When it comes to enhancing your home’s curb appeal, it’s hard to beat the value of a beautiful lawn. To achieve green turf that will be the envy of your neighborhood, your lawn requires basic lawn care such as mowing, watering and fertilizing. Additionally, in order to ensure that nutrients reach the soil below your grass, your lawn needs to be aerated. Aeration is a vital requirement to growing a healthy lawn as it allows water and air to penetrate thick turf or lawn thatch. To get rid of thatch and help your lawn grow lush and green, learn the why, how and when of aeration with this quick guide.
What is Aeration?
Aeration perforates the soil beneath your lawn with small holes that allow water, nutrients and air to penetrate to your turf’s roots, which helps them grow quicker and deeper, producing a stronger, more vigorous lawn. Over time, the soil under your grass gets compacted, meaning too many solid particles are compressed within a certain volume or space. When heavy organic debris or excess lawn thatch combines with compacted soil, your lawn’s roots are starved of the essential elements it needs to thrive. Aeration can:
- Regenerate the root system
- Oxygenates root zone microbes
- Helps new seed take root
- Removes thatch
- Makes it easier to change soil chemistry
Why Should I Aerate My Lawn?
Homeowners often wonder why their lawn needs to be aerated, especially if it looks healthy. If your lawn has experienced any of the following, it is a good candidate for aeration:
- Has a spongy feel and dries out easily. This often indicates your lawn has a thatch issue. If the thatch layer is thicker than one-half inch, aeration is recommended.
- Receives heavy use or foot traffic. Children and pets playing on the grass can contribute to soil compaction.
- Was established by sod. Sod often has issues with soil layering that disrupts drainage, compacts soil and leads to poor root development.
- Was installed as part of a newly constructed home. The topsoil of new construction is often buried or stripped, and subsoil is compacted by construction machinery.
When is the Best Time to Aerate My Lawn?
The best time for aerating your grass is during the growing season. Depending on your location and type of grass, homeowners with cool season grass generally aerate turf in the early spring or fall while those with warm season turf aerate in the late spring. Fall is one of the best times to aerate in the Lewis Center, OH area. The days are still long for growing and the nights are still warm enough to encourage growth and healing.
Call in the Lawn Care Experts
Meyers Green Services has been providing lawn care in Columbus, OH, and the surrounding areas for over a decade. We pride ourselves on maintaining beautiful lawns that enhance your landscaping. Call us today and mention our blog for a special 10% off your aeration service.
