What to Know About Lawn Aeration
In order to combat soil compaction in your lawn or field and help keep your grass and other vegetation healthy, it is crucial to perform lawn aeration services. Aeration works to loosen compacted soil back up, restore oxygen to the soil and grass roots, and give nutrient-boosting insects and microorganisms the room they need to move around in the dirt.
What Is Lawn Aeration?
Lawn aeration is the process of penetrating hardened soil and breaking it up to soften it. It also gives air and water the space they need to flow down into the ground and add nutrients to the dirt and soil under the ground’s surface.
Aeration works by penetrating the ground’s surface by about 2 to 4 inches with a ½-inch thick hollow tine to remove a small amount of soil from the area. This creates space for oxygen, water, and other nutrients to reach grass roots and renourish the soil. It also loosens things up for roots and organisms to root, crawl, and flourish.
How Does Aeration Help Lawns and Fields Thrive?
Compacted soil causes a number of problems for the plants, insects, and microorganisms in the area, including:
Water Blockage
Soil compaction prevents necessary amounts of water from seeping into the soil and reaching grass roots, tree roots, and the roots of other vegetation. In fact, a common sign of compacted soil is rainwater that pools in areas of the yard or field and remains long after the rain has stopped.
Poor Planting and Germination
Compacted soil makes it difficult for seeds and newly placed plants to thrive in the area. It also makes it difficult for oxygen, hydrogen, and other nutrients to reach the seed or plant roots, ultimately causing plants to wither and die or preventing seeds from germinating.
Soil Erosion
Turf grass is not only aesthetically pleasing to look at, but it also keeps soil in place. Without grass on the surface of the ground and grass roots anchored firmly beneath the ground, dirt, and soil are exposed to the elements, including wind and rain. Exposed topsoil is more likely to erode over time.
When Should Aeration Be Performed?
Deciding when to aerate your lawn should depend on the type of grass growing in your yard or field. It’s always best to aerate before or during the height of your grass’s growing season. Whatever you do, don’t aerate if your grass is in or entering its dormant period.
When to Aerate Cool-Season Grasses
Cool-season grasses typically grow in the northern half of the country, from the coast of New England down to North Carolina and even parts of South Carolina, all the way across to the coast of the Pacific Northwest and down to large parts of California.
Property owners with cool-season grasses should aerate their lawns in early fall to optimize the aeration process and help boost grass growth as autumn and winter approach. The goal is to benefit grass as it actively needs the air, water, and nutrients that aeration helps it receive.
Cool-season grasses include:
- Kentucky bluegrass
- Perennial ryegrass
- Fine fescue
- Tall fescue
When to Aerate Warm-Season Grasses
Warm-season grasses grow in the southern half of the country, from the coast of Florida up to Virginia and even Maryland all the way across to the southern coast of California.
Property owners with warm-season grasses should aerate their lawns in late spring or early summer to optimize the aeration process and help boost grass growth as summer approaches.
Warm-season grasses include:
- Bahia grass
- Bermuda grass
- Centipede grass
- Augustine grass
- Zoysia grass
How Often Should Aeration Be Performed?
Several factors determine how frequently a property owner should aerate their lawn:
- Soil type – If your lawn or field primarily consists of heavier clay soil, you will likely want to aerate on an annual basis to keep your grass healthy and lush.
- Vehicles and equipment use – If you frequently or even occasionally drive over your lawn or field with cars, tractors, or other heavy equipment, you will want to aerate on an annual basis to help soften any compacted soil and promote grass growth.
- Foot traffic – If you have pets or children at play in your yard, animals roaming your field, or other frequent foot traffic throughout the year, annual aeration can help ensure your soil stays loose and your grass is optimized to grow healthy and strong.
Periodic lawn aeration from Mid Georgia Turf Solutions is a crucial step in maintaining healthy grass from season to season.
We’re your turf experts, offering the tools and solutions you need to revitalize your lawn and promote healthy grass growth. If you’d like to tackle soil compaction and optimize your grass growth, talk to us today about the benefits of lawn aeration.
Schedule a service today: 478-992-5705
Mid Georgia Turf Solutions provides essential lawn care to homeowners and property managers throughout the Middle Georgia area. We service customers in and around:
- Barnesville, GA
- Bolingbroke, GA
- Bonaire, GA
- Byron, GA
- Centerville, GA
- Covington, GA
- Eatonton, GA
- Fayetteville, GA
- Forsyth, GA
- Fort Valley, GA
- Gray, GA
- Griffin, GA
- Hampton, GA
- Jackson, GA
- Juliette, GA
- Kathleen, GA
- Knoxville, GA
- Lizella, GA
- Macon, GA
- Manchester, GA
- McDonough, GA
- Milledgeville, GA
- Monticello, GA
- Newnan, GA
- Perry, GA
- Sparta, GA
- Stockbridge, GA
- Thomaston, GA
- Warner Robins, GA
- Zebulon, GA
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