Over the years, we at ISR Gardening have answered many calls from people wanting to improve the quality of their lawn. During many of those calls, the subject of “what does lawn aeration do” came up but had not been previously considered. This type of lawn maintenance is arguably one of the most important actions you can take to increase lawn health, and ISR Gardening is here to answer your questions.

What is lawn aeration?

Because the soil in a lawn can become compacted over time as ground settles or people walk or play on it, a lawn needs to be periodically revitalized. Aeration involves punching holes into the ground to allow the grass to revive itself.

The holes may be done with a specific aeration machine which removes plugs of soil, or if a person has time and energy, they could also use a pitchfork to stab holes in the ground. Either way, making organized perforations in the soil is a crucial step along the path to a healthier and greener lawn.

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What does aeration do for your lawn?

Common sense says that plants need water and sunlight to grow properly. With compacted lawn soil, the amounts of water and nutrients getting to the roots decreases. What aeration does for your lawn is it opens up the soil and helps to remove thatch.

When a lawn’s soil becomes compacted, aeration is essential. Loosening the compacted soil allows for a better water drainage, better root growth, and a reduced risk of damage to the soil and/or lawn. Not only will your lawn improve, but allowing compacted soil to spread out can also lead to healthier soil.

By removing small plugs of soil or punching holes into your lawn, you can aerate the soil and also begin to remove a buildup of thatch. Removing the thatch, or the layer of unimportant plant matter between the grass and soil, allows for more nutrients and water to enter the soil, produces fewer weeds in your green lawn and assists in reseeding.

Best time to aerate your lawn

There are several signs to know when you should aerate your lawn. To determine the best time, check for the following possible signs. For example, if your grass begins to thin, has discoloured areas, or stops growing altogether, it’s time to aerate. If you have puddles forming on your lawn, that would suggest the soil is too compacted.

Take a large screwdriver and try to push it into the soil of your lawn. If that task is difficult, it’s time to open up the soil with aeration. However, the type of soil and type of grass will determine when and how often to aerate your lawn.

Different types of grass and lawn aeration?

There are two main types of grass that grow in Canada: cool season and warm season grasses.

Both types have different growing times throughout the year and that determines the best time to consider aerating.

Cool season grass grows in spring and autumn, and it will flower and go to seed in spring and early summer. This is usually the type of grass that is found in many parts of Canada due to the cold weather. The best way to aerate is during their growing season to allow them to recover and prepare for the winter.

Warm season grass grows in late spring to early summer, and flowers and seeds in the summer and early fall. These can be found in some of the southern regions of Canada but only a few varieties thrive north of the 49th. These grasses are best aerated in the late spring or early summer when they are actively growing.

How Often to Aerate Your Lawn

Now that you are thinking about when to aerate your lawn, the type of grass is not the only consideration. The type of soil is influential in determining the best time to aerate your soil to effectively produce a more luscious lawn.

  • Clay soil or high-traffic lawn: Clay soil is made of particles that hold water well but doesn’t readily drain. Initially, aerate twice a year and then as the soil loosens, every year or two depending on compaction.
  • Silty soil or moderate traffic law: Silty soil, soil with 1/3 silt content, holds moisture well and is rich in nutrients, so aeration is best done once a year with moderate foot traffic.
  • Sandy soil or low-traffic lawn: This kind of soil doesn’t compact easily and could be aerated every 2 to 3 years but may only need spot aeration more regularly.

Benefits of Aerating a Lawn

Perforating your lawn with small holes can be time-consuming and hard work if done manually. However, the benefits to aerating a lawn are numerous.

Read below for reasons on how aeration creates a healthier and more lustrous lawn.

Aeration promotes healthy grass by allowing air to reach past the thatch layer and reach the roots. Although CO2 is taken in by the leaves, the roots require O2 to grow and enhance lawn health.

A well aerated lawn uses water more efficiently. Water can be absorbed down to the root system which is helpful as sun and drought conditions can quickly evaporate water collected on top of a lawn.

By punching holes into compacted soil, aeration allows air, water, and nutrients into the soil for the roots to absorb. This leads to a stronger root system which in turn leads to stronger and healthier grass.

With compacted soil, regular perforations across a lawn can help to reduce water runoff and puddling. Water run-off due to compacted soil or a thick thatch is wasted water and does not help the lawn to grow.

Aeration provides holes in soil to allow it to spread out and become less compact. Fertilizers and nutrients are more efficient if they can easily reach the grass’s root system.

By poking holes into your lawn, you start to relieve soil compaction. This loosening of soil relieves the tension in the soil, allows for better water absorption, and gives new growth a chance.

If the soil is less compacted and has holes for water absorption, the water reaches the root system of the lawn for better soil water uptake. Aeration directly transmits water to the roots.

Removing the thatch layer between the grass and the soil is made easier after aeration. Stripping that layer out can increase the amount of sunlight, water, and nutrients into the soil.

Schedule Your Lawn Aeration Service Today

There are many aspects of lawn aeration to be taken into consideration to ensure that your lawn is as lustrous and healthy as possible. Let the professionals at ISR Gardening take the lead with our top-quality service by aerating your lawn and thinning out the thatch. Your lawn will be the envy of the neighbourhood.

Call us today for a free Toronto gardening service estimate!