Does Your Lawn Really Need to Be Aerated Every Year?

Does Your Lawn Really Need to Be Aerated Every Year?

Core aeration is a crucial lawn care service that should be performed annually. It involves passing over your lawn with an aerator machine, which pulls up tiny plugs of soil. This process loosens compaction, making it easier for nutrients and other resources to reach the roots of your grass. If you skip aeration, your soil can become or stay compacted, causing your grass to struggle to grow and become susceptible to diseases and insect infestations. Here in Illinois, core aeration should be performed in the spring or fall because your lawn is strong enough during these seasons to endure the process and recover quickly.

What is core aeration?

Core aeration is a lawn care service that involves pulling up small cores of soil from your lawn using an aerator machine. This process is designed to alleviate soil compaction, which can occur due to various factors, such as foot traffic, heavy machinery, or natural settling. When the soil is compacted, it becomes dense and hard, making it difficult for essential nutrients, water, and air to penetrate and reach the roots of your grass. By aerating your lawn, you create small holes in the soil, allowing these vital resources to penetrate deeper and reach the root zone.

What happens if you skip aeration?

If you skip aeration, your soil can become or stay compacted, which can have detrimental effects on the health and vitality of your lawn. Compacted soil restricts the movement of nutrients, water, and oxygen, preventing them from reaching the roots of your grass. As a result, your lawn may struggle to absorb the essential resources it needs for healthy growth. Without proper access to nutrients and resources, your grass can become weak, thin, and susceptible to diseases and insect infestations.

Compacted soil also inhibits root growth and development. When the roots of your grass are unable to penetrate the compacted soil, they become shallow and weak. This makes your lawn more vulnerable to stressors, such as drought, heat, and foot traffic. Additionally, compacted soil can lead to poor drainage, causing water to pool on the surface and increasing the risk of fungal diseases.

When should core aeration be performed?

The best time to perform core aeration is during the spring or fall. These seasons provide optimal conditions for aeration because the weather is cooler, and the grass is actively growing. Aerating in the spring helps prepare your lawn for the upcoming growing season by alleviating compaction and allowing nutrients to reach the roots. It also helps your lawn recover from any winter damage and promotes healthy growth.

Aerating in the fall is beneficial because it allows your lawn to recover from the summer stress and prepare for the winter months. By aerating in the fall, you give your grass ample time to establish strong roots before the onset of winter. This helps your lawn withstand the harsh seasonal conditions and promotes early spring growth.

Call us today to sign up for our core aeration service.

At Creekside Landscapes, we understand the importance of core aeration in maintaining a healthy and vibrant lawn. That's why we offer our core aeration service to residential and commercial property owners, as well as HOAs, in Edwardsville, IL, and throughout the surrounding areas, including Glen Carbon and Bethalto. Our team of experts will carefully aerate your lawn using specialized equipment to ensure optimal results. We recommend scheduling our core aeration service annually in the spring or fall to keep your lawn in top shape. Give us a call today at (618) 374-0010 to sign up for our core aeration service and give your lawn the care it deserves!