When Should You Aerate Your Lawn?

When Should You Aerate Your Lawn?

Landscape maintenance can easily be one of those overwhelming things that make you cringe when seasons change, simply because seasonal lawn care means that you’re going to have to put a little more time and money into your lawn than the bare-bones routine of watering and mowing that you may currently be squeaking by with. As local landscaping companies will tell you, seasonal changes bring a shake up in what’s happening both above and below the soil line, and grass is one of the areas most affected by those shifts. Keeping track of the hows and whys of it all can get confusing, but by doing a bit of research or hiring a lawn maintenance company to know what’s on the schedule and how to get it all done, you’ll be better prepared and know things like when should you aerate your lawn or what dethatching can do to keep your grass green.

Be an Airhead

So just what does the word areate mean, and when should you areate your lawn? Does aerating your lawn actually do anything? Even if you’ve heard of it before, you might not truly have the clearest picture of what it is or even if lawn aeration benefits grass in any way that’s noticeable in the long run. But rather than casting it aside as something not worth the time, effort, or investment, it’s important to know that aerating your lawn can be one of your greatest moves; and that by doing so, you’re allowing your landscape to reach its fullest potential.

Breaking Up is Good to Do

Aerating is actually a process of breaking up compacted soil. That compacted soil can inhibit very essential nutrients, water, and oxygen from penetrating to levels where grass roots can reach them, which means that the soil is basically depriving your grass of the very things it needs to grow healthy and strong. Aeration also promotes the natural development of microorganisms that cause thatch to be broken down, reduces the amount of fertilizer and pesticide run-off, and helps facilitate the growth of your lawn’s root system. So, when should you aerate your lawn? For warm-season grasses, you’ll need to aerate in late spring or early summer, while cool-season grasses will need to be aerated in fall. By doing it before their active growth periods, you’ll have prepared the ground to take in the water, oxygen, and nutrients it will need for the season ahead.

While you’re aerating, you’ll also need to think about dethatching and learn how to dethatch a lawn. Rakes can be one of the most cost-effective ways to accomplish this task, but you can also use a dethatcher, a machine that basically serves as a high-powered rake. Dethatching removes the accumulation of dead grass from your lawn and helps break the surface of compacted soil.

Don’t let dead grass poke holes in having the landscape of your dreams! Call the team at Executive Landscaping, Inc., for a consultation today!