Right time to scarify/aereate?

My long established lawn is more thatch than grass at the moment (we are on free draining chalk). Should I just live with it till spring and then do the full scarify/aereate/lawn dressing routine or would it help to do something (what?) now-ish?

 

I'm quite close to you and I guess you haven't had much rain like us this summer so far? If so the best thing to do is wait until September or into October and pick a dry day and do everything you've suggested. By aerating and scarifying now you're allowing even freer evaporation of any moisture you're lucky enough to have on the ground. Although you'll remove the thatch you'll also leave a patchy lawn which without alot of rain will remain the same for a couple of months and probably die off further if we continue to have good weather.

Cut higher than normal for the next six weeks minimum, then start to gauge the weather/moisture content and go for it when conditions are right.

 

Thanks Axl - makes a lot of sense. BTW - nice to have a small downpour just a few hours ago, nowhere near enough!

 

It was absolute heaven to see a little moisture and will top the water butts up slightly but with a little breeze the rest will sadly evaporate and disappear in no time!