The inland northwest's cold winters and hot summers can take a toll on your lawn. Aeration is key to revitalizing your turf and ensuring a healthy, vibrant green space.
Here's our expert's recommendations for why and when to aerate your lawn:
Why Should You Aerate Your Lawn's Soil?
Aeration is mainly used to reduce soil compaction. Soil compaction can occur several ways -- from man-made causes such as heavy construction machinery or foot traffic, to naturally occurring situations such as snow load or intense rainfall. Even consistent irrigation running throughout the season can result in compaction. Compacted soil makes it difficult for water and oxygen to reach plant roots. If those roots are unable to move freely, as is often the case in this soil, the resulting short roots will be less likely to withstand severe temperatures or other environmental stressors.
When is the Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn?
Spring and fall are the best times for aeration. These shoulder seasons offer the most ideal conditions, with mild temperatures to ensure your lawn is able to recover quickly. Reducing compaction in the fall prepares your lawn for winter. Though most lawns will benefit from aeration occurring in both of these seasons, at least once per year is essential for optimal health.
Best Aeration Techniques, Tips and Tricks:
There are three ways to aerate soil: core aeration, spike aeration and fracturing.
Core aeration:
Core aeration is often considered to be the most commonly effective. A machine removes small plugs of soil, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots. You can check with your local hardware store to see if they have a core aeration machine available to rent.
Spike aeration:
Spike aeration uses hollow tines to create small holes in the soil. It's less effective than core aeration because the aerating does not reach deeply into the ground and the soil is not actually removed, just slightly loosened. It also requires a bit more manual labor and often needs to be done several times at once to work well. However, this method is commonly suitable for small, lightly compacted lawns.
Fracturing:
Fracturing is a less common method that uses a machine with tines (similar to spike aeration). These tines shake and vibrate to loosen the soil in every square inch. This method, though not very well known, is much more effective than others due to the aggressive nature of the machine.
Other Tips for Successful Aeration:
Consider your soil type: Most inland northwest residents have clay soils, which are much more likely to experience severe compaction and benefit greatly from core aeration. However, less-common (in our area) sandy soils may require less frequent aeration. You may want to use a soil compaction meter or probe to identify your soil’s makeup and compaction. Consult a professional if you do not know what to do about your soil.
Water deeply: After aeration, be sure to water the lawn as it will now be able to infiltrate deeply to reach roots and encourage growth.
Avoid overseeding: After aerating your lawn, some say it is the perfect time to overseed by applying a grass seed blend. However, the seed is unlikely to take effectively and it may be best to wait several weeks.
By following these tips, you can ensure your lawn receives the air and nutrients it needs to thrive. Enjoy a lush, green oasis all summer long!
*This article was written in part with the assistance of Google's Gemini AI system.