
- Pāpāmoa
- Mount Maunganui
- Bethlehem
- Welcome Bay
- Pyes Pā & The Lakes
- Ōtūmoetai & Matua
- Tauriko
- Greerton
- Ohauiti
Western Bay of Plenty
- Ōmokoroa
- Te Puna
FAQs
Dethatching and aeration FAQs
What's the difference between dethatching and aeration?
Dethatching cuts out the dead layer on top of the soil. Aeration pulls plugs out of the soil itself. Spongy lawns need dethatching; hard, waterlogged lawns need aeration. Some need both.
Is scarifying the same as dethatching?
Yes, near enough. Both mean cutting and pulling thatch out of the lawn. Scarifying usually means a slightly deeper cut.
How often should a kikuyu lawn be dethatched?
Every one to two years for most kikuyu lawns, depending on how fast thatch builds up.
Will my lawn look bad afterwards?
For two to four weeks, yes. It looks rough and patchy straight after. In warm weather kikuyu recovers quickly and comes back thicker.
What's the best time of year?
Late spring to early summer for dethatching kikuyu. Autumn or spring for aeration, when the soil is moist.
Can I do it myself?
You can hire a dethatcher, but the machines are heavy and the thatch from even a small lawn can fill a trailer. Most people find it quicker and cheaper overall to have it done, with the waste taken away.
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Send us a photo of your lawn. You'll have a fixed price within one working day.
Call 0800 634 245Monday – Friday 7:30am – 5:30pm · Saturday 8:00am – 1:00pm
- 5.0 on Google
- Fully insured
- No contracts
- Fixed price before we start