Lawn Aeration Basics

In general, the greater the clay content of your soil, the greater the need to aerate. Clay soil tends to bond very tightly, causing less air space. The act of aerating breaks down those bonds.

Another consideration when deciding whether to aerate is the amount of soil compaction due to traffic. Areas with a lot of foot traffic, such as ball fields, often require more frequent aeration. New construction sites often are compacted due to trucks having driven over the ground numerous times. If your lawn has a low area that tends to hold water, that areas should be aerated regularly.

I am often asked how often aeration should be done. The answer depends on the degree of compaction. The average lawn should be aerated once a year. Problem areas can be aerated more often, and as often as once every two months.

There are three basic methods of aeration: tine, core and liquid. Tine aeration is simply poking holes in the ground with a solid spike. Tine aeration is the least desirable method and many lawn experts feel this method may actually increase compaction.

Core aeration is the actual removal of plugs of soil from the ground. The cores, about the size of your finger, break down and become a part of the soil again. Core aeration is the most used method and is effective.

The last method of aeration is liquid aeration. This method is the least known, but in my opinion, the best method. Liquid aeration is accomplished by spraying a liquid solution over the ground, then watering it in. The benefits of using this method over core aeration are many. There is less mess, no cores in the awn. The liquid, when water in, works to a depth of up to 12", versus 3" for core aeration. Another benefit is the liquid can be used everywhere, whereas the coring is limited around sprinkler systems, tree roots, etc. The product I like to use to do liquid aerations is Aerify Plus.

Aeration can be done anytime the lawn is not frozen. I recommend aerating in the spring or fall so that the grass can recover.