What is Aeration and Why is it Important?

Grass, like any other plant, needs water and nutrients to thrive. However, the development of thatch on a lawn makes it difficult for water and nutrients to reach the grass’s roots.

Thatch is a collection of roots, stems, and other plant matter that amasses near the soil. In addition to being a water barrier, thatch is also a hotbed for insects and other pests.

Aeration breaks up this layer of thatch so the grass’s roots can get the water and nutrients they need. It’s also a soil loosener, allowing freshly planted grass seeds to take hold.

 

Core Aeration vs. Liquid Aeration

There are two main methods of aeration: core aeration and liquid aeration. Core aeration has been the go-to way of doing it for many years, but the emergence of liquid aeration has proven the many advantages of the new-school method.

Core aeration, sometimes called manual aeration, is performed by a spike aerator or a plug aerator. No matter which machine gets used, its purpose is to create holes in the soil and break up thatch.

Plug aerators are generally more effective, but they produce unsightly cores of dirt that sit on the lawn. It can take weeks for these cores to break down, and many find that these soil cores resemble goose droppings.

On the other hand, liquid aeration is effective without the need to bore holes in the lawn. With this method, an organic mix of chemicals is applied to the grass. It gets to work, breaking down the thatch layer and allowing the grass’s roots to breathe.

Liquid aerators have proven to be superior to core aeration. Its effects last longer, and it doesn’t leave behind ugly cores on the lawn. However, that doesn’t mean that manual aeration methods don’t have their place. In some instances, it may be beneficial to use both methods at the same time.

 

When to Aerate

For the cool-season grasses found in Connecticut, the fall and spring are the best times to aerate a lawn.

Grasses typically put down roots during the fall, and lawn aeration gives the roots all they need to help the grass grow strong and healthy during the spring. The soil will be broken up, so the roots receive the necessary amount of water, nutrients, and oxygen.

While some advise against aerating in the spring, doing it ahead of the growing season can prove to be a boon for a lawn. Springtime aeration is often done in conjunction with overseeding grass.

Aeration allows these seeds to reach the soil instead of getting caught up in the layer of thatch. Once the seeds are in the soil, they’re able to grow and thrive.

How to Tell if a Lawn Needs Aeration

All lawns can benefit from once-per-year aeration. Aside from checking the calendar, there are a few other tell-tale signs that a lawn needs aeration.

The first is the popular screwdriver test. For this, one simply takes a screwdriver and attempts to stick it into the soil in their yard. If it’s difficult to do so, the soil is too compacted for grass to grow properly.

Another easy way to tell if a lawn needs to be aerated is if puddles collect after a rainstorm. If the ground isn’t able to soak up this water, the soil can’t supply water to the grass’s roots.

If the grass isn’t growing properly or looks unhealthy, it could require aeration. There are a number of things that can contribute to unhealthy grass, but aeration is often the remedy. This is especially true if the yard hasn’t been aerated in a year or more.

Unhealthy grass can take on many forms. It could be patchy and thinning in certain areas, could change color from green to a shade of yellow or brown, or stop growing entirely.

In some cases, the layer of thatch may actually be visible. Aeration is the only way to break up this overgrown thatch layer.

 

How Liquid Aeration Works

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Lawn Science’s liquid aeration efforts are an organic lawn care method. The mix of compost, humates, yucca extract, and seaweed is all-natural and completely sa50f50e.

The liquid aeration formula is sprayed directly onto the lawn. Without boring any holes, it can remove the layer of thatch. It also introduces much-needed nutrients to the lawn.

Yucca extract serves as a wetting agent. Its purpose is to help the mixture coat the grass all the way down to the roots. Humates, compost, and seaweed contain vital nutrients and enzymes that enrich the lawn and help decompose the thatch layer.

The mixture starts working as soon as it’s applied to the grass, but it may take a month or more to see its effects in action. If the layer of thatch is thick or if the soil is especially compacted, the lawn may need more than one treatment. Your lawn care service professional will let you know if additional treatments are needed.

 

The Benefits of Liquid Aeration

While manual aeration can be a valuable practice for your lawn, there’s no doubt that liquid aeration is the better option. It offers many distinct advantages over manual aeration.

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Effects Last Longer

Liquid aeration is an ideal lawn care treatment for those who want the beauty of their lawn to stand the test of time. Its effects can last for months.

On the other hand, the benefits of manual aeration are often short-lived. The thatch layer comes back in a hurry, leaving the lawn desperate for water and air.

This can have a catastrophic impact on the health of the lawn. It won’t be able to resist the summer heat or drought conditions. It can also become discolored, leaving you with a brownish lawn while the neighbor’s grass is still wonderfully green.

 

No Cores Left Behind

To many, the cores left behind from core aeration methods are an eyesore. They dot a landscaping effort that you work tirelessly to maintain.

No one likes seeing these on their lawn. They make it difficult to enjoy spending time in the grass and can hamper a home’s general appearance.

Fortunately, liquid aeration doesn’t require digging cores or disturbing the soil. The aeration mixture leaves behind no evidence of your aeration efforts, aside from a healthy lawn.

 

Much Easier to Apply

Traditional aeration methods take time to apply and can be back-breaking work. It can take hours for lawn care professionals to manually aerate a medium-sized lawn, even with professional-grade equipment.

On the other hand, liquid aeration can be done quickly. In this instance, saving time also saves money. The lawn care technician can apply the liquid aeration with ease, leaving the solution to get to work.

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Reaches Much Deeper

Manual aeration methods can only penetrate about three inches deep into the soil. While this is good enough to see some results, liquid aeration can reach much deeper.

With liquid aeration, the solution can reach around a foot below the surface. This is especially beneficial, as it ensures that water and nutrients can reach the deepest roots.

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An Eco-friendly Solution

The blend of seaweed, compost, yucca, and humates is all-natural and organic. This means that it’s safe for the environment and can be applied to a lawn without harming the natural ecosystem.