We offer a variety of essential lawn care services for customers not enrolled in our maintenance program:

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Lawn Dethatching

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What is THATCH?

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Thatch is a matted layer of grass stems, roots, stolons, rhizomes, and other organic debris that builds up faster than it can decompose. Thatch accumulates immediately below the green surface of the lawn on top of the soil at the base of the blades. A layer of thatch less than ½ inch thick is normal and doesn't present cause for action. In fact, a thin layer of thatch is a good thing: It reduces soil compaction and increases tolerance for cold and heat by protecting the crown (the point on the plant where grass growth originates). Thatch can also reduce water loss through evaporation.

If the thatch is more than ½ inch thick, it may be time to dethatch your lawn. Your grass won't have access to air, water, and nutrients because thatch blocks them from reaching the roots. A thick layer of thatch can harbor disease causing insects, and fungi, prolong high humidity that promotes disease, and bind or tie up pesticides. And as thatch builds, grass roots knit into the thatch layer instead of the soil, where they easily succumb to environmental stresses such as prolonged periods of hot, dry weather.

When should I DETHATCH my lawn?

Dethatching lawns should only be done when conditions are best to promote rapid recovery of your grass type. In the Greater Toronto Area, the best time to dethatch is either early-Spring or early-Fall.

*At Viking, we can dethatch your lawn for you. Pair this with lawn aeration, top dressing and overseeding to maximize he potential of your lawn.

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Lawn Aerating

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What is LAWN AERATION?

Aeration is the practice of making holes in your lawn to loosen the soil underneath. This lets oxygen, water and important nutrients reach the roots, so your grass can become lush, green and healthy. Aeration can also help improve a lawn growing in poor soil or heavy clay.

When should I AERATE my lawn?

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Consider aerating your lawn if it is thin and brown and you have trouble growing grass. Aerating is also a good idea if your lawn is your grass is subject to heavy foot or vehicle traffic. The best time to aerate is during the growing season. In the Greater Toronto Area it would in the early-spring or fall. Most homeowners should aerate their lawns at least every other year, while golf courses or other places that get heavy use are typically aerated at least twice a year.

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*At Viking, we can provide slit tine and/or core aeration for your lawn for you. Pair this with dethatching, top dressing and overseeding to maximize the potential of your lawn.

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Top Dressing and Overseeding

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What is TOP DRESSING?

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Topdressing is the process of spreading a thin layer (¼-inch thick) of organic material on top of your lawn to amend your soil. You can topdress your entire yard or focus on bare spots and combine with overseeding to fill them in.  Topdressing is the best way to rejuvenate your lawn without pulling up all your grass (which is a pain) and starting over. As your grass grows through the layer of topdressing, the organic material is incorporated into the soil beneath it, adding nutrients and improving soil quality.

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What should I use for TOP DRESSING?

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For top dressing, you can use either: compost, top soil, or sand.

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*At Viking, we have the right products to top dress your lawn based on your lawn's needs.

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What is OVERSEEDING?

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Overseeding is a technique that entails spreading seeds over the top of an existing lawn. The primary benefit of overseeding is that it can bring your lawn back to health. Overseeding a lawn will stimulate new growth so that it is greener, thicker, and more lush. It can also provide a greater defense against insects and disease reducing the need for pesticides. Of course, overseeding needs to be done correctly for optimal results.

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When should I OVERSEED my lawn?

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In the Greater Toronto Area, the best time to overseed a lawn is either in the spring (March to early May), or in the fall (mid-August to mid-September). Keep the overseeded area moist by watering several times a day. One week after seeding, reduce watering to twice a day until seedlings are established.

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*At Viking, we can overseed our lawn for you in both the spring or fall seasons. For best results, pair your  top dressing and overseeding with lawn dethatching and/or aeration.