Just like people, our lawns need to breathe. When you aerate your lawn, you are allowing oxygen, water, and nutrients to get into the soil, leading to a stronger, healthier lawn. If you have a lawn of your own then you have undoubtedly heard of this term before. While aeration is not usually necessary, almost all lawns will benefit from it. In this post, we will cover what it means to aerate your lawn, how to do it, and the best times of the year to do it.
What Does It Mean To Aerate Your Lawn?
There are several ways to aerate your lawn but the one that most homeowners are familiar with is core aerating. Core aerating consists of perforating your lawn with holes around half an inch in diameter. This can be done either through a handheld aerator, a wheeled aerator, or a mechanical aerator. This allows nutrients to seep deeper into your soil which will strengthen your roots and create a fuller, greener appearance.
How To Aerate Your Lawn
If you decide you want to aerate your lawn, the good news is that it is relatively easy to do on your own. While having an expert come in to do it is always beneficial, it is not necessary.
- The first thing you are going to have to do is get an aerator. A manual core aerator or a wheeled aerator are popular choices among homeowners.
- Once you have your aerator of choice, the next step is to water your lawn thoroughly to moisten your soil.
- After that, you simply push your rolled aerator over your lawn in the same fashion as a lawnmower or perforate your lawn with a manual aerator.
- After your lawn is perforated, this is the perfect opportunity to apply fertilizer to ensure maximum growth.
What Is the Best Time of Year To Aerate Your Lawn
You only need to aerate once a year so you have a lot of flexibility in determining when you do it. The best time of year to aerate your lawn depends largely on what type of grass you have and while there is no bad time to aerate your lawn, you usually want to avoid it in the winter when grass goes dormant.
For cool-season lawns, it is best to aerate in the fall.
For warm-season lawns, it is best to aerate in the late spring.
If you are unsure when you need to aerate, there are some signs that your lawn could benefit from a treatment. If your soil feels hard to the touch or is noticeably dry, then it may be time to aerate. As soil compaction increases, so do these side effects that suggest aeration would be beneficial.
Let LawnBoyz Aerate Your Lawn For You
If you are looking to aerate your lawn, call in the experts at Lawnboyz. Our experience will ensure that your lawn receives the best care possible so you can be the envy of the neighborhood. Give us a call or fill out our contact form if you want your lawn to look the best that it can!