Aerating your lawn is the process of removing cores of soil to reduce soil compaction and allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the root system of your lawn. Your lawns root system will be able to grow deeper and thicker as a direct result of core aeration. The easiest way to aerate is to call your local lawn service to help. We have the right equipment and expertise to do the job right.
Core Aeration VS Spike Aeration
The best way to aerate your lawn is core aeration. Spike aeration does not remove the soil plugs to alleviate compaction. Poking holes in the ground with a spike aerator is less effective and can actually cause more soil compaction. You can rent rent a core aerator for around $75 and work all day on Saturday. The cost of renting is nearly the cost of what we charge the average home in Cumming, Ga for this service.
Aerating Tips
If you are renting, keep in mind that rental availability will be very limited during Spring and Fall, the two busiest times of year for aerating.
Water your lawn before aerating. You don't want the ground to be wet when you aerate, but you want the ground to be soft enough to pull good cores. Dry ground is often too hard to pull good soil plugs.
Make sure to mark your sprinkler heads, valve boxes, invisible dog fence, low voltage lighting wire, and utilities if you feel that they are shallow enough to be damaged. Call 811 in Georgia to have your utilities marked a week before you plan to aerate.
Make one pass over lawn. Make sure that you don't miss any areas! Make a second pass, perpendicular to the first if your lawn is very compact.
After aerating, blow any cores on street, side walk, and driveway back into the lawn. The cores can be left to breakdown on the lawn. Mowing will help to break the cores up quickly.
If you're aerating in the fall and your lawn is fescue, it's a great time to overseed and fertilize your lawn. Core aerate first and then spread seed and fertilizer. The holes in the ground will make for a great place for your seeds to germinate.
For more tips and tricks on aerating your lawn or to hire us to do your aerating for you, contact McBrayer Landscapes at 404-465-1316.
