What Is the Purpose of Core Aeration & When Should It Be Performed?

Core aeration is a lawn care service that involves pulling plugs of soil from the ground to relieve compaction, reduce thatch buildup, and make it easier for nutrients and other resources to reach the roots of your grass. This service should be performed either in the spring or fall, as these are the times of the year in South Dakota when your cool-season grass will be strong enough to endure the process. Core aeration is a lawn care service that should be performed annually because it will help ensure your soil never becomes too compacted.

What is core aeration?

Core aeration is a process through which holes are pulled from the ground using a machine called an aerator. The purpose of this service is to reduce soil compaction and reduce thatch buildup. Because your soil can become compacted over the course of the year from various factors such as foot traffic, rain, the weight of lawn mowers, and other reasons, you'll want to have your lawn aerated to alleviate the compacted soil. Thatch can also accumulate on your lawn during the year, and aeration can remove this thatch later so it can suffocate your lawn.

Why should core aeration be done?

Core aeration is beneficial for your lawn because it provides numerous benefits. Its main purpose is to relieve soil compaction and reduce thatch buildup. Compacted soil and thatch can limit how much water, air, and sunlight your turf receives. The holes created during the aeration process create openings in your soil that nutrients and other resources can use to reach the roots of your grass. With improved access to nutrients and resources, your grass can develop deeper, stronger roots, improving the health and appearance of your turf!

When should core aeration be performed?

There are two ideal times of the year when you should schedule core aeration: spring and fall. During the spring, aerating your lawn will help it recover from the stress caused by the winter months and get it ready for the new growing season. After being dormant all winter long, your lawn will need assistance in absorbing nutrients and resources so that it can come out of dormancy strong and healthy. Aeration will provide this assistance by making it easier for nutrients and resources to penetrate your soil.

Aerating your lawn in the fall will give your grass the best chance of making it through the winter season. That's because it will allow your lawn to store up the nutrients that it needs to make it through dormancy and emerge healthy come spring. However, it's crucial that you schedule this service early enough in the fall so your lawn can recover before the freezing winter temperatures arrive. No matter if you schedule this service in the spring or fall, make sure you schedule it annually to ensure your soil never gets too compacted!

Give us a call today to schedule our core aeration service!

If you want to improve the health and beauty of your lawn, we are the company to turn to! At The Yard Barbers, we offer a core aeration service that will alleviate soil compaction and break down any thatch buildup on your lawn. We offer this service in both the spring and fall. Our team offers our core aeration service to commercial and residential properties, as well as HOAs, in Sioux Falls, Harrisburg, Tea, SD, and nearby areas. Give us a call today at (605) 370-5084 to schedule our core aeration service!