Home Removal Services Blog

When a lawn appears unhealthy although it has been sufficiently watered and properly fertilized and problems such as worms, insects, and diseases have been eliminated as possible causes, individuals may want to consider aerating their lawn. Aerating becomes necessary when the soil becomes compacted. When the top four inches or so of topsoil becomes packed down and hardened, the soil cannot adequately absorb water and nutrients.

If grass is beginning to wilt and die, the lawn might be literally starving. Aeration will allow vital nutrients and water to sink deep into the roots and increases levels of oxygen throughout the soil. Increasing oxygen levels can encourage root growth and allows the lawn to weather periods of little water. Lawns that are aerated are generally healthier and more lush than lawns that don’t receive proper aeration.

Timing is important in deciding when to aerate, and the frequency of aeration depends on several factors, including the type of soil and the variety of grass. Soil with lots of clay should be aerated in the spring and fall, and soil with more sand should be aerated in either the spring or fall. Warm-season grasses should be aerated in late spring or early summer, while cool-seasons grasses, which can be found throughout Colorado, should be aerated in the early spring and the late fall.

It is recommended that aerating be undertaken on a day with mild temperatures when the soil is a bit moist. Watering the lawn the day before aerating is suggested. The ground should be moist but not saturated. Aerating in high heat and drought is not advised. Additionally, weed problems should be under control prior to aerating, and newly laid sod should not be aerated until its roots have been well established.

To properly maintain a lawns health, aerating is essential. However, it usually is not practical for individuals to purchase an aerator because of the cost and because it is an item that will be rarely used. The solution may be hiring a lawn care company to provide aerating services. Trained professionals can assist individuals in evaluating their lawns to determine the type of care their lawn needs. Hiring a lawn care service for aerating needs may be the first step to a healthy and aesthetically pleasing lawn.