Ask the Experts

Lawn Aeration: When’s the Best Time?

August 25, 2020

Curious as to when is the best time to aerate your lawn? 

Regular lawn maintenance tasks can do wonders in giving you a lush, healthy lawn. However, jobs like lawn aeration, which is normally reserved for once a year, can play a big role in supporting the other lawn maintenance tasks throughout the year. All lawns can benefit from aeration, providing that it is done properly and timed well.

Why you should aerate your lawn

Grass roots need water, air, and essential nutrients for it to grow deep, thick, and strong. Aeration is done to create openings in your soil so that it can allow essential air and water down the soil, helping it reach the grassroots. It is the antidote to heavily compacted soil! 

Did you know that compacted soil that is just about half an inch thick can make a huge difference to the beauty and health of your lawn? The practice of lawn aeration will alleviate soil compaction so that the nutrients, air and water can reach the grass roots. 

Lawn grasses struggle in stressful conditions like low rainfall and heat. They eventually thin and die out for lack of water, oxygen, and nutrients. A single aeration session done every year can help open up your lawn to receive these essentials. 

When is the best time to aerate your lawn?

Lawn aeration can be done at any time of the year, but the best time is usually during periods of high growth – in the spring or fall.  If you notice that your soil is very compacted during the spring season – making it hard for the grass to grow – then you should aerate during spring. However, it is important to note that aerating during spring would cause you to potentially kick up weed seeds, and the holes will give a perfect spot for them to germinate. 

If you have very thin turf, if the ground is so compacted that it affects grass growth, or if the thatch layer has built up more than half an inch, spring aeration may be necessary and beneficial. 

During the fall, the weed pressure is minimal, the temperatures have already cooled off, and the grass is actively growing – a perfect time to aerate. 

Before aerating the lawn, the amount of moisture in the soil should be considered. Very dry soil can be difficult to aerate. Lawn aeration is ideally done when the soil is moist from rainfall or irrigation the day before. However, do not aerate a lawn that is overly wet. It’s best to wait for a day or two. 

Make way for a healthy, beautiful lawn with this quick guide on the best time to aerate your lawn. If you think that your lawn is a candidate for aeration, contact your local Dallas landscaping services company.

Your lawn will surely thank you for it!

Sources:

“Should You Aerate Your Lawn?” North Dakota State University, https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/yardandgardenreport/documents/should-you-aerate-your-lawn