lawn aeration

 Are you tired of spending time and money on your lawn with no results? You've done the basics of watering, mowing, fertilizing and still it's not enough! For a greener, thicker, healthier lawn you need to do what the Pros do! You need to aerate! Aeration, or core cultivation, is standard lawn care. Aerating a lawn means supplying the soil with air, usually by poking holes in the ground throughout the lawn using an aerator. It reduces soil compaction and helps control thatch in lawns while helping water and fertilizer move into the root zone. 

Q: How do I know if my yard needs to be aerated?

A: To be honest any yard can benefit from at least an annual aeration. Any areas of high traffic that look worn, yards that don’t green up after fertilizing or brown easily in high heat conditions, yards with poor drainage that have standing water after it rains, and homes built on poor subsoil with clay are all excellent reasons to aerate your yard.

Q: When should I aerate and how often?

A: We recommend aerating twice a year in both Spring ( Mar – May ) and Fall ( Aug- Nov ) for most grass types. At a minimum aeration should be done at least once a year.

Q: What do I do after I aerate?

A: There are a few things you can do right after aerating like fertilizing, overseeding, and watering. What you decide depends on your personal preference and the condition of your yard. ( Reference the next three Q & A’s )

Q: What will I achieve by watering my lawn after aeration?

A: Just watering your lawn after aeration can be very beneficial at helping to break down the cores created by the aeration itself. It also allows water direct access to those newly exposed roots. If you are planning on fertilizing with your watering make sure to read all of the instructions on the fertilizer about when or if it should be watered in.

Q: Should I fertilize after aeration?

A: Yes, now is the best time to fertilize while the holes created by the aeration are still open, allowing access to the root system and before the cores start to break down. Always make sure to use the correct fertilizer treatment for the appropriate season. Also remember not to use a fertilizer with any sort of weed control or crabgrass preventer if you also plan on overseeding. If you ARE NOT overseeding a fertilizer with weed control will be fine to use.

Q: Is it a good idea to overseed after aerating?

A: If your lawn looks thin in places it never hurts to overseed after aeration. Keep in mind if you are going to overseed, plan on having your yard aerated early in the season, so as to give the seed the maximum amount of time to germinate. You should also try to overseed the same day or within a day or so after your aeration while the holes are still open and before the cores start to break down. Just another reminder if you’re fertilizing along with overseeding, DO NOT use a fertilizer with weed control. If you do, your seed will not germinate properly. If you want to fertilize in conjunction with overseeding ( which is a good idea ), just use a starter fertilizer or one without any type of weed control.

Q: How do I know weather or not to aerate or dethatch?

A: Unless you have a thatch layer that is greater than two inches, you would probably benefit more from just aerating because aeration can do two steps in one. It will break up moderate thatch buildup while also reducing soil compaction at the same time.

Q: Can aeration alone fix a yard in distress?

A: The easy answer would be that aeration will always help a yard, but may not be the end all be all. Any good lawn care program should include fertilizing, overseeding, and watering in conjunction with aeration. It should be noted that a distressed yard could be caused by other sources as well, for example various types of bugs and insects.

Q: Can I aerate myself and how much will it cost?

A: Absolutely you can. Most rental chains will charge between $55 - $80 dollars to rent a machine for 4 hours usually. You will also have to find a way to pick up and return the machine, not to mention it can be labor intensive. The other option would be to hire Eco -Lawn System, LLC for probably the same price and we do everything for you.

Q: How deep do the aerators penetrate and what is the spacing between cores?

A: Our machines have the potential to penetrate up to 3” deep. It can be a little more or less than this depending on your type of soil and how compacted it is. The cores will be spaced approximately every 2”– 6”.

Q: Can I aerate newly laid sod and/or seeded grass?

A: For newly laid sod you should NOT aerate until somewhere between 8–12 months after it has been laid ( it depends on the month or time of year the sod was laid ). For a seeded lawn, aeration should not be done until the seedlings reach maturity.   Note* If you have any buried items that we should be aware of (electric fencing, underground dog fence, sprinkler system, landscape lighting, shallow cables etc.) we expect them to be marked before our arrival (marked with paint, flags, or a suitable item). We will not take responsibility for damages to any obstruction not clearly marked. 

 Please call us at: 301-631-5296 or take a moment to fill out our 'Request an Estimate' Form