As we go closer to the cooler season, just when you thought it was almost time to stop working on your landscaping because the weather is becoming cooler, along come the professionals.
They argue that the time between the end of summer and the beginning of fall is the finest time of year to perform the final chore of lawn maintenance, which is aeration.
There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, and lawn-care professionals do not always agree on the optimal time to aerate grass.
Aerating your lawn is highly recommended right now if it is made up of grass that thrives during the cool season. They argue that late spring is the optimal time to aerate cool-season grass, whereas warm-season grass should be aerated in early summer.
What is aeration?
Many homeowners don’t understand that there is a difference between dethatching a lawn and aerating it.
While both are critical to the health of the turf, they are two different processes, requiring different tools.
“… aeration results in the breakdown of compacted soil whereas dethatching removes layers of thatch, or dead grass and other debris, from the top of the soil,” according to the pros at sodsolutions.com.
In a nutshell, aeration involves punching holes in the turf to allow air, nutrients, and water to penetrate the soil.
What happens if you don’t aerate your lawn?
Think back to any spring and summer rains you experienced. Was the lawn covered in puddles of rainwater?
That’s because the soil under the grass is compacted and the water has nowhere to go.
Sure, you can leave the standing water; it will drain eventually, right?
In the meantime, however, it may provide a breeding spot for mosquitos. Standing water also prevents grass from growing “… properly, … leaving the area vulnerable to moss growth,” according to landscaping expert David Beaulieu, at thespruce.com.
“Excess water can even lead to problems with your home’s foundation,” he concludes.
The benefits of lawn aeration
We lightly touched on a few of the benefits of lawn aeration, but here’s the “official” list from the experts at trugreen.com:
- Aeration lets the soil “breathe.”
- Aeration encourages “… thatch-decomposing microorganisms …” to move from the soil to the top layer.
- The process allows more air, nutrients, and moisture into the soil, providing the lawn with greater access to these important elements.
- Aeration helps develop new, healthy roots after a tough, hot summer, making it “…ready for a green spring.”
How to Aerate Your Lawn
While many homeowners hire a landscaping company to aerate the lawn, it is an easy DIY project.
You’ll need an aerator, of course, and they’re available to rent at big home improvement stores such as Lowe’s and Home Depot. Ensure that you understand exactly how to use the tool and all the safety information the store can supply.
- Check to ensure that sprinkler heads or other lines won’t be run over or otherwise damaged during the process. Mark areas of concern so that you can keep away from them while aerating.
- Mow the lawn and apply an inch of water the day before you’ll be aerating.
- Go over the lawn again, removing any debris, such as twigs and large leaves.
- One pass is all you’ll need if the soil is lightly compacted. Heavily compacted soil may need an additional pass.
- Allow the soil plugs to remain on the lawn (they’ll add nutrients to the lawn as they decompose).
- Water the lawn again when you’ve finished aerating it and then water again every three days for two weeks.
