The Ultimate Guide to Lawn Aeration
Whether your lawn has some unfortunate bare patches, has experienced some heavy rainfall or simply needs some care and attention, aeration is a great way to help your lawn recover and begin looking as good as new again!
At Jim’s Mowing, we’re highly knowledgeable on all things lawn maintenance! We’ve created this handy guide to lawn aeration so you can understand what it is, why your lawn needs it and how to do it.
What is lawn aeration?
Lawn aeration is a technique which perforates the soil. By creating these small holes in your lawn, air, water and vital nutrients are able to easily reach the roots of your lawn. You can perform lawn aeration with a garden fork, however if you are looking to cover a large area its best to use specialised tools.
Why should you aerate your lawn?
Lawn aeration is incredibly beneficial for your lawn. As mentioned above, lawn aeration enables the roots of your lawn to have easy access to air, water and other nutrients which are essential for growth and longevity.
Aeration helps to prevent soil compaction. As many lawns experience significant use, their soil can become compacted and dense. A compacted lawn will struggle to maintain nutrients which lead to stunted growth and can even result in the death of your lawn.
You can use all the fertiliser in the world to add nutrients and boost growth, but if it can’t reach the roots of your lawn it won’t make a lot of difference. Aerating your lawn will ensure that the roots can absorb the nutrients completely.
If your lawn has issues with drainage, then lawn aeration is ideal! By improving air circulation and more ways for the water to escape, your lawn will be able to dry out quicker and start on the road to recovery.
How often should you aerate your lawn?
How often you should aerate your lawn will depend upon your soil type and the intensity of foot traffic it receives. Usually, we recommend aerating your lawn at least once a year. However, if your lawn receives heavy use and in a harsh climate then it’s best to aerate more frequently. It’s also best to aerate your lawn following heavy rainfall to help drain the water and prevent any long term damage.
How to aerate your lawn
There are multiple different types of tools you can use to aerate your lawn. From manual to electronic, you can choose from aerating sandals to spike rollers to cordless electric aerators. As long as your aerating tool can penetrate the soil easily, it should be fine to use.
Before you aerate your lawn, it’s a good idea to mow it (unless it’s wet). Keep the grass a reasonable height (at least 30mm) and ensure to remove any grass clippings. Next, start using your aeration tool and creating small holes in your lawn. Work your way around the lawn in a line and cover the entire lawn space.
After you’ve successfully aerated your lawn, you can apply lawn top dressing evenly and give it a quick water.
Don’t have the time or desire to aerate your lawn yourself? You can enlist the lawn experts to handle your lawn aeration through our lawn care services. Find more information about our lawn maintenance services and how we can help you with all your lawn needs here.
