Just about everyone is familiar with the usual laundry list of yard chores: water, mow, fertilize, weed control. However, what many don’t realize is that lawn aeration service is an essential ingredient in the recipe for a healthy, lush yard.
In fact, a lot of people are just completely unfamiliar with aeration in general. You’ve got questions and we’ve got the answers. Follow along as we discuss some of the most common lawn aeration questions.
What is Lawn Aeration?
Core lawn aeration is a lawn care service in which specialized equipment is used to mechanically remove small soil cores from all throughout your lawn. The machine then deposits those cores on the surface to break down over time.
Is Aeration Necessary? What Are The Benefits?
Yes, aeration should absolutely be considered part of a regular lawn care routine. Aeration is one of the best means of creating a lush, healthy-looking lawn. The benefits of lawn aeration are substantial! Aeration repairs compact soil, breaks up thatch, and improves flow and circulation of water, air, and nutrients through the soil.
Aeration even improves the water absorption in your soil and reduces puddling issues. Aeration is the best way to alleviate built up pressure in your turf and helps prepare your lawn for tough seasons.
Which Aeration Method is Best?
Core aeration is the tried and true best aeration technique for returning gorgeous results in your yard. During core aeration, an aerator machine removes cores from your turf and deposits them on the surface.
This method has been proven to successfully relieve compact soil, break up thatch, and improve circulation in the soil.
Liquid aeration and spike aeration are the two main other options. Spike aeration is a simple process of using spiked tools to poke into turf, and liquid aeration involves treating a yard with a liquid aeration product. These two methods are common and widely available options.
However, you should be aware that liquid aeration hasn’t been scientifically proven to be successful, and spike aeration can actually make soil compaction worse in some yards.
When and How Often Should Lawns Be Aerated?
Ideally lawns should be aerated biannually, once in the spring and then again in the fall. Aeration is meant to alleviate the pressure placed on your yard from harsh weather and heavy activity. You should never aerate during the peaks of summer or winter as it will be more difficult for your lawn to recover.
Can a Homeowner Aerate Their Own Lawn?
Yes, a homeowner can aerate their own lawn. However, once you learn how much is involved with aerating your own lawn, you may not want to. Aeration requires three things that the average homeowner doesn’t usually possess an abundance of: time, skill, and readiness for hard work.
Typically just understanding the preparation required is enough to scare off the average person. That’s because for this lawn chore you’ll need to rent or purchase an aerator machine. Doesn’t sound too challenging? Think again! These machines weigh in excess of 300 pounds. If you think it’d be hard putting that kind of machine in your car, just imagine pushing it all over your yard.
How Can a Lawn Be Prepared For Aeration?
Doing a little bit of prep work can help get you more bang for your buck when it comes to this lawn service. Moist soil can help an aerator machine penetrate the ground more easily. So whether it rains or you turn on the sprinklers, try to water the lawn the day before aeration.
It’ll also be helpful if you rake up any leaves and branches. You can mow the lawn slightly lower than normal a couple days before aeration as well.
What Does a Lawn Need After Aeration?
It is usually recommended that you water your yard after aerating. The newly opened holes in the yard will briefly give water direct access to the roots, and water can help to break down the soil cores left on the lawn’s surface.
The newly opened aeration holes will also give fertilizer direct access to the roots, so it’s a great time to fertilize.
If your lawn needs a touch up, overseeding while aeration holes are open often leads to better germination. Always check with your aeration service provider for their recommendations for your particular yard.
Can Aeration Damage Sprinkler Systems and Underground Lines?
You won’t need to worry about underground utility lines as they’re buried deeper than aeration penetrates. However, there are several underground items that can be damaged by aeration. Consider marking the location of any of these underground items before aerating:
- Sprinkler systems and heads
- Underground cable and phone lines
- Invisible dog fences
- In-ground lighting wires
How much does aeration cost?
The main factors affecting the cost of aerating your yard are the size of your lawn, the type of aeration used, and where you’re located. Obviously every yard is unique, so your best source for learning the cost of an aeration service is to get a quote directly from a lawn care company. However for reference, the national averages range from $80-$250.
Expert Aeration with Gecko Green
In Texas, excessively hot and dry weather greatly impact the health of your lawn. However, with Gecko Green’s help you can alleviate your grass from stress and prepare it for thicker, healthier growth with our lawn aeration service!
Our professional teams are seasoned in the aeration process and know how to produce the best results for your lawn. With Gecko Green’s aeration service, you can rest assured that your regular, year-round maintenance plan is working with maximum effectiveness!
