Here’s the 7 tips to aerate your lawn for optimal results:
1. Determine If Your Lawn Needs Aeration
- Signs your lawn needs aeration include compacted soil, water pooling in areas, or thin grass growth.
- Test for compaction by pushing a screwdriver into the soil. If it’s difficult to penetrate, your lawn may benefit from aeration.
- Aeration is especially beneficial for lawns with high foot traffic, heavy clay soil, or thatch buildup (layers of dead grass above the soil).
2. Choose the Right Time
- Cool-season grasses (fescue, Kentucky bluegrass): Aerate in the early spring or fall when these grasses are growing most actively.
- Warm-season grasses (Bermuda, zoysia): Aerate in late spring or early summer, during their peak growing season.
- Avoid aerating during droughts or high heat, as this can stress the lawn.
3. Select the Right Aeration Tool
- Use a core aerator (also called a plug aerator) that removes plugs of soil from the ground, rather than a spike aerator that merely punches holes. Core aerators reduce compaction more effectively and allow better airflow and water absorption.
- For smaller lawns, you can rent or purchase a manual aerator, while larger lawns may require renting a power aerator from a garden center.
4. Prepare Your Lawn for Aeration
- Water the lawn 1–2 days before aerating if the soil is dry. This softens the soil, making it easier for the aerator to penetrate.
- Mow your lawn to a normal height before aerating, as this will help you maneuver the aerator across the lawn more efficiently.
5. Aerate Properly
- Run the aerator over the entire lawn, going in two different directions (crossing the lawn at right angles) to ensure thorough coverage.
- Make multiple passes over high-traffic areas or particularly compacted spots.
- Leave the soil plugs on the lawn; they will break down naturally and improve soil health.
6. After Aeration Care
- After aerating, apply a thin layer of compost or topsoil over the lawn to help fill the holes and improve soil structure.
- Overseed if needed, as the holes created by aeration provide excellent contact for grass seed.
- Water the lawn deeply after aeration to help roots recover and encourage healthy growth.
7. Regular Aeration Schedule
- Aerate your lawn once a year if you have compacted soil, heavy foot traffic, or clay soils. For sandy or well-drained lawns, aerating every 2-3 years may suffice.
By following these steps, lawn aeration will improve soil health, root growth, and the overall vitality of your grass.
