What is aeration? Does my lawn need it?

Aeration literally means “to supply with air." Essentially, aeration means putting holes in your turf to loosen it up. Aeration holes improve the flow of air, water and fertilizers to your grass roots, stimulating root development for a healthier lawn. Additionally, aeration fights thatch and soil compaction. Over time, built-up thatch and tightly packed soil can choke off nutrients from the grass and accumulated thatch can lead to lawn disease, insect infestation and ultimately drought. Soil compaction, due to traffic, rain and erosion, can do the same.

How often you aerate depends on the health of the lawn and how heavily it is used, but most lawns benefit from annual aeration. One strategy to jumpstart a healthy lawn in the spring is to aerate and overseed the yard. Click here to learn more about machines used for lawn aeration.