The hole truth about aerating your lawn

Aerating your lawn is a great way to reduce thatch, loosen up compacted soils and make it easier for water and nutrients to reach the roots of your turf.

Even with the best care available, lawns can thin out and lose color due to excessive thatch buildup, hard or compacted soils, or periods of high temperature, high humidity, or drought. Aerifying and overseeding is recognized by turf experts such as golf course superintendents as the best treatment to control thatch, reduce compaction, fill-in bare spots and revitalize growth.

Aeration/Seeding—the two step process guaranteed to improve your lawn

An aeration treatment removes small cores of soil and thatch to allow air, moisture and fertilizer to penetrate down to the root zone. The cores brought to the surface contain microorganisms, which help the breakdown of the woody thatch tissue. This allows the roots of existing grass plants to spread out and grow deeper, creating a healthier, thicker lawn.

Overseeding in cool-season areas, will fill-in bare or thin spots and help build a thicker lawn faster. The new seed quickly takes root in the freshly aerated lawn and provides new life to your already established grass. As your lawn gets thicker and healthier, your new grass plants help reduce the chance of new weeds sprouting.

Aeration can be done anytime the lawn is actively growing. In the south, the prefered season is late spring. In the north, early fall.

Should you aerate in sandy soils?

Yes, but there is different machinery to be used. Instead of using a machine that pulls out plugs of soil, use equipment that pierces the soil with a sharp spike. This type of equipment is not recommended for heavy, clay type soils as it further compacts the clay.