A luxurious lawn is satisfying and enjoyable for your whole family, no matter what you like to do in your outdoor living spaces. A lush green expanse not only adds value to your home , but also provides a place for you and your family to relax and enjoy the outdoors on a daily basis.
But keeping a healthy lawn takes time and effort. One of the most important things you can do for your lawn is to aerate it regularly. If you haven’t thought much about aeration, here is some information on how to tell if your lawn needs aeration or not.
What is aeration?
Aeration is simply the process of punching holes in the soil to improve drainage, allowing air and water to reach the roots of your lawn. When you aerate your lawn, you help the grass roots become more resilient.
Over time, soil can become compacted, which can make it difficult for grass roots to expand. Aeration loosens the soil and creates a more hospitable environment for your grass. You can avoid dry patches, sparse growth, and other lawn problems when you aerate on a schedule.
If you need a consultation about your lawns and gardens, contact our professionals at At Home Pros before you start your search for a lawn service provider. We’ll connect you to the top-rated landscape service professionals in your area to make your journey quick and easy.
Signs your lawn needs aeration
If you notice that your grass is thin or patchy, difficult to mow, or prone to weeds, then aeration may be the solution. Here are some more specific signs of an unhealthy lawn, so you can diagnose it and put aeration on your schedule as soon as possible:
- Poor rain absorption: When it rains, your grass may have a hard time absorbing the water and instead the rain gathers in large puddles, indicating your lawn needs aeration.
- Spongy to the touch: If your lawn dries out easily and is spongy when you touch it, that’s a sign it’s due to be aerated.
- Losing its green hue: A brown lawn with withered, dry patches of unhealthy-looking grass is likely in need of aeration.
Your lawn also may be a strong candidate for the process of aeration if it gets heavy foot traffic, if there has recently been a lot of construction (leading to compacted soil), or if you’ve recently laid down sod —especially sod over already compacted earth.
Quick test for your lawn
There is a quick test to see if your soil is compacted. Start by taking a handful of soil and squeezing it in your hand. If it forms a tight ball that doesn’t crumble, your soil is compacted and needs to be aerated.
Also, if your lawn has a deep layer of thatch, that can be a sign that your lawn’s roots need some care. You can accomplish this by aeration alone. One of the many advantages of aerating your lawn is that the process also de-thatches your grass all at once. Dethatching rakes up the layer of dead grass, along with other decaying organic matter, so that the soil underneath can breathe.
How to aerate
There are a few different ways to aerate your lawn. You can rent an aerator from your local hardware store, or you can hire a professional to do it for you. You can even use DIY aerators, including ones that strap onto your boots.
Heavily compacted soil needs a core aerator or plug aerator to really make a dent. If you see thatch that is more than one-half of an inch thick, or if rain pools and runs off your lawn but isn’t absorbed by it, you should head to the hardware store for aerating tools. Better yet, contact At Home Pros to connect you to lawn and garden experts who can take your aeration to the next level.
Here are some more key tips to consider when you start to combat dryness, compacted soil and sparse growth by using an aerator:
- Water your lawn well before aerating. To make sure it has enough time to soak in, water a full 24 hours before you start aerating. Or you can aerate the day after a rainstorm.
- Aerate deeply, about two to three inches. A core aerator will take out plugs up to six inches deep, which provides dramatic results.
- Apply a thin layer of topsoil after aerating. Another option is to simply leave the soil plugs on your lawn for a few days, and then break the dried-out plugs up with the back of a rake. The remaining organic material and thatch will protect your grass.
If you find that keeping up with a landscaping schedule isn’t as easy as it seemed when you were planning your lawn and garden, you may want to call in some professional help. But don’t just call the first number you see on a billboard. Contact our experts at At Home Pros to help focus your search to the top lawn care professionals in your local area — for the best results and the healthiest lawn.