Aerating Your Lawn

The most effective type of aerating is with a gas powered machine called a core aerator that pulls out small cores of grass and soil.

Aerating your lawn.

Although spring is a fine time to aerate the best time to aerate lawn is actually in the fall. When to aerate the lawn the best time to use aerating lawn tools depends on the type of grass you have. Aerate the lawn whether you re using a core aerator or a steel spike aerator you should cover the lawn completely in one direction and go back over it in a perpendicular motion. Spike aerators punch holes in your lawn as you go while core aerators work to remove grass and soil plugs.

Lawn aeration performed in spring or fall helps control lawn thatch. The main reason for aerating is to alleviate soil compaction. Aeration is good for lawns but it can stress grass if timed improperly. Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots.

Cool season grasses such as fescue bluegrass or ryegrass should be aerated in early spring or early fall. Warm season turf including bermuda grass zoysia or st. You can either aerate your lawn yourself or call a lawn service. Lawn aeration coring and aerifying are different terms you might hear for the same procedure.

Aerating is also a good idea if your lawn is your grass is subject to heavy foot or vehicle traffic. When it comes to the best time to aerate lawn most people think it s spring. Never aerate dormant lawns. Other aerators use short spikes to punch holes in the turf.

This helps the roots grow deeply and produce a stronger more vigorous lawn. When to aerate your lawn as with most larger lawn projects such as planting grass seed it s best to aerate during or right before the time your grasses reach their peak time for natural growth. But over time the soil in your lawn may become compacted preventing water and nutrients from reaching the grass roots. Augustine does best with aeration in the late spring.

Spiking is not nearly as effective as core aerating but it s better than nothing. A core aerator removes plugs of soil from your lawn which helps loosen compacted soil and allows vital air water and nutrients to reach the roots. Proper watering and fertilizing can keep lawns healthy and beautiful and grow grass fast. The best time to aerate is during the growing season.

Most homeowners should aerate their lawns at least every other year while golf courses or other places that get heavy use are typically aerated at least twice a year. The process of lawn aeration sometimes misspelled as airation can be as simple as poking holes in the soil here and there so called spiking but this would work only for superficial cases.