WHAT IS LAWN AERATION?

Lawn aeration softens hard compacted soil by allowing water to penetrate into the lawn rather than just running off of the surface.  As the roots of the lawn grow deeper, you won't need to water it as often.  This can ultimately save you money on
watering your lawn.  It also allows the lawn to stay greener in the Spring, Summer and Fall.  Clay soil expands when the weather gets warm causing the soil to become compacted.  Lawn aeration is the process of using a hand lawn or mechanical aerator to aerate your lawn.  Aerating cuts small holes into the soil of your lawn allowing it to absorb more water, and stimulate deeper root growth thus reducing soil compaction.   A good lawn aeration also allows air and nutrients direct access to the lawns root system.  By removing soil cores from your lawn it gives the soil room for expansion, this reduces stress on the roots and gives you a nice looking lawn throughout the year. 

Five Major Benefits of Aerating a lawn
There are many benefits of core aeration. Core aeration keeps your lawn greener, reducing the cost of watering.

 1)  Improves drainage & reduces water runoff
2)  Reduces soil compaction
3)  Controls thatch development
4)  Reduces drought damage
5)  Allows water, air, and nutrients direct access to the lawns root system. 
 

HOW TO AERATE A LAWN

Knowing how to aerate a lawn is very important.  The best way to aerate a lawn is by using a core aerator.  You can use a hand coring aerator or a mechanical one.  If you choose a hand aerator, it is best to push it into the ground using your foot.   You should insert it to a depth of about two to three inches.   Most lawns are easier to aerate if they are watered the night before you aerate.   Avoid trying to aerate your lawn if the ground is too hard or too soft, because aeration will be ineffective and take a long time.  Hand coring aerators are recommended for fixing problem spots in the lawn and for lawns that have a surface area of five hundred square feet or less.   For larger lawns we recommend using a mechanical aerator.

Aerate around all the edges of the lawn first and then aerate the middle.  When you turn the aerator around to make a pass in the opposite direction, it is advised to remove the tines from the ground.   When you have re-positioned theaerator where you want to start aerating for the next pass, lower the tines back into the ground and continue the process.  For most lawns it is also a good idea to make two passes over the entire lawn.   Make sure and check to determine if the soil is compacted and getting enough water.


WHEN TO AERATE A LAWN

Lawn aerators are most commonly rented during the seasons of Spring and the Fall.  Lawn aeration can be done from February to Thanksgiving, but it does depend on the climate where you live and how cold it gets during the winter as well as the current condition of your lawn.  

The most common months for aerating your lawn during the Spring are March, April and May.  The most common months foraerating your lawn during the Fall are September and October.  Fall aeration is a good idea if you have especially compacted soil or a lot of traffic on your lawn. It also helps new lawns become established more quickly.  Once your lawn becomes
established, it is a good idea to aerate your lawn every one to three years.