Everything You Need to Know About Lawn Aeration

What is Lawn Aeration?

Lawn aeration is the perforation of soil with several small holes to better allow water, air, and nutrients to access the roots of grass. This practice helps grass roots grow deeper into the soil, leading to a healthier and more vibrant lawn overall.

Why Should I Aerate My Lawn?

The most common reason for aerating a lawn is the over-compaction of soil and lawn thatch. When soil becomes too compacted, there is just too much crammed into one space. This high-density soil prevents the proper circulation of water, air and nutrients, starving the roots of your grass, and leading to dead patches. Lawn thatch is a thick layer of mostly dead grass lying between the green blades on the surface and the root system in the soil below. When lawn thatch becomes too thick, it prevents the grass roots from absorbing the water and nutrients needed to survive.

How Can I Tell If My Soil Needs Aeration?

Good question. Many customers ask how they will know whether or not their lawn needs to be aerated. Your landscape might need aeration if:

• Your lawn is used often. Children and pets running around the yard everyday leads to soil compaction.
• Your house was recently constructed or was recently remodeled. When construction crews walk back and forth across a lawn multiple times a day for months on end, the soil is often quite compact.
• Your lawn feels spongey. If grass is spongey, that may mean you have too much thatch. You can check for yourself by digging a few inches into the soil with a shovel. If the thatch is too thick, aeration is needed.
• Your lawn began as sod. When sod is placed atop existing coarse soil, the roots often struggle to develop properly. By aerating the ground, you break up the layers of fresh sod soil and the older, coarser soil, encouraging better root growth and allowing water and nutrients to more easily reach those roots.