Why you should core aerate

Why Aerating Your Lawn Matters (and How to Do It Right)

If you've ever admired a lush, green lawn and wondered what the secret is, the answer might be simpler than you think: aeration. Lawn aeration is one of the most effective ways to keep your grass healthy, yet it’s often overlooked by homeowners. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a weekend yard warrior, understanding the benefits of aeration—and how to do it properly—can make a world of difference in your lawn’s health.

What Is Lawn Aeration?

Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate down to the roots. This helps the roots grow deeper and stronger, which makes your lawn more resilient against drought, pests, and heavy foot traffic.

The most common method is core aeration, where a machine removes small plugs (or "cores") of soil from the ground. There's also spike aeration, which simply pokes holes without removing soil. While spike aeration is better than nothing, core aeration is more effective for compacted or clay-heavy soils.

Why Should You Aerate Your Lawn?

Over time, soil becomes compacted from mowing, walking, or kids playing. This compaction limits the movement of essential elements like water and oxygen. Add thatch (a layer of dead grass and roots) to the mix, and your lawn may start to struggle. Aeration breaks up that compaction and allows your lawn to breathe again.

Here are some key benefits:

Improves air exchange between the soil and atmosphere

Enhances water absorption, reducing runoff

Boosts fertilizer effectiveness

Promotes deeper root growth

Breaks up thatch accumulation

When to Aerate

The best time to aerate depends on your grass type:

Cool-season grasses (like fescue, ryegrass, or bluegrass): Early spring or early fall

Warm-season grasses (like Bermuda or Zoysia): Late spring through early summer

Avoid aerating during periods of drought or high heat, when your lawn is already stressed.

How to Aerate Your Lawn

Step 1: Determine If You Need It

If your lawn sees heavy traffic, feels spongy, or drains poorly, it’s likely time. A simple test: try sticking a screwdriver into the soil. If it’s hard to push in, your lawn is probably compacted.

Step 2: Choose the Right Tools

You can rent a core aerator from most garden centers or home improvement stores. For smaller areas, manual aerators or spike shoes may work (though they require more effort and aren't as effective).

Step 3: Prep Your Lawn

Mow your lawn and water it a day or two before aerating to soften the soil. Avoid doing it when the soil is too wet or muddy, as this can cause further compaction.

Step 4: Aerate

Run the aerator over the lawn in a crisscross pattern to ensure even coverage. Focus on high-traffic or heavily compacted areas.

Step 5: Leave the Plugs

The plugs pulled from the soil can be left to break down naturally. They’ll return nutrients to the soil as they decompose.

Step 6: Follow-Up Care

After aerating, it’s the perfect time to:

Overseed (if your lawn is thin)

Fertilize

Water deeply

How Often Should You Aerate?

High-traffic or clay-heavy lawns: Once or twice a year

Loamy, well-drained lawns: Once every 1–2 years

Final Thoughts

Aerating your lawn might not be the flashiest yard task, but its benefits are long-lasting and visible. With the right timing and technique, you can transform a tired, compacted lawn into a thriving green oasis. So this season, give your lawn the room it needs to breathe—you’ll see (and feel) the results underfoot.