Journal · Seasonal
Core aeration: when, why and what to expect
The most underrated service in lawn care, explained in plain terms.
If a lawn feels hard underfoot, puddles after rain or thins out where people walk, the soil is probably compacted. Core aeration is the most direct fix.
What it is
A core aerator is a machine that pulls small plugs of soil, usually two to three inches long, out of the lawn and drops them on the surface. Each hole gives air, water and nutrients a direct path to the roots, and gives the roots room to grow. Spike aerators, which simply poke holes, tend to compact the soil around each hole and do much less good.
When to do it
Aerate when your grass is growing actively, so it can fill in the holes quickly.
- Warm-season grasses (Bermuda, St. Augustine, zoysia): late spring into early summer.
- Cool-season grasses (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass): early fall, with spring as a second choice.
Avoid aerating during drought, during extreme heat or when the lawn is dormant.
Aerate when the grass is growing, so it can fill the holes fast.
How to prepare
- Water the lawn a day or two before, so the soil is moist but not soggy. Dry soil resists the tines; wet soil smears.
- Flag sprinkler heads, shallow irrigation lines, invisible pet fences and any utility lines.
- Mow at your normal height beforehand.
What to expect afterward
The lawn will be covered in small soil plugs for a week or two. Leave them; they break down with rain and mowing and return organic matter to the surface. For cool-season lawns, fall aeration is the ideal time to overseed, because the seed falls into the holes and makes good contact with the soil. Keep new seed consistently moist until it is established.
How often
Most residential lawns benefit from aeration once a year. Heavily used areas, athletic fields and lawns on heavy clay may need it twice. Lightly used lawns on sandy soil can often go longer.
When LawnPoint opens its branches in 2027, aeration and overseeding will be scheduled for the right season in each market.
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