Lawn Aeration

Lawn aeration is the process of perforating the soil with small holes to alleviate soil compaction. This in turn encourages air, water, and other vital nutrients into the root system to establish a healthier, thicker lawn. Compacted lawns are caused by a number of reasons including excessive thatch, heavy debris under the grass surface, clay-rich soils, poorly-drained soils, or lawns with heavy traffic from people and pets.

Lawns consisting of cool season grasses are best aerated in the fall. There are two types of aerators: a plug (core) aerator and a spike aerator. Spike aerators simply poke holes in the lawn, and are less effective than plug aerators as they can cause additional compaction. Plug aerators on the other hand remove a core of soil with each hole, allowing air and nutrients to penetrate the root system. These cores are left on the lawn to decompose naturally (usually about two to four weeks). Pro-Turf uses a plug aerator for maximum efficiency!

Before you aerate, it is recommended you water the lawn thoroughly a day or two before. Moist soil will improve the efficacy of the aerator and pull out cores more easily. Make sure you flag sprinkler heads and other objects which could be impacted by an aerator. Post-aeration is also a wonderful time to overseed! Overseeding is a great way to fill in bare spots, improve the density of your turf, and help establish your lawn’s cultivars and color—all without having to tear up your existing lawn. Pro-Turf does not offer overseeding services however, we do have a detailed document to help you through the overseeding process yourself.

Pro-Turf Landscaping aerates from September through October. A typical aeration service costs between $150 and $250. Contact the office for quotes and scheduling!