Aerating a lawn is certainly worth the time and effort, as it helps keep your lawn healthy.
What Is Lawn Aeration?
Aerification helps compacted soil recover through moisture and air penetration.
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Plus, it helps create a deeper, healthier root system and stimulates microbes to decompose thatch.
Pest issues can also occur.
To mitigate these potential problems, remove as much thatch as possible through deep raking in the fall.
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However, not all thatch is bad.
A thin layer of thatch in lawns provides insulation against extreme temperatures and fluctuations in soil moisture.
Grassy areas submitted to constant foot traffic require lawn aeration more frequently than out-of-the-way areas.
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However, certaintypes of grassmay have different peak growing periods that will impact when you should aerate.
However, annual aerating may be necessary for high-traffic areas or if your lawn grows in heavy clay soil.
Benefits of Lawn Aeration
Lawn aeration helps keep your lawn healthy and thriving.
It also lessens maintenance.
Here are just a few of the most common methods of aeration.
This instantly reduces compaction in the soil.
Open holes allow air, fertilizers, and water to reach the roots.
Spike aeration is better for sandy or loamy soils.
Liquid Aerator
Liquid aeration involves spraying an enzymatic solution on your lawn that breaks down the thatch.
This process may need many applications and can take months or years before overcoming the thatch problem.
Good lawn health keeps your grass green and helps it tolerate stress during times of high heat or drought.
The most efficient way to aerate a lawn is using the coring.
This uses a motorized functionality helping get the job done in a couple of hours.
No, you should not pick up plugs after aerating.
Plugs will break down on their own within one to two weeks.
The biggest con of lawn aeration is the labor.
It can be a lot of work for an average homeowner because the machinery can be difficult to operate.
It can also be a time-intensive process.
How Much Does It Cost To Aerate A Lawn?, HomeAdvisor
Lawn Care, University of Minnesota Extension