Aerating

Core Aeration, or Aerating, is needed to loosen top soil that is naturally compacted over time through regular use of your yard.  Because traffic from people, dogs, and, yes, our lawn mowers, tent to compact the top soil of your lawn it must be aerated. This compaction makes it difficult to have a thick healthy lawn and leads to deterioration of your existing lawn.  Most of the compaction is on the top 1 1/2″-2″ of the soil. Through Aeration you can loosen the top 2″-3″ of soil allowing air, water and nutrient exchange.

Introducing air space to the soil not only encourages root growth but is a great time to introduce grass seed, fertilizer and lime. Once cores are removed from the ground the remaining holes allow seed and soil amendments to get deep into the root system.  Adding seed at this time is always recommended and, depending on the season, either a nitrogen rich fertilizer or slow-release winter fertilizer and lime.  This is a relatively inexpensive and low impact way to rejuvenate your existing lawn and add new seed for a thicker lawn.

We recommend core aerating your lawn at least every other year.  If you have a high traffic area or a particularly dry lawn annual aeration may be necessary.  Once seed is applied, watering is always recommended, and our technicians can provide watering recommendations.