4 Reasons To Aerate Your Lawn
Aeration is a process where qualified landscapers make small holes in your lawn and soil. This method supplies air, water, and nutrients to the root structure, which helps keep your grass healthy and green. Here are four reasons to aerate your lawn:
1. Improves Soil Structure
Constant foot traffic and heavy lawnmower use are some of the reasons why soil particles become packed over time. When soil becomes compacted, it decreases its capacity to store, supply, or exchange water, air, and nutrients. By creating small holes in your lawn, landscapers make oxygen and organic matter available to the roots, boosting growth.
To improve a lawn’s soil structure, professionals may use core aeration to remove small plugs of soil. They can also use spike aeration, which entails poking holes in the ground without having to turn the soil. If your lawn has heavy clay soil, it might require frequent aeration because it compacts more easily. Sandy soils typically have better drainage and are less likely to become compacted.
2. Boosts Nutrient and Water Absorption
When soil is compressed, fertilizers may have a hard time getting through the surface and reaching the root zone to help the grass grow. Professional landscapers aerate your lawn to allow nutrients to travel through these layers and find roots effectively. Compacted soil can also cause water to settle on the surface and run off instead of getting absorbed into the ground. Due to this problem, soil erosion and nutrient depletion may occur, limiting plant growth.
The aeration procedure breaks up compacted soil, making it possible for water to drain down to the roots. By enhancing water infiltration, the ground absorbs water appropriately and provides consistent nutrients for the grass. It also helps reduce the formation of puddles. This effect can prevent roots from suffocating and developing fungal diseases.
3. Builds Endurance
With better soil structure, roots have access to sufficient moisture and nutrients to help the grass manage prolonged periods of dryness and extreme cold or heat. This tolerance allows your lawn to maintain its health and appearance under different weather patterns. Aerating your lawn also reduces excess thatch buildup, creating a healthier environment for beneficial soil organisms.
Making holes in the soil promotes strong and deep roots, helping them become more resilient against pests like grubs and diseases like fungal infections. Aerated lawns can recover from heavy foot traffic because they have better oxygen flow that fosters healing. This minimizes bare batches and helps grass maintain its aesthetic appeal all year round.
4. Reduces Weeds
Invasive weeds can establish themselves in any open or thin area of the lawn. By relieving soil compaction, aeration allows grass roots to grow deeper and more robustly, which helps the grass outcompete weeds for nutrients, water, and sunlight. This result can make it harder for weeds to establish and spread. It also promotes healthier grass, making the lawn better prepared to resist weed invasions.
Poking holes in the soil breaks up the thatch layer and interferes with the surface, potentially making it less friendly for weed seeds to germinate. The physical process of aeration can disturb and break up the roots of annual weeds. With fewer weeds to manage, you can spend less time and effort on getting rid of them. Aeration can also be combined with other lawn care practices, such as proper fertilization and targeted weed control measures.
Work With Qualified Landscapers
Hire professional landscapers to aerate your soil regularly and promote a healthy lawn that’s equipped to withstand diseases and different temperatures. These specialists use suitable methods and timelines to maximize the perks of your lawn care. Contact a qualified team of landscapers today to learn more about aeration and its benefits.