When talking about basic lawn maintenance we all know we need to keep up on things like mowing, weeding, raking leaves, watering. You know, all the basics.

But have you ever been advised that you should Aerate your lawn? Do you even know what it means to aerate your lawn?

If not, don’t worry. We have found that most people don’t know what aeration is. This type of lawn maintenance is not as commonly known or executed when compared to watering and mowing. Aeration, however, could be a really important missing component to the health of your lawn.

What is Lawn Aeration?

Aeration of your lawn is a technique used to provide air to the roots of your grass in order to grow a fuller and thicker lawn. We all know any plant needs water, air, and sunlight. This process is simply enhancing the air flow that your lawn receives in the growth process.

Your lawn is subject to compaction over time, which simply means the soil is getting compressed and becomes more dense, allowing less space for oxygen and nutrients to reach the roots of your grass. Compaction can happen from small vehicles, daily wear and tear and even kids’ toys driving on your lawn.

The process of aeration digs small holes into your lawn to relieve compaction and help oxygenate your lawn.

When to Aerate Your Lawn

You may be thinking you don’t have time for another ongoing maintenance project. The good news is, aeration doesn’t need to happen as frequently as you mow your lawn. Aeration really only needs to happen one time a year. The fall is an excellent time to choose to aerate your lawn as you prepare your landscaping for fall.

How to Aerate Your Lawn

There are a few different types of lawn aerators that you could buy or rent based on your needs or the size of your yard.

• Spike aerators simply poke a hole down into the soil with a solid, spike-like tine. Some homeowners wear spiked aerator “sandals” strapped to their shoes to aerate as they do yard work
• Slicing aerators have rotating blades that cut or slice through grass and thatch and down into soil. Like spike aerators, slicing aerators leave soil in the ground, but they create pathways for air, water and nutrients without causing more compaction.
• Core or plug aerators, typically preferred by lawn professionals, use rows of hollow tines that remove plugs of soil from your lawn and deposit them on top, where they break down. The size of the plugs and the holes they create vary in width and depth, depending on the machine used.

The nice thing about lawn aeration is it is something you can choose to do on your own or hire a professional to do it one time a year. For any questions you may have about lawn aeration or landscaping around Dayton, Ohio Nature’s own is available to point you in the right direction for the healthiest and fullest lawn in the neighborhood.