Lawn Core Aeration

What is aeration?

Aeration is simply the removal of hundreds of small soil plugs from a lawn, to help break up soil compaction and improve root growth. 

Turf grass in compacted soil (left) grows slowly, lacks vigor and becomes thin or does not grow at all. Core aeration (center) removes small cores of soil, depositing them on the surface of the turf. This improves the depth and extent of turf grass rooting (right)

How does aeration benefit the lawn?
Core aeration will reduce soil compaction and enhance thatch breakdown, thus improving soil water uptake and decreasing water runoff and puddling. Core aeration allows air, water, and fertilizer to better reach the root zone. This stimulates root growth to create healthier, stronger turf grass plants. (right)

How is aeration done?
Our specially designed aeration equipment consists of a series of hollow coring tines mounted on wheels. When these hollow tines are rolled over your lawn, they puncture the soil, systematically removing small soil plugs.

How often is aeration needed? 
Due to the  clay soil in the Massachusetts and surrounding area, we recommend that your lawn be aerated at least once per season. Some lawns may need to be aerated more than once a season, depending on lawn conditions. 

When is the best time for aeration? 
Spring or fall is the best time for aeration. March, April and May in the spring and September, October and November in the fall are the best months to plan for aeration. Warm days and cool nights along with natural moisture provide ideal conditions for aeration. Mid - summer months tend to be too hot for aeration. Aeration in the summer can cause stress to the turf by depleting moisture.

When is the best time to overseed?
The best time to overseed is in the early fall, after aeration, while the days are still warm and nights are cool. Good seed to soil contact is important. Seed that is watered into aeration holes will have a much higher germination rate than seed that is spread over a lawn which has not been aerated. Overseeding with a blended bluegrass in the fall will make the lawn more disease resistant, more drought resistant, and more insect tolerant.