Taking care of your lawn is a year-round job, especially after backyard events like barbecues, bonfires, and gardening. With kids running through sprinklers and pets roaming around, your lawn needs extra TLC in the coming months. Aeration is a treatment that can help with this.
What is aeration?
Aeration is the process of removing plugs of soil to break up soil compaction, enabling oxygen and water to reach the root zone. These holes are small, typically only a few inches deep, and can be made by piercing the ground or removing small plugs of dirt. The treatment stimulates root growth and encourages the penetration of air, water, and nutrients into the soil. It also helps prevent thatch buildup.
Why is Aeration so Important for my Lawn?
Aeration is probably the single best thing you can do for your lawn. Here are four reasons why:
- More Durable and Resistant to Foot Traffic When your lawn receives all the air, water, and nutrients it needs, it grows strong and is more durable. This is essential, especially if you have kids or entertain often.
- Reduced Water Runoff Aeration reduces water runoff, which can kill your lawn and pose a health hazard for humans.
- Improved Fertilizer Uptake Fertilizing your lawn increases the amount of nitrogen your lawn can absorb, which helps the grass grow stronger, faster and play an important role in the production of chlorophyll, resulting in a greener looking lawn.
- Helps Prevent Disease Aerating your lawn helps prevent disease by breaking up stagnation and disease spots.
When should I get my lawn aerated?
The timing of your lawn aeration treatment depends on the type of grass you have. Cool-weather grasses should be done when the weather begins to cool, during late summer and through the fall, while warm-weather grasses should be aerated in late spring and summer.
Avoid DIY Lawn Aeration
Renting a lawn core aerator may seem like a good idea, but it is not recommended. Lawn core aerators are bulky and awkward machines that can be difficult to transport and maneuver. Our commercial-grade plug aerators ensure that the job gets done right, and our representatives are trained to handle these machines.
Should overseeding be done along with aeration?
Yes! Overseeding is the act of spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, and it is recommended to do right after aeration. Aeration provides excellent conditions for overseeding because it allows new grass growth to establish itself and fill out thinning areas that are commonly found in mature lawns.
Overseeding after aeration will more effectively fill in bare spots and help thicken your lawn. A thick lawn is the best defense against weeds.
