Spring is in the air, and it may have you itching to put some fertilizer on your lawn to encourage healthy, green growth all summer long. Yet before you start dumping more food on your lawn, you need to be sure that nutrients can get where it is needed – to the root of the grass. Spring lawn aeration is an important part of your spring lawn care, giving your lawn the best chance to grow well.
What Is Lawn Aeration?
As your lawn goes through its normal growing cycle, the soil near the surface of the lawn can become bogged down with thick roots and grass cover. This prevents water and nutrients from getting to the roots. Lawn aeration pokes small holes into the lawn to allow water, air, and nutrients below the surface. This increases the growth and health of your lawn and prevents problems common with compacted soils.
What’s the difference between spike and core aeration?
Spike aeration uses sharp metal spikes to pierce the topsoil. Core aeration uses small cylinders to pull plugs of soil out of the ground. Think of them acting like a cookie cutter cutting perfect round shapes out of the soil.
Core aeration or spike aeration, which is better?
Although both types of aeration can be beneficial, it is our recommendation to use core aeration. This is because core aeration completely removes old topsoil so that nutrients can get in and grass roots can grow and fill in the gaps.
Why Should You Aerate in the Spring?
Aeration can be done in the fall and the spring. Is spring aeration helpful? Yes. The best time to aerate most types of lawns is in their growing season because this allows the lawn to heal and fill in the areas left behind after the soil plugs are removed. If your lawn grows in the spring, then this is the best time to aerate.
For most types of grass, warm season grass will grow in late spring. Cool season grass grows in the early spring or fall. This means you can aerate the lawn in the spring no matter the type of grass you have. Time the aeration to the growing cycle for the best results.
When Should You Aerate Your Lawn in Spring?
The best time to aerate your lawn in the spring depends on the type of lawn you have. If you have a cool season grass, choose a time in the early spring, after the danger of frost has passed and the ground has fully thawed. Cut the grass fairly short, then have it aerated. You will notice fast, healthy growth afterward.
If you have warm season grass, wait until later in the spring when warm temperatures are stabilized. Remember, the goal is to aerate with the growing season. Again, trim the grass before aerating to see fast growth.
Should you also aerate in the fall? If you have cool season grass, fall aeration can also be helpful. However, there is no reason not to aerate in the spring, and some have found that spring aeration may be more beneficial because the soil will loosen with the normal freezing and thawing cycles of winter.
Schedule Aeration with Senske Today!
Spring lawn aeration gives your lawn the best chance at a strong, healthy growing season. Now is the time to schedule your spring aeration appointment. Reach out to Senske today to schedule your appointment and ensure your lawn is ready to deliver healthy growth all season long.
Ready to start the growing season off right? Call the pros at Senske for a free estimate!
