Does aerating your lawn do anything?

Aeration loosens soil, improves drainage, prevents straw buildup, and helps roots get the food they need to grow long and strong. Unless the soil is sandy and drainage isn't an issue, it's a good idea to consider aerating it. Aeration involves puncturing the soil with small holes to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. This helps roots grow deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn.

Lawn aeration also breaks up compacted soil, allowing water, air and nutrients to penetrate the root area. Grassy areas subject to constant foot traffic (or, worse, car traffic) require grass aeration more often than secluded areas. Aerating grass removes fine, bare stains associated with soil compaction and helps correct straw buildup caused by shallow rooting. Aerating the grass loosens the soil surface and breaks the straw layer, encouraging deeper root development.

It also allows water and nutrients to penetrate deeper. Previously, he managed the turf as superintendent of golf courses and has held several senior management positions at private country clubs that oversee high-maintenance lawns. Aeration is a lawn care practice designed to create openings in the grass and in the underlying soil structure to penetrate the root and straw layer and allow essential water and air to penetrate the soil so that they can better reach the bases. Aerating your lawn is definitely worth it and the expense if your lawn needs aeration.

Right after aeration, it's the perfect time to plant with premium Pennington Smart Seed and fertilize your lawn or make simple lawn repairs. Vehicles or small equipment driving on grass are the most obvious offenders, but even outdoor entertainment or games for children and pets can leave all or part of the grass compacted. Aeration can be an extremely vital element for a healthy lawn because it allows air and water to penetrate accumulated grass or grass straw. Whenever possible, combine lawn aeration with other lawn care maintenance, such as fertilizing, adding soil amendments, or overseeding.

The basic idea behind lawn aeration is that, just like you, your lawn and the soil beneath it need to breathe. Pennington is committed to providing you with the best in grass seed and lawn care products to help you achieve your lawn goals. You should also faithfully remove as much grass straw as you can in the fall, by raking deeply, rather than simply removing autumnal leaves from the top of the grass.