LAWN RENOVATION SERVICES BASED ON SCIENCE & BIOLOGY

Not every lawn needs dethatching — and when it’s done at the wrong time or by untrained hands, it can cause more harm than good. At Captain’s Cleanup, we begin with a full lawn evaluation to measure thatch depth and determine whether dethatching is truly necessary. We only recommend it when your lawn will benefit.

Why Thatch Matters

Thatch is a dense layer of dead roots, stems, and organic debris that builds up between the soil and the grass. When it becomes too thick, it:

• Blocks water, air, and nutrients from reaching the root zone
• Creates a breeding ground for weeds, insects, and disease
• Weakens your lawn’s natural defense system

Professional Process & Equipment

Our trained technicians use commercial-grade dethatching machines with depth settings calibrated specifically for your lawn. We remove excess thatch carefully and follow with a meticulous cleanup, leaving your turf ready for recovery.

Timing Matters in Michigan

Dethatching should only be performed in spring or fall, when cooler temperatures and higher soil moisture allow grass to recover quickly. Done outside these windows, dethatching can stress turf instead of strengthening it.

Building Long-Term Results

For maximum benefit, dethatching is often paired with:

• Core Aeration & Overseeding – relieving compaction and filling in thin or bare areas with premium seed
• TurfCell™ Biological Treatment – feeding the soil with essential micronutrients that accelerate recovery, strengthen roots, and build a healthier, pest- and disease-resistant lawn

Together, these services restore balance to your lawn, making it greener, stronger, and more resilient season after season.

At Captain’s Cleanup, core aeration isn’t an “upsell” or a shortcut service — it’s the foundation of lawn health, and we do it the right way every time. Unlike many companies that only perform a single pass or charge extra for a “double pass,” we always provide double-pass core aeration as our standard, ensuring maximum coverage and results.

What Is Core Aeration?

Core aeration removes small plugs of soil (called “cores”) from the lawn using professional-grade machines. These openings allow air, water, and nutrients to reach deep into the root zone — relieving compaction and setting the stage for healthier, stronger turf.

Why Our Method Stands Out

• Double-Pass Every Time: Twice the coverage, deeper oxygen and nutrient penetration.
• Professional Equipment: Commercial-grade aerators extract clean cores without tearing up your grass.
• Specialized Post-Cut: Within 3–7 days, we recommend a precision mow with specialized blades to break down cores and recycle nutrients evenly across your lawn.

Benefits for Michigan Lawns

With Michigan’s dense clay soils, proper aeration is critical. Our double-pass method delivers:

• Reduced compaction for better root expansion
• Stronger, deeper root growth for resilience against drought and disease
• Improved nutrient and water absorption for lasting results

Pair With Dethatching, Overseeding & TurfCell™ 

For the ultimate renovation, combine aeration with dethatching (if needed) and over-seeding. Together with our exclusive TurfCell™ biological fertilizer program, you’ll give your lawn the biology-backed care it needs to thrive season after season.

Thin, patchy lawns don’t need quick fixes — they need the right seed, planted the right way. At Captain’s Cleanup, over-seeding isn’t just tossing seed on the ground. It’s a precision process based on evaluation and quality.

Why Our Seed Is Different

Many companies buy bulk grass seed stored in large bins, often loaded with fillers and even weed seed. That’s not what we put on your lawn. We use only premium, golf-course-grade seed blends — professional varieties selected for purity, germination strength, and resilience. The result is thicker, healthier turf that looks as good as it performs.

Customized to Your Lawn

Every property is different. We begin with a lawn evaluation to determine soil type, sun exposure, and grass variety. From there, we choose the best blend for your yard, ensuring new growth integrates seamlessly with your existing turf.

Timing Matters in Michigan

Over-seeding delivers the best results in spring and fall, when cooler temperatures and consistent moisture allow new seedlings to establish strong roots. Over-seeding outside these windows can be done but only with added care such as additional watering to minimize the risks of poor germination and weaker turf.

Building Long-Term Results

For maximum benefit, over-seeding is paired with:

• Core Aeration – opening soil pathways so seed makes contact with the root zone for faster germination
• Dethatching(if needed) – clearing away debris that prevents seed-to-soil contact
• TurfCell™ Biological Treatment – feeding new seedlings and established turf with beneficial micronutrients, boosting seed germination and feeding your entire lawn with powerful beneficial nutrients it needs. 

Together, these services don’t just fill in thin spots — they  

rebuild your lawn into a dense, resilient turf system that stands strong season after season.

 Most fertilizers marketed as “starter” or “bloom boosters” rely on quick release salts and acids and have very little micro-nutrients. These chemical blends create a quick green flush — but they bypass soil biology, stress young seedlings, disrupt microbes, and  

don’t provide balanced nutrition or lasting results.

Why TurfCell™ Is Different

Our exclusive biological micronutrient booster was designed by agronomists and horticulturists to accelerate germination, strengthen seedlings, and restore soil health. 

With a balanced nutrient profile and a complete micronutrient package, it provides the precise nutrition your lawn needs for stronger roots, healthier soil, and a greener, more resilient turf system. TurfCell™ gives your renovation the strongest possible start.

When added to aeration and over-seeding, TurfCell™:

• Improves germination rates and seedling survival
• Strengthens root growth and turf density
• Helps new grass outcompete weeds and resist stress
• Feeds soil microbes for better long-term fertility

Long-Term Results

Boost seed germination results with TurfCell™. Packed with slow-release nitrogen, balanced phosphorus and potassium, and essential micronutrients, TurfCell™ helps new grass establish quickly and fill in thicker.

And TurfCell™ isn’t just a one-time booster — it’s also available as part of our seasonal Fertilizer Treatment Program. With each application, TurfCell™ strengthens roots, improves nutrient absorption, and delivers a full spectrum of micronutrients (iron, zinc, manganese, boron, copper, and more) to keep your lawn performing at its best.

The result is a dense, resilient turf system that develops deeper roots, naturally resists weeds and disease, and stays greener and healthier season after season.

Upgrade your fertilizer plan to TurfCell™ and experience the difference of professional-grade nutrition based on science and biology designed for long-term lawn health.