Connecticut Green’s Top Ten Reasons to Aerate Your Lawn

It’s time to start thinking about aeration again! To get you as excited as we are about aerating, we’ve compiled our Top Ten Reasons to Aerate!

Before we get into our list, here are a few helpful reminders about aeration, just in case you forgot:

What is aeration? Aeration is the process of punching holes in your lawn. These holes, usually less than an inch wide and two to five inches deep, act as channels that allow air, water, and nutrients to circulate around the soil and freely access the roots of your grass.
How do we aerate? While aeration can be done manually or even with spiky shoes (really!), we use machines that are specifically designed to aerate lawns. It’s the most efficient and effective way to get the job done well!
When and how often do we aerate? Connecticut Green offers aeration annually in the late summer or fall, the time when we would traditionally overseed your grass. Your lawn has probably had a rough summer – lots of sun, loads of kids, dogs and other creatures running and playing all over it. Now is the best time to let it breathe, and then to seed over the top to fill in bare spots and ensure you have a lush, green lawn through the fall season.

The next logical question here would be “WHY do we aerate”… and since there are so many good reasons, we’ve created this list of the ten best reasons to aerate this fall!

Aerating reduces soil compaction – a problem caused by repeated walking, running, riding playing and other activities that take place on your lawn. Compaction means the soil is packed in so tightly that air, water and nutrients can’t effectively reach the roots of your grass.
Aerating breaks down thatch. While some thatch is good for your lawn, too much thatch means your grass’s roots may be growing in a layer of thatch instead of nutrient-rich soil.
Aerating improves the flow of air to the roots of your grass. When your soil is compacted, roots can’t get the air they vitally need to grow.
Aeration allows the soil to more readily absorb water. Aerating improves water uptake, so roots can get the hydration they need.
Because your soil can accept water more easily, aeration also improves drainage and reduces puddling on your lawn. (Just an added benefit!)
With aerated soil, roots can better access and absorb fertilizers and other products. The channels created by the aeration process make perfect little nests for seeds to take root, grow and reach all the nutrients they need.
Aerated roots have better tolerance for heat and drought. When the thatch layer is broken down by aerating, grass roots can grow beyond the thatch and into the soil, which provides much better insulation against hot, dry conditions.
Stronger roots and healthier grass are among the best benefits of aerating. With broken down thatch and aerated soil that lets air, water and nutrients circulate, your grass can grow healthy, strong roots.
Fill in brown spots by overseeding just after aerating. Your aerated lawn creates the perfect environment to nurture and grow new seed.
You’ll get to see the Connecticut Green crew! Scheduling aeration means you’ll get to see our smiling faces one more time this season.