Yard Care Services
Lawn Aeration – When To Perform
Excess thatch build-up and compacted soils are two major influences on the health and growth of your lawn. Core aeration can help reduce thatch and relieve compaction to provide a greener and healthier lawn.
Thatch is the intermingled layer of roots, stems and other natural material that builds up at the soil surface. Some thatch (1/2 inch or less) is desirable as it will act as a cushion and help protect the lawn from temperature extremes. When thatch exceeds 1/2 inch, it will reduce lawn vigor and increase insect and disease problems.
Core aeration offers many benefits for your lawn, and has proven to be one of the most essential processes in maintaining a healthy, thick lawn. The process opens up the lawn by removing small plugs of soil and thatch, allowing more air, water and nutrients to reach the root zone, leading to better plant growth. The microorganisms in the plugs that remain on the surface will dissolve back into the thatch layer to help it breakdown, naturally. The process also reduces compaction.
Lawn aeration should be done on a yearly maintenance schedule. Late spring to early summer is a good time to aerate, usually just around the time your turf is making a come-back from the winter months. When the growing season starts to slow down around late summer to early fall, a core aeration will benefit your turf’s health over the winter months.
Lawn Aeration Tools
Aerating your lawn can be performed with a walk behind or ride on type of machine. These are the preferred type for most lawn care companies.
A pull behind core aerator is another type that attaches to the hitch of a ride behind mower or all-terrain-vehicle. Most homeowners will use these, but they are not as penetrable as a gas-powered aerator.
However, if a proper speed is achieved, good lawn aeration can be accomplished. Many rental and home improvement stores have the pull behind type you can purchase. Most rental stores have the walk behind gas-powered version aerator.
Compacted Soil
If you have been properly watering your lawn and your turf is experiencing excessive run-off, most likely the soil is compacted. Compacted soil prevents very important nutrients from reaching the grass root. Relieving the soil from compaction will instantly give your turf a fighting chance for long-term health. Opening up the earth and making three-inch deep holes will make way for important elements to reach the root zones of the grass.
There are two elements that will increase the life of your lawn, and they just so happen to be ones humans need too. Water and oxygen are the key ingredients to everything that is living on earth. Any deprivation of these elements will be evident when your turf shows signs of stress.
Does Your Turf Need Lawn Aeration?
You can perform an assessment of your lawn. Knowing what to look for will help decide if you need lawn aeration.
- Ground not absorbing moisture. Standing water or excess run-off?
- Type of foot or lawn mowing traffic during season
- Thatch visible on top of ground
- Type of soil
Soil Types
The type of soil you have will help you decide the best time to aerate your lawn.
- Clay soil is highly susceptible to compaction and should be aerated twice per season. Spring and Fall
- Sandy soil has a smaller compatibility compared to clay soil, and once per season is recommended for healthy turf. Spring or Fall
- During drought conditions, it is recommended not to aerate at all. Important moisture may be released which can cause damage to an already heat stressed lawn. Usually there is an small layer of thatch which can actually keep the moisture in the soil.
Fertilizing and Over-Seeding
If you plan to fertilize or re-seed your lawn, aerate prior to doing so for the best results. This will allow the fertilizer, water, grass seed and oxygen to easily find their way to the grasses root zone. There are many affordable ways to create a green lush lawn, none greater than lawn aeration.
Landscape Mulch
A great way to brighten up your landscape is by adding a fresh layer of mulch. If you had already added mulch the season before, adding another inch of top dressing mulch will be a cost efficient way to spruce up your landscaping. Mulching tree and garden areas will greatly improve your soil.
Miscellaneous Services
Grunt Work also provides help with moving sod, mulch, rock or even Junk. We pride ourselves in helping people with what ever tasks they need done.