Lawn Aeration Attleboro, MA

This is the third installment of the lawn care tips and techniques.

What is aerating?
There are two types of lawn aeration 'spike aeration' and 'core aeration'. Spike aeration is a way to poke holes in the lawn. They are very small holes and almost worthless. Core aeration on the other hand removes half inch diameter by 2 to 3 inch long cores or plugs out of the soil.

What is the benefit? 
Aerating a lawn can have many benefits if done properly. First it must be core aerated or anything that actually creates small holes, removes the soil and spreads it on the lawn, to have any real benefit. It reduces the compaction of the soil which is a better condition for denser, healthier root system. Another reason it allows for air, water and nutrients to get down to the roots of the lawn. Generally this is done just before over seeding the lawn.

How to properly aerate a lawn.
To properly aerate a lawn there are a few considerations. Season, weather, and what to do after. First, this is something that is best in the fall when the grass is focusing on the root growth, but early spring is okay but not ideal. Next is the weather. The soil must be moist, if it is too wet you will rip up the lawn, if it is too dry equipment may not be able to get deep enough cores. It is generally best to follow aeration with top dressing, fertilizer, or grass seed, depending on your purpose.

How we aerate at T. J. Landscaping 
We generally aerate in the fall just before over seeding, also depending on what the clients want to do we recommend top dressing the lawn and/or fertilizing. We leave the plugs on the lawn which make it look like Tootsie Rolls and next time we mow they are spread over the lawn adding to the nutrients as well. 


Timothy Kaiser,
Service Manager