Core Aeration
Core aeration should be performed at least once yearly for all lawns, in the spring and/or fall. Aerating improves your lawn’s health and beauty, optimizes root development, and reduces thatch and associated problems. It also deepens your lawn’s root system for greater resistance to disease, insects, drought, and heat stress. Fertilizing and over-seeding are often performed in conjunction with core aeration, allowing the fertilizer and seeds to penetrate deep into the soil.
- Aeration prevents soil compaction
- Allows air, water, and fertilizer access to the roots
- Reduces runoff & improves drainage
- Promotes healthy, thick, green grass
Things to do BEFORE aerating and thatching:
- Make sure the soil is moist (for 3” penetration)
- Mark sprinklers with a rock/stick/flag so they can be seen
- Clean up debris on lawn (dog doo, kid’s toys, etc.)
- Unlock gates to back yard
- For best thatching results, put down moss killer one day prior
Things to do AFTER aerating and thatching:
- Water the yard
- Spread fertilizer
- Over-seed
- It is best to aerate after thatching
- After thatching, rake and remove the thatch & moss
*As a side note, if you are having an aeration and thatching service and are not having us do the raking and bagging, you will not see many aeration core plugs as the thatcher will break them apart, but it will still leave the aeration holes.