Why Aerate?

What is lawn aerating?
Put as simply as possible, lawn aeration is basically the process of poking a bunch of holes in your lawn. Period. The word "aerate" literally means to introduce or impregnate something with air, and poking lots of holes in your lawn does just that. 

Lawn aeration can be done with a variety of tools and methods, from walking around your grass in specially-designed spikey shoes, to walk-behind motorized aerating machines, or even simply poking your lawn with a pitchfork. At Carson City Aerating, we of course use the mechanized version known as "core aeration." This gets its name from the hollow tines of the aerator that puncture 2-3 inches into the soil, leaving a bunch of holes in the soil, and a bunch of dirt "plugs" on top (yes - those clods of dirt you'd throw at your friends on the field at school). 

Over time, the plugs break down back into the soil and the holes fill themselves in as the surrounding soil expands and compacts. Ahh, the circle of life.

Why should I aerate my lawn?
Think of lawn aeration like a deep tissue massage for your lawn - ahh... Much like the human body, grass needs several things to be healthy:

1. Sunlight

2. Water

3. Oxygen

4. Nutrients

While the blades of grass above the surface take care of sunlight, the other three essentials are all captured beneath the surface by the roots. The holes that are left in your lawn after aeration allow water, fresh oxygen and nutrients to better penetrate the soil. Deeper penetration allows the roots to reach farther into the soil which promotes taller, greener, healthier grass. 

Lawn aerating also alleviates soil compaction. As you walk on your grass, the soil beneath your feet gets packed down over time, resulting in hard, compact soil which is difficult for roots to grow in. Areas of high traffic from kids, dogs, or that pet elephant you've been hiding from the neighbors, compact even faster. So if walking on your lawn feels like walking on the sidewalk, then yes - you definitely should aerate your lawn! 

When should I aerate my lawn?
Aerating is best in the spring when the ground is moist and the grass is at its peak growing season, and in the fall before the grass goes dormant before winter. Aerating should be avoided during the hot and dry temperatures of summer. Here in Northern Nevada we typically have poor soil conditions which leads to high soil compaction, so aerating is advisable at least once a year. But, if your lawn is in a high-impact area or grows in clay-heavy soil, aerating twice a year can be extremely helpful for your grass.

So call or email Carson City Aerating for a quote today!