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Why Aerating Helps Lawns 1 Aeration creates holes down into the soil to alleviate compaction so air, water and nutrients can reach grass roots. Deprived of their basic needs by compacted soil, lawn grasses struggle in stressful situations, such as heat and low rainfall, and lose their healthy, rich color.
Do you really need to aerate your lawn?
No, it’s not necessary to aerate your lawn every year, especially if your grass is healthy and thriving. Aeration is good if you’ve got compacted, poor or clay-heavy soil that’s been impacted by heavy equipment or lots of foot traffic. It’s also good to aerate if you are renovating a yard or installing a new one.
When Should I aerate my lawn?
You want to aerate the lawn when your grass is in its peak growing period so it can recover quickly—think early spring or fall for cool-season grasses, and late spring through early summer for warm-season grasses. If you have high-traffic areas or heavy clay soil, you will want to aerate every year.
What are the benefits of aerating a lawn?
7 Benefits of Core Aeration in the Fall Relieves soil compaction. Aids in thatch management. Increases nutrient availability. Benefits pH modification. Builds a thicker lawn. Reduced water runoff and puddling. Prepares grass for winter dormancy and a green spring.
What do you do after you aerate your lawn?
What to Do After Aerating Your Lawn Leave the soil plugs on the lawn to decompose and filter back into the holes left by the aeration machine. Apply fertilizer immediately after aerating your lawn to put nutrients into your grass roots. Reseed your lawn, especially in areas of the lawn where the grass is thin.
When should you not aerate your lawn?
Spring is not the ideal time to aerate the lawn, but circumstances may require it. If the soil is so compacted that existing grass can’t grow, it may be necessary to aerate in the spring. 1 Generally, though, spring aerating is discouraged because the aeration holes provide a perfect spot for weed seeds to germinate.
Is there a bad time to aerate your lawn?
Aeration can take place at any time of the year, but the best time is usually in the spring/early summer or fall. The general recommendation is to core aerate when there is the most root growth.
Does aerating lawn make a difference?
Why Aerating Helps Lawns A layer of compacted soil just 1/4 to 1/2 inches thick can make a significant difference in the health and beauty of your lawn. 1 Aeration creates holes down into the soil to alleviate compaction so air, water and nutrients can reach grass roots.
Can you aerate your lawn too much?
Loose soil doesn’t need to be aerated very often. Especially thick types of grass may also call for aerating more frequently. As a general rule, you shouldn’t need to aerate more than once a year at any time (“too much of a good thing” applies here, since you don’t want to damage your soil).
When Should I aerate and overseed my lawn?
The undisputed best time of year to aerate and seed a lawn is in the fall. Warm soils, cool nights and dying annual weeds make fall conditions the ideal time for aeration combined with overseeding as well as general lawn seeding. Unlike fall, spring soils are cold and packed full of dormant weed seeds ready to grow.
Does aeration help level lawn?
Aerating regularly to loosen compacted soil and lessen its lifting. When properly maintained, your turfgrass develops into a healthy specimen able to fend off pest and disease problems and best of all; you end up with a level lawn.
Should I pick up plugs after aerating?
Those aeration plugs are vital to the health of your lawn. Resist the urge to “clean” the lawn after it’s been aerated, and whatever you do, don’t remove the plugs.
Is aeration overseeding worth it?
To revitalize your grass, you may consider aerating and overseeding, or creating holes in your soil to plant fresh seedlings. In fact, when done correctly, aerating and overseeding can be extremely beneficial to the wellbeing of your turf.
Do you water lawn after aeration?
During the first two weeks following your aeration and seeding service, the main goal is to keep the ground/seed moist while the seed begins to germinate. We recommend that you water each day for at least 20 minutes in all areas of the lawn (water the soil to a depth of about 1/4”).
Should you water after aeration?
Your lawn’s watering needs immediately after aeration and overseeding are going to be a bit different than what you might be used to. Your lawn is going to require less water but more frequently. You need to keep the soil moist but you don’t want to water for too long.
Should I fertilize lawn after aerating?
What fertilizer should I use after aerating? Immediately after aerating, your lawn is exposed to oxygen, and so laying fertilizer during this time is your best bet for growing a healthy, envy-worthy lawn. The best fertilizer to use (and how much) will be dependent on your grass type and lawn size.
Should you aerate your lawn in the summer?
When to Aerate As with dethatching, you want to aerate when your grass is at its peak growing season – late summer or early fall.
Can you aerate and overseed in the spring?
Overseeding is used for larger areas where the turf is thin, but not bare. The effectiveness of overseeding, whether done in the spring or fall, is enhanced when it is combined with lawn aeration. It is helpful to core aerate before and after seeding into an existing lawn.
Is it okay to aerate in the spring?
If you have a warm-season grass, you should aerate now (early spring) as temperatures start to rise. Aeration is necessary for the growth and health of your lawn. It pokes holes in your grass allowing oxygen, water, and nutrients to get down into the soil. This soil builds a strong foundation for your entire lawn.
