If you’ve ever wondered how best to aerate your lawn in Arkansas, then you’re in the right place. We’ll go over the basics of lawn aeration, from how to aerate your lawn, to doing it all by hand.
Arkansas grows mostly warm-season grasses, but can also grow cool-season grasses as well. This area is known as a “transition zone” due to this fact. Grasses such as bermudagrass, zoysiagrass, centipedegrass, bluegrass, ryegrass, and tall fescue can be grown here. The best way to take care of your lawn is by contacting a lawn care service in Arkansas. Depending on the type of grass growing on your lawn, a lawn care professional can recommend the best course of action.
How to Aerate Your Lawn
Aeration can do wonders for your lawn, and help to restore it following the summer months. This process can benefit your lawn by reducing water runoff, improving soil water uptake, and relieving soil compaction. If your lawn suffers from heavy foot traffic, you’ll most likely benefit from lawn aeration in Arkansas. Additionally, lookout for a brown, thinning lawn as a sign that action is needed.
Here’s how to aerate your lawn:
- Thoroughly water your lawn a couple of days before starting the process. You’ll need to apply about an inch of water to moisten the soils ahead of aeration.
- Use flags to mark hidden objects, such as stumps or irrigation heads. This ensures that you avoid running over these items with the aerator.
- Using a core aerator will help to remove plugs of soil and thatch. This reduces soil compaction and therefore helps the nutrients penetrate the soil.
- After you’ve performed the aeration process, make sure to fertilize your lawn. This step is extremely crucial, as it moistens the soil and pushes the absorption of nutrients.
How Often Should You Aerate Your Lawn
For lawns with heavy traffic or heavy soil, annual aeration is advised. If your lawn is showing signs of optimal growth, you’ll only need to aerate every couple of years. By over-aerating, you run the risk of causing damage. Your grass will need time to recover and start to repair itself.
When is the best time for it?
We recommend aerating your lawn in late spring or early summer. You should do this as close as possible to the time your grass reaches its peak growing season. You’ll want to make sure you pay additional attention to timing, as it can go wrong when timed improperly. Aeration is great for lawns, but avoid aerating dormant lawns.
Benefits of Lawn Aeration
Proper lawn fertilization ensures that your grass can grow healthier, greener, and full of nutrients. The soil of a healthy lawn will ideally house air pockets that allow for the movement of oxygen, water, and nutrients underground.
Aerating your lawn can reduce runoff and erosion, decrease the likelihood of disease, increase tolerance to drought, and improve the overall look of your lawn by making it greener and denser. Lawn fertilization is also most effective when it is used in conjunction with the aeration process.
Can You Aerate a Lawn by Hand?
A manual core aerator can be used to aerate a lawn by hand, however, it will take some effort for you. This method works best when you are aerating smaller areas, such as those around patios and house corners.
For optimal results, make sure to use a core aerator on soil that is moist, and run the tool over the entire lawn. This tool will have a handle and foot bar, and you will need both hands on the handle to drive force into the soil. Repeat the process of driving the core aerator into the ground, and pulling out plugs until the entire lawn is aerated. Though it is recommended to use a machine, you can still get the job done by hand with some patience.
How Much Does Professional Lawn Aeration Cost?
As lawn care professionals in Arkansas, we provide you with the tools you need for your lawn to succeed. Our lawn defense package includes fertilizer, weed control, grub control, and aeration. We aim to make this package affordable at just $29/month, yet complex enough to cover all of your needs. We are locally owned and operated, and provide lawn care in Rogers and surrounding areas. Here at Natural State, we’ll make sure your lawn is healthy and green for the long run. Call us at (479) 777-0864 or get a free quote online!