Aeration

You may be wondering if your lawn could benefit from aeration. Below you will find some telltale signs that your lawn may need a little boost from aeration. 

Patchy Lawn

If you are looking at your lawn and get disappointed by its patchy, weak appearance it may benefit from lawn aeration. A sickly-looking lawn may be due to lack of nutrients, water, sunlight or oxygen. Aeration can help improve the flow of these elements and create a healthier lawn.

Compacted Soil

If you have compacted soil, your lawn may benefit from aeration. How can you tell if you have compacted soil? Soil becomes compacted if it is in a high traffic area. So, if you have parts of your lawn that are regularly being walked on, it is safe to assume that the soil underneath your lawn is compacted. The compacted soil occludes nutrients from getting to the root systems of your grass, causing your lawn to wither and die. 

Puddles 

Poor drainage in your yard is another sign that your lawn may benefit from aeration because it is a sign of compacted soil. When soil is packed too tightly together and water can’t quickly penetrate the soil, it will result in puddles. Therefore, puddles are a good indicator that your lawn may need to be aerated. 

Excess Thatch

Thatch is necessary for the health of your lawn. Too little and the soil will struggle to retain moisture, but too much and it will serve as a barrier between your grass and the essential components it needs to live. If you have excess thatch, it is a good time to aerate your lawn. You may be wondering, if thatch is the issue, wouldn’t it make more sense to simply de-thatch the lawn? While that is the solution in some cases, if your lawn is in poor health, de-thatching may actually cause more damage to it in its weakened state. In this case aeration is a great way to break up this layer of thatch without causing further damage to your lawn. 

Dry Grass

Having dry grass may also be a sign that your lawn could benefit from aeration. In high temperatures, soil may become a more “baked” consistency, creating an impenetrable barrier, where water, oxygen, sunlight and nutrients are unable to get to the roots of your grass. Aeration breaks through this layer and allows these nutrients to flow freely to your grass.