You have likely heard the term "core aeration" before, but might not be familiar with exactly what it is or how your lawn could benefit from it. So what is core aeration? This lawn care service involves loosening up the ground by removing plugs of soil from your turf. The result is a lawn with access to vital nutrients necessary for healthy growth! It is beneficial to all types of grasses, especially to the cool-season grass types we have in Michigan. This service should be scheduled once or twice a year to ensure the roots of your lawn always have access to the nutrients that they need to thrive. Learn more about core aeration and how your lawn will benefit from it.

What is core aeration?

Our lawn care professional holding a freshly aerated core in Washington, MI.

Core aeration is the process of pulling cores of soil from your lawn to reduce soil compaction. Aeration loosens up the ground and increases the space between soil particles so your lawn can breathe freely.

If you notice your grass is struggling, it may be because vital resources find it difficult to reach the roots of your turf due to soil compaction. This leaves your grass weak with no access to nutrients. Aeration solves this! This lawn care practice opens up the channels where essential nutrients, water, air, and sunlight can pass through to nourish your turf.

Core aeration also reduces thatch buildup, improves soil drainage, and promotes deeper and stronger root growth!

Types of Lawns That Can Benefit From Core Aeration

Every lawn can benefit from core aeration. Regularly aerating your turf ensures it has access to the nutrients that improve its health and vigor. But does your lawn actually need it? If it experiences high foot or machine traffic or doesn't absorb water well, then your lawn definitely needs it. That's because it means your lawn likely has compacted soil. Soil compaction happens when the pores between soil particles are pressed together. You also need to aerate your turf if water is puddling on your yard, as that is an indicator that your soil is too compact to absorb water and other nutrients.

How often does your lawn need to be aerated?

Close up on our aeration machine at work on a property in Sterling Heights, MI.

If you want your lawn to remain healthy and lush, you need to be diligent when it comes to aerating your turf. Depending on your property type, it's best to aerate your lawn once to twice a year to get favorable results. You need to consider what type of grass you have. Fall is the perfect season to perform core aeration, especially for cool-season grasses because that's when they are at their peak growing point. For warm-season lawns, spring core aeration is recommended. If you live in an area with clay soils, you'll also want to schedule core aeration twice a year because it is more prone to compaction than other soil types.

We recommend aerating your lawn when it is actively growing to ensure it can tolerate and bounce back from the process.

Are you ready to aerate your lawn? Give us a call today to sign up for our core aeration service!

A vital part of lawn care is ensuring your grass has access to essential nutrients, water, air, and sunlight. That's what core aeration does. At Big Lakes Lawncare, we offer our top-quality core aeration service to homes and businesses in Macomb, Shelby, Chesterfield, MI and nearby areas. If you are ready to aerate your lawn and keep it in excellent shape, call us today at (586) 200-0855 to get a quote. Our experts are standing by and ready to help you achieve the healthy and beautiful lawn that you have always wanted!