When is the Right Time to Aerate My Lawn?

What does aerating a lawn do?

When the soil of your lawn is compacted; water, air, and nutrients are not able to move throughout the soil and reach grassroots properly. If grassroots aren’t receiving adequate amounts of water, air, and nutrients, it will not thrive or look its best. When this happens, it is time to aerate your lawn. Lawn aeration, coring, and aerifying are all terms for the same process. Aerating your lawn helps to loosen compacted soil by relieving built-up pressure, creating space, and softening soil.

Is there an ideal time to aerate a lawn?

Aerating a lawn is a key step in the health of the lawn’s soil and grass, but for the best results it needs to be done at the proper time. Quick recovery is important when aerating a lawn, which is why it is ideal to aerate during the lawn’s prime growing season. For cool-season grasses, this is going to be early spring or fall time, while warm-season grasses will be late spring to early summer. It is common to aerate your lawn every year, however, if your lawn is growing well or consists of sandy soil, you can aerate every 2-3 years.

Are you looking for lawn and garden equipment that will keep your property looking great all year round? Keep reading to learn more about lawn aeration and how it gets a lawn off to a great start, or contact the team at Koenig Equipment to learn more about the latest lawn and garden equipment solutions.

How do I properly aerate a lawn?

1. Mow your lawn so that the grass is even.
2. Soften the lawn’s soil by applying about an inch of water to it the day before you are going to aerate.
3. Mark any shallow utility or septic lines, as well as sprinkler heads to ensure you don’t run over them.
4. Aerate the lawn with either a manual or automatic aerator. Pass over your entire lawn twice going opposite directions.
5. Evenly apply fertilizer across the lawn.
6. If you are planning to reseed your lawn, now is this time. Spread the grass seed evenly across the entire lawn.
7. Water the lawn every 2-3 days over the following few weeks.

Core Aerator or Spike Aerator?

There are two options when it comes to aerating your lawn. You can choose to either use the core or spike aerating process. Using a spike aerator only makes holes in the ground. A core aerator is the preferred method as it will pull the plugs out of the ground during the aeration process which allows oxygen and nutrients to better reach the soil.

Are there attachments or equipment that can help aerate lawns?

Depending on the size of your lawn there are different options for attachments or equipment to help you aerate. Manual aerators do more physical work to push over the entire lawn but are a good option with you are covering a small area as equipment can be difficult to turn around. For larger spaces, core aerator attachments are a great option. Pair a core aerator attachment with your compact utility tractor to easily aerator and revitalize your lawn.

Where can I find lawn aerating equipment?

Koenig Equipment can help your find the right equipment for all your lawn care needs, including aerating equipment. With the trained sales staff at your local dealership, you can feel confident knowing you have the right equipment and knowledge to make your lawn look better than ever.

Additional Resources

Craiglist vs. Dealer: How Should I Buy a Used Lawn Mower?

Mulching vs. Bagging: What to do With Lawn Clippings

Four Steps to Get Your Lawn Ready for Spring