Why is Core Aeration Necessary?

Compacted soil halts your lawn from growing a healthy root system which prevents your grass from being the greenest on the block. Raindrops, irrigation, walking, playing on and mowing your lawn all contribute to compacting your soil. This creates a hard layer of soil and a layer of thatch which leaves your sod’s roots little room to grow. Between thatch build-up and hardened soil, your grass will be weak and frail without the help of Core Aeration. Aeration of your lawn helps relieve soil compaction, which allows your grass to grow deeper roots and make better use of water and fertilizer.

3 Main Benefits of Core Aeration

1. Oxidizes Soil – After our team aerates the ground, grass has better access to oxygen to improve root growth.
2. Dethatches Your Lawn – Left unmanaged, thatch impedes water, fertilizer and pesticide effectiveness. Core aeration combines soil with the thatch debris, so soil organisms are better able to break down the thatch and reduce its accumulation.
3. Root Growth – With the newly plugged holes, air, water, and nutrients will reach roots easily to stimulate growth and produce a stronger and heartier lawn.

Core aeration is an excellent way to begin preparing your warm season grass for a good growing season this year. It aids in relieving harmful thatch, increases root development and water retention, and promotes overall lawn health & vitality. It also is an excellent way to mitigate soil compaction. Core aeration reduces compaction and allows water and oxygen to get to the plant. Core aeration can also stimulate root growth in sod lawns that need to connect to the soil. Thatch, a mat of above-ground roots that prevents air and water from getting to the soil, can also be broken up with core aeration.

When Should You Aerate Your Lawn?

This depends on the type of grass you have! The best time for core aeration for warm season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia is the springtime, after the last frost of winter (normally mid-April through the end of June). This is when the grass is coming out of dormancy from the wintertime. By opening your lawn up with core aeration at the beginning of spring, its roots and soil can better receive all of the rainfall to come throughout spring and summer, leading to a healthy, vibrant lawn.

For a cool season grass like fescue, the best time for core aeration is the early fall (September and October). With fescue, you must also pair core aeration with overseeding in order to ensure a thick lawn. After new seedlings germinate and grow over the wintertime, your fescue lawn will be ready for the spring. Fall provides the best time growing temperatures for seeds.