Improve Your Lawn’s Health with Proper Aeration

A luscious, thriving lawn is a pride and joy for any homeowner. But over time, foot traffic, mowing, and normal use can take a toll and compact the soil beneath the grass. This prevents proper air, water and nutrient circulation that grass roots need. The result? Stunted growth, thinning turf, dead patches and unhealthy grass.

That’s where lawn aeration comes in! Aerating your yard provides a host of benefits that restore your lawn’s vigor and vibrancy. This comprehensive guide will walk you through exactly why and how to aerate for a greener, denser lawn.

Lawn aeration involves mechanically removing small plugs of soil from the lawn to create holes. This process loosens compacted soil and allows air, water and nutrients to better permeate the grass’s root zone.

There are two main types of aerators used by homeowners and professionals:

• Core aeration uses hollow tines to extract soil cores or “plugs” from the lawn. This leaves behind holes to benefit the turf.
• Spike aeration uses solid spikes that punch into the ground. Spike aerators are faster but do not remove plugs of soil.

Core aerators provide superior aeration by actively removing soil. The holes also accumulate organic matter over time. Thorough core aeration improves overall soil structure and porosity.

Top 5 Benefits of Lawn Aeration

• Alleviates Soil Compaction – Holes and channels created by aerators allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate compacted soil easily. This stimulates root development.
• Enhances Root Growth – Loosened soil encourages deeper rooting so grass can better access water and nutrients. Stronger roots mean thicker, lusher grass.
• Improves Drainage – Water can infiltrate and percolate down through aerated soil rather than pooling on the surface. This helps grass weather both dry spells and heavy rainfall.
• Increases Oxygen – Aerating punctures impermeable layers of soil, allowing crucial oxygen to reach grass roots. Oxygen fuels growth.
• Promotes Fertilizer Absorption – Fertilizers applied after aerating can penetrate soil plugs easily. Grass utilizes nutrients more efficiently.

When to Aerate Your Lawn

Timing is key for productive lawn aeration. Core aerate cool season grasses like fescue and bluegrass in early fall or spring when they are actively growing. Warm season grasses like Bermuda can be aerated in summer during peak growth.

Ideally, core aerate every 6-12 months to continually improve soil structure. Signs it’s time include footprints remaining visible, muddy areas not drying, and thinning or compacted grass. Avoid aerating in hot, dry weather or when grass is dormant.

How to Core Aerate Your Lawn

Core aeration is normally a do-it-yourself project. Rent an aerator from your local home improvement store or purchase one if you have a large yard. Walk-behind models are easiest for homeowners to maneuver. Here are the basic steps:

1. Mow the lawn short, around 1-2 inches high, for visibility.
2. Mark sprinkler heads and irrigation lines to avoid damage.
3. Make criss-cross passes across entire yard, overlapping passes by 50%.
4. Ideally extract 3-4 plugs per square foot of lawn for thorough penetration.
5. Break up any extracted plugs laying on grass to decompose.
6. Water deeply after aeration to settle soil and fill holes.
7. Wait 2 weeks, then fertilize to feed grass roots and spur growth into holes.
8. Continue proper mowing, watering and fertilization for a thicker lawn.

FAQ:

Q: How often should I aerate my lawn?

A: Most lawns benefit from core aeration every 6-12 months. High traffic areas may need it more frequently. Signs it’s time include visible footprints, poor drainage and thin grass.

Q: What is the best time to aerate my lawn?

A: Aerate during the active growing season – early fall for cool season grasses and summer for warm season varieties. Avoid aerating in hot, dry weather or when turf is dormant.

Q: Should I aerate before or after fertilizing my lawn?

A: It’s best to aerate first, then wait 2 weeks before fertilizing. This allows fertilizer to more easily penetrate the aerated holes and be absorbed by grass roots.

Q: How do I know if my lawn needs aerating?

A: Indications your lawn needs aeration include compacted soil, visible footprints, poor drainage, thinner grass and minimal root growth. Lawn cores not breaking up easily indicates compaction.

Q: Should I dethatch before aerating my lawn?

A: Yes, it’s best to dethatch before aerating. Removing excess thatch allows the aerator tines to better penetrate the soil to extract cores.

Q: Do I need to topdress my lawn after aerating?

A: Topdressing is optional but helps fill aeration holes so grass recovers faster. Use a thin layer of compost or soil mixture. Fertilize 2 weeks later.

Q: What’s the difference between core and spike lawn aeration?

A: Core aerators remove plugs of soil to actively loosen the ground. Spike aerators simply punch holes without extracting cores. Core aeration is more beneficial long-term.