Lawn Care for Beginners

Lawn care is often just a series of small activities that make up a healthy regimen when they are all combined. Lawn aeration is one of those simple activities that works in part to improve the health and vitality of a lawn. Aeration is the process of removing small plugs or cores of soil from a lawn. There are both manual and mechanical aerators available to do the job. Core aeration is the most effective means of aerating a lawn. Aeration holes are usually 1″-6″ deep and 2″-6″ apart.

When lawns age or sustain heavy traffic from kids, pets, or vehicles, soil compaction can be the result. Soil compacting occurs most severely in poorly drained areas of a lawn. Compaction greatly reduces the distance of pores within the soil that would normally hold air which is healthy for the soil. This is because roots require oxygen to grow, absorb nutrients, and develop. Compaction has a negative effect on nutrient absorption and water infiltration, in addition to being a physical barrier to root growth. This results in poor top growth and lawn deterioration. This is why it is essential for lawn owners to perform aeration at least once per year to prevent the negative impact compaction can enforce.

The best time to aerate cool season climates with grass types like tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass is during late August to September. This is when these lawns are leaving summer dormancy and starting their period of healthy growth. Lawns recover quickly from aeration during vigorous growth periods. Competition from weeds is also minimal when grass is thick. Warm season lawns like St. augustinegrass and zoysiagrass are best aerated during June and July because it is their period of rapid growth.