Core Aeration

What Is Core Aeration?

Core aeration is a type of lawn aeration where a machine is used to mechanically remove 2 inch to 3 inch plugs or “cores” of soil and thatch from a lawn.

What Are The Benefits Of Core Aeration?

Core aeration reduces soil compaction, creating a channel through which oxygen, water, and nutrients can penetrate into the soil. Core aeration can help make your lawn healthier and reduce its maintenance requirements through these means:

• Improved air exchange between the soil and atmosphere
• Enhanced soil water uptake
• Improved fertilizer uptake and use
• Reduced water runoff and puddling
• Stronger turf grass roots
• Reduced soil compaction
• Enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance
• Improved resiliency and cushioning
• Enhanced thatch breakdown
• Improve soil erosion by having a deeper root system

Why is Core Aeration Necessary?

Compact soil prevents grass from establishing a healthy root system and keeps water and fertilizer from reaching the roots. Walking, playing, and mowing will compact soil and stress lawns. Raindrops and irrigation will further compact the soil, reducing large air spaces where roots readily grow. Aeration can help relieve soil compaction, allowing your grass to grow deeper roots and make better use of water and fertilizer.

What Can You Expect?

Immediately after aeration your lawn will be dotted with small plugs pulled from the soil. Within a week or two, they break apart and disappear into the lawn. After about 7 to 10 days, the aerification holes will be filled with white, actively growing roots. This is a sign that the turfgrass is receiving additional oxygen, moisture, and nutrients from the soil. On compacted soils and lawns with slopes, you should see an immediate difference in water puddling and runoff after irrigation or rainfall. After aeration, your lawn should be able to go longer between watering, without showing signs of wilt. With repeat aerations over time, your lawn will show enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance.

Remember, most lawns benefit from annual aeration. And while you shouldn’t expect miracles, especially with poor soil, lawns that continually perform aeration annually will be healthier, more vigorous, easier to maintain, and have fewer pest problems.

Soil Compaction- Turfgrass in compacted soil (left) grows slowly, lacks vigor and becomes thin or does not grow at all. Core aeration (center) removes small cores or soil, depositing them on the surface of the turf. This improves the depth and the extent of turfgrass rooting (right), and it can help save money on your water bill.