When you look at your lawn, are you satisfied or disappointed with what you see? This question will be a lot easier to answer after you aerate your lawn. Rest assured that the work involved in lawn aeration isn’t too much for you to handle. With the right set of tools and this well-detailed guide, you’ll have little to no difficulty:
What Is Lawn Aeration?
Lawn care entails carrying out maintenance tasks that help grasses and plants to grow. At the top of the to-do list is lawn aeration because this one task puts the soil in the best condition to absorb what’s needed. Like all human beings and pets, soil requires oxygen, water and nutrients. How can these important components penetrate lawn thatch and rock-hard earth? They won’t be able to without some assistance. That’s why aeration machines exist.
They create and remove soil plugs not only to break up compacted soil but also to give the lawn more air pockets. The additional pores allow the root system to receive an adequate amount of nourishment. Therefore, once you fully aerate the lawn, the soil beneath it will be able to breathe again.
The main methods include core aeration, spike aeration and liquid aeration. Each method is capable of resolving the soil compaction problem, but analyze the condition of the soil before you choose one. With a core aerator, you can effectively perforate the lawn because it’s designed to pull out a few inches of soil. Spike aerators are simply not as effective, so we don’t recommend using them.
The Benefits of Lawn Aeration
Lawn aeration can save your lawn from dying like a tune-up can keep your car from conking out. In other words, aerating the soil in your yard is a beneficial move. Whether you’re trying to clean up your lawn to improve its overall health or to boost its aesthetic value, you’ll be content with the outcome.
Restore the turf
Constant foot traffic, heavy equipment and soil consolidation can gradually damage the topsoil and the subsoil over the years. The aeration process can reverse the damage by reconditioning your lawn. You can choose core aeration or spike aeration because both methods will expose the root zone to more air, water and fertilizer. Thus, your effort will give rise to noticeable and favorable results. Roots thrive in loose clay soil that contains beneficial bacteria and microorganisms.
Cut down on the production of thatch
Thatch is organic matter that can be detrimental to a healthy lawn. Kentucky bluegrass is commonplace in Denver, and it’s mostly known for having rhizomes and forming thatch. Fortunately, routine aeration will go a long way toward stopping it from becoming problematic. When you aerate, you’re giving your lawn the basic treatment that it needs. To be more specific, the aeration process places the bacteria-rich soil right on top of the thatch layer. The bacteria and microorganisms work around the clock to decompose the dead grass.
Keep soil from getting too hard and dry
Compacted soil is a hindrance from any perspective. Not only does it block the root system from absorbing its necessities, but it also demands more attention from you. That’s why a plug aerator is necessary. With this, you can easily remove cores to prevent soil particles from building up and hardening. For this reason, soil compaction will become a problem of the past even if you have heavy clay soil.
Facilitate the growth of seeds
By aerating before you feed the grass and soil, you create deeper pockets for the seeds and fertilizer to fall in. This facilitates germination. Plus, the newly created pockets establish a moist environment for the seeds and promote more root growth.
Make puddling a secondary concern
Do you have a problem with surface runoff or puddling? Routine aeration will help your lawn for sure by opening up the soil surface. The removed soil plugs will create extra entry points for water and nutrients, so the grass roots in your new lawn won’t come close to starving.
How to Aerate a Lawn
Although it’s not rocket science, the aerating process requires more than just some effort. You need to be strategic to produce your desired results, so don’t aerate too soon. The lawn needs to heal as quickly as possible after aeration. With that said, the best time of the year is during the growing seasons. For cool-season grasses, you can start aerating in early spring or early fall. Northern states typically have this grass type because it’s geared to withstand the ravages of cold winter months. For warm-season grasses, you should start the process around late spring or early summer.
Keep in mind that it’s better to aerate after a rainy day because the water softens the lawn. However, if your yard is overly saturated, you should let several days pass before you proceed. Whichever lawn aerator you have, you can use it to complete the job, and it’s OK to leave behind plugs of soil. They’ll break down on their own in due course, providing the soil surface with extra organic matter. Here’s another tip: Don’t hesitate to hire professional lawn services if you want to save your time and energy and avoid unnecessary headaches.
DIY vs Hiring a Professional
Aerating is best left to experts, but do-it-yourself projects are definitely manageable. You just need to get your hands on the best equipment for your lawn. For small yards that are in fair-to-middling condition, a spike lawn aerator can be used. Experts recommend core or plug aerators if you have a large yard that hasn’t been aerated in a while. Regardless of the method, you should be prepared to break a sweat because aerating can be time-consuming and physically exhausting. In addition, you may have to increase your budget because chances are you’ll incur rental fees, which can be as high as $250 per day.
Your other option is to work with a reputable lawn care company that will tackle the drudgery for you. Such a company is bound to have high-quality machinery, so your lawn will more than likely receive a top-notch aeration treatment. Weed control is another service that will help transform your lawn. As the paying customer, you’ll have nothing to worry about because professionals know how to work around adverse weather conditions. On top of that, they’re insured for your peace of mind.
Cost of Hiring a Professional Aerator Near You
Contrary to what most property owners believe, an aeration service isn’t ridiculously expensive. In fact, hiring an aeration service is a cost-effective option compared to a do-it-yourself project. This is the case because you don’t have to pay for rental equipment or for costly mistakes. Even though every company has a different pricing structure, you can expect to get a favorable deal that suits your budget. Typically, the cost of lawn aeration will range between $115 and $190. It basically depends on how big the lawn is. Nevertheless, lawn care services are worthy of your money because they can fulfill your wants and needs consistently.