Lawn Aeration – Infuse Air into Your Lawn & Watch It Thrive

The soil in your Albuquerque lawn is compressing, leading to the same issues as thatch. When it becomes too dense, water cannot penetrate and grass can’t thrive due to a lack of oxygen for its roots. Luckily, aeration provides a solution!

By employing aeration which involves making holes in the ground and loosening up the soil below, drainage improves dramatically – allowing vital hydration and nutrients to reach deep into the root system. This results in an overall healthier looking lawn with thicker blades of grass you’ll be proud to show off.

When you start to notice heavily-traversed areas of your lawn looking a little lackluster and there’s more than an inch of thatch, it’s time to get aerating. Generally speaking, if the turf is in good shape with just half an inch or less of thatch layer then aeration isn’t necessary every year; but rather should be done biennially.

There are two forms of aeration: spike/tine and core/plug. The former uses spikes to penetrate the soil – however this can also increase compaction which basically means it doesn’t really count as ‘aerating’. Core removal on the other hand is preferred because not only does it allow for air circulation, but it keeps thatching in check too! Plus any equipment pulled behind mowers tends to be ineffective – so don’t even bother trying at home!

When and How to Aerate Your Lawn

It’s no secret that keeping your lawn looking lush and healthy requires a bit of work. When it comes to aerating, timing is everything! If you live in the north, late fall is an ideal time for aeration; however if done during this season when grass has become dormant can be detrimental to its health. In the south, plan on scheduling your aeration session from mid-spring through early summer.

Don’t want to break open your wallet by investing in pricey equipment? No worries – renting one from a big box store or rental company is totally doable! Grab some buddies (who may also need their lawns aerated) and hit up the local shop with truck ready at hand – you might even owe them a beer or two for helping out. After securing an appropriate machine make sure that all instructions are followed correctly according to manufacturer guidelines so you don’t end up causing any damage while trying help improve your turf grass situation.

I’d recommend aerating your lawn with 20 to 40 cores per square foot at a depth of 2–3 inches. For best results, run the aerator in multiple directions and loosen up any highly compacted soil you come across. Make sure to mark sprinkler heads or anything else that could be damaged while doing this so there are no unfortunate surprises!

Ridding yourself of these cores left behind on the surface may seem daunting, but don’t worry—they’ll eventually break down and work their way back into the ground on their own. Don’t get discouraged if it takes upwards of six weeks for grass to fill in the resulting holes; just remember how much better off your lawn will be after all is said and done!

Once you’ve completed core aeration, throw some slow-release fertilizer such as Milorganite onto your turf for an added boost (it’s like giving spinach to Popeye!). If this whole process sounds overwhelming though—or maybe even worse than getting caught singing along badly to Taylor Swift songs while driving alone—consider calling R & S Landscaping for help instead. They can take care of everything so you can enjoy a stress-free weekend doing something more fun.