Several things go into creating a beautiful lawn, and aeration is one of them. If you haven't heard of aerating your lawn before, you're not alone.
To achieve picture-perfect lawns that draw attention from the whole neighbourhood, you must begin aerating your lawn. Aerating your lawn is a process that involves poking holes into the soil to break up compacted dirt.
But you've gone this long without it; why start now? Could aeration be the missing piece you've needed to create a beautiful luscious lawn?
If you don't know about the benefits of lawn aeration, look no further. Here we explain to you the why, when, and how behind aerating your lawn.
Why
Over the years, the soil in your lawn becomes compacted. Whether it's because of your lawnmower, vehicles, or people and animals walking around, your soil can become dense and compact. With soil like this, you run the risk of your grass not getting enough nutrients and water to its roots.
Over time, the ground becomes more solid and makes it difficult for your grass's roots to grow deep and strong. If you live in an area where the soil already consists of dense soil types like clay, you may need aeration more than the average homeowner. Aeration will help break up the ground and allow roots to grow and nutrients to access the roots.
When
You should aerate your lawn before times when your grass grows. For certain grasses, this occurs at different times. For example, cool-season grasses prefer aeration during the early spring or fall, while warm-season grasses thrive during late spring through early summer.
Aeration should occur every year for areas with high-clay content soils and approximately every 2-3 years for less dense soils. If your soil is difficult for you to poke your finger into it, it may be time to aerate.
You can also tell if your lawn needs to be aerated if you see a pooling of water after a rain or thinning grass. Both of these are indicators that your soil is not absorbing the proper nutrients.
How
A day or two before you aerate your lawn, make sure it is watered, so the soil is damp. Then you'll want to mark any sprinkler heads, utility lines, pipes, and anything else in your yard you don't want to puncture. Finally, remove any debris like rocks or sticks that could damage your aerator.
You can use several different tools to aerate your soil; which one you choose depends on the size of your yard and personal preference. For regular yards, go over the lawn once and for heavily compacted lawns you can go over it twice.
Once you're finished, don't forget to fertilize and water your lawn. Make sure it receives plenty of water over the next few weeks to allow for regrowth.
Aerating Your Lawn
Aerating your lawn is an easy and effective way to improve your soil quality and increase grass growth. If you've been looking for a way to make your browning grass thicker and more substantial, this is it.
Of course, if you are unable to aerate your lawn yourself, contact a lawn care professional from Scott's Landscaping, and we are always happy to help provide you with a lusher, greener yard. For more lawn care tips and advice, check out our blog!
