If you think back to this spring and the lessons I shared about soil, you may remember me talking about soil compaction and how aeration can alleviate this common problem (see this post about problems in urban soils for a review). Well 'tis the season for lawn aeration, so I'm taking us even further back into the blog archives for an updated review of a brief but informative explanation of what aeration is and why you want it.
Lawn aeration is the secret weapon in making your lawn healthy. Aeration involves making holes in the lawn either by pushing a rod into it or by "coring", extracting a plug of soil. By aerating your lawn you provide the following benefits to your lawn and its root system:
Oxygen gets to the roots and the soil allowing it to "breathe"
Organic fertilizers and nutrients get access to the root system
Water is able to better soak the soil and reach the root system
Helps to break up thatch - the layer of built up tissue some grasses produce along the ground
Tight, compacted soil is loosened up allowing the root system to grow
Lawn aeration is one of the many lawn services we offer. We use a coring aerator instead of one that pokes holes with rods, which is better for plant roots. The rods just push the soil to the side, which can actually make compaction worse in the area immediately surrounding the hole so that your lawn won't receive all the benefits listed above. Early fall is a great time to have this done because it stimulates root growth for healthy overwintering. It will bring life to your lawn and allow for a healthy root system and a beautiful yard!
