Is your lawn looking a bit worse for the wear? Is the grass turning brown? The ground feeling harder than it used to? Do you see a layer of impenetrable thatch (that dry, matted, dead material between your grass blades and soil), preventing water and air from getting through to your grass roots? Our Lawn Aeration Service just might be the cure!
Did you know that your lawn is similar to you? When you get worn out, you need to take a deep breath and have a drink of water. Your lawn is the same way! The main difference is that your lawn can’t fend for itself, so we need to help it along via Lawn Core Aeration.
Lawn Aeration allows us to help get air and water to your lawn’s root system, via a machine we use to ease the compaction of the soil. In doing so, we pull small plugs of dry, compacted soil and grass from your lawn, which allows for water and air to get in, providing nutrition to your grass and helping it recover from Mother Nature’s various stresses.
As an added bonus, the plugs of soil will soon decompose and provide additional nourishment for your lawn. It really is one of the most perfect lawn treatments available, so if you’d like us to come out and take a look at your lawn, just fill out our Estimate Request Form and we’ll be happy to schedule a visit.
Frequently Asked Lawn Aeration Questions
What is lawn aeration? Aeration is the process of mechanically removing cores of
turf to improve the flow of air, water and nutrients in dense, compacted soil.
Why should I aerate my lawn? Aerating will allow your grass to grow healthier, greener and thicker. It will also help with drainage and allow air and water to reach the roots of your lawn.
What kind of aerator do you use? I use a core aerator that extracts plugs of soil from your lawn. The plugs can be up to 2-3/4 inches long, depending on how compact your soil is.
What is the best time of year to aerate my lawn? Spring and fall are generally the best times of year to aerate your lawn. These are the seasons when your lawn is actively growing and you can overseed immediately afterwards. Many people also aerate in July to prevent localized dry spots and improve irrigation.
How can aeration improve my lawn for the summer? By aerating late spring you can encourage the roots to grow deeper, keeping your lawn green longer.
Why is my new lawn soil compacted? Houses built in the last 20 years have heavier soil compaction because of bulldozers, backhoes and big lifts used in the construction process. Most newly-constructed properties have little or no soil preparation. In new construction, the lawn is graded (all soil scraped and taken away) then covered again with 1 or 2 inches of soil. If you live on a property like this, add compost annually and aerate your lawn twice a year, then rake fine compost into the aeration holes. Over time this will change your soil profile.
How does a compacted or clay based soil affect my lawn? Because clay soil is a very fine particle with very small pore spaces, air and water cannot move well through soil, which encourages poor root growth.
Why should I aerate before seeding? Aerating produces holes that act as a seed bed which helps to shelter the seed and encourages their germination.
Is it a good time to apply lime after aeration? Yes, most limes are insoluble and this will help it to reach the soil and root zone more quickly.
What type of lime do you use? I use a newer generation of enhanced lime that breaks down and adjusts the soil pH more quickly. An organic acid is added to limestone to make the lime readily available. This lime can do in months what would take two years for traditional lime to work.
Does lime kill moss? No. However, lime adjusts the soil’s pH so that moss has less favorable growing conditions.
Should I aerate more than once a year? On lawns with compacted soils or under
renovation, it is beneficial to aerate twice yearly. With sandy soil, once a year aerating is recommended.
Should I add sand after aeration? No. If you have clay, sand and clay can turn your soil into a concrete substance. I suggest adding an organic material such as a native soil or fine compost.
FREQUENTLY ASKED LAWN THATCHING QUESTIONS
What is thatching? Thatching is the removal of old, tired, grass and moss. The process I use is called “Power Raking.”
What causes thatch? Soils with a PH less than 5.5, heavily compacted soil with high clay content, over-watering and over-fertilizing of lawns with poor soil conditions, and frequent shallow watering.
What does thatching cost? Thatching cost is by estimate, considering condition of the yard at the time thatching is performed, degree of difficulty, size and whether or not multiple passes are required.
How do I know if my lawn needs thatching? Your lawn will be very spongy, your lawn mower wheels will sink into the grass and the blade scalps the grass.
Can you take all the thatch and moss out of my lawn at once? If you have not thatched your lawn for many years, it’s best to not remove it all at once. Thatching can put your lawn under heavy stress.
When is the best time of year to thatch my lawn? Spring and fall, when the lawn is dry, actively growing and can repair itself quickly. It is best to thatch lighter in spring and heavier in fall when the lawn can rejuvenate itself most easily.
When should a lawn be heavily thatched? When water has problems getting through the thatch layer and your lawn has become too spongy and is rooting within itself. I have found fall to be the best time of year because fall temperatures are stable and seed germination happens very quickly.
How do you prevent thatch? Aerate seed and fertilize twice a year. Aeration helps to stimulate microbes that digest thatch the newer grass seed produces less thatch when mature.
Use low nitrogen fertilizers with slow release technology. Apply an organic fertilizer twice a year for healthy soil; healthy soil will digest excess thatch. Rather than watering lightly often, deep and infrequent watering will encourage strong root growth while discouraging thatch development.