igforum.bio / how-to-aerate-a-lawn-and-when-you-should-do-it-tom-s-guide - 249202
E
%Start How to aerate a lawn and when you should do it Tom's Guide Skip to main content Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Elijah Patel Member
access_time 3 minutes ago
%Start How to aerate a lawn and when you should do it Tom's Guide Skip to main content Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
thumb_up Like (6)
comment Reply (1)
share Share
visibility 157 views
thumb_up 6 likes
comment 1 replies
A
Andrew Wilson 2 minutes ago
Here's why you can trust us. How to aerate a lawn and when you should do it By Katie Mortram pu...
Z
Here's why you can trust us. How to aerate a lawn and when you should do it By Katie Mortram published 15 August 2022 Here's how to aerate a lawn and why you should be doing it (Image credit: Shutterstock) If you take pride in your yard, you need to know how to aerate a lawn. While planting fresh grass seed, fertilizing for growth and regular mowing all adds up to healthy grass, nothing is quite as beneficial as aerating.
Zoe Mueller Member
access_time 4 minutes ago
Here's why you can trust us. How to aerate a lawn and when you should do it By Katie Mortram published 15 August 2022 Here's how to aerate a lawn and why you should be doing it (Image credit: Shutterstock) If you take pride in your yard, you need to know how to aerate a lawn. While planting fresh grass seed, fertilizing for growth and regular mowing all adds up to healthy grass, nothing is quite as beneficial as aerating.
thumb_up Like (7)
comment Reply (2)
thumb_up 7 likes
comment 2 replies
K
Kevin Wang 4 minutes ago
Aerating essentially involves puncturing the ground to allow better air circulation in the soil, and...
C
Charlotte Lee 3 minutes ago
This can result in a layer of thatch forming on the surface which impairs your grass from reaching t...
K
Aerating essentially involves puncturing the ground to allow better air circulation in the soil, and it's something that many lawn-lovers forget to do. Over time, your soil will be compacted from daily footfall, as well as from the weight of itself (particularly if it's a heavy soil).
Kevin Wang Member
access_time 12 minutes ago
Aerating essentially involves puncturing the ground to allow better air circulation in the soil, and it's something that many lawn-lovers forget to do. Over time, your soil will be compacted from daily footfall, as well as from the weight of itself (particularly if it's a heavy soil).
thumb_up Like (18)
comment Reply (1)
thumb_up 18 likes
comment 1 replies
S
Scarlett Brown 11 minutes ago
This can result in a layer of thatch forming on the surface which impairs your grass from reaching t...
V
This can result in a layer of thatch forming on the surface which impairs your grass from reaching the necessary water as well as nutrients. If you take the time to aerate your yard, the grass roots will be freed up, so they can access what they're missing. This leads to healthier and greener results in the long run, so it's definitely worth giving your yard a once-over. (You can also read about how much you should water your lawn to keep it green, according to experts.) But before you go renting a machine, you should know that there's a time to aerate your lawn and a time to leave it alone.
Victoria Lopez Member
access_time 4 minutes ago
This can result in a layer of thatch forming on the surface which impairs your grass from reaching the necessary water as well as nutrients. If you take the time to aerate your yard, the grass roots will be freed up, so they can access what they're missing. This leads to healthier and greener results in the long run, so it's definitely worth giving your yard a once-over. (You can also read about how much you should water your lawn to keep it green, according to experts.) But before you go renting a machine, you should know that there's a time to aerate your lawn and a time to leave it alone.
thumb_up Like (22)
comment Reply (0)
thumb_up 22 likes
A
Interested to learn more? Here's how to aerate a lawn and when you should do it.
Amelia Singh Moderator
access_time 20 minutes ago
Interested to learn more? Here's how to aerate a lawn and when you should do it.
thumb_up Like (38)
comment Reply (3)
thumb_up 38 likes
comment 3 replies
N
Noah Davis 8 minutes ago
    Aerating a lawn isn't the same as dethatching it. If you're...
C
Charlotte Lee 3 minutes ago
Choose your aerator - Firstly, you need to decide what you want to use to aerate your lawn. Two type...
Show 1 more replies
W
    Aerating a lawn isn't the same as dethatching it. If you're keen to learn more, check out how to dethatch a lawn.   How to aerate a lawn in 7 simple steps&nbsp What you'll need - Lawn aerator (spike or core) - Flag markers or alternative - Grass seed  - Fertilizer 1.
William Brown Member
access_time 24 minutes ago
    Aerating a lawn isn't the same as dethatching it. If you're keen to learn more, check out how to dethatch a lawn.   How to aerate a lawn in 7 simple steps&nbsp What you'll need - Lawn aerator (spike or core) - Flag markers or alternative - Grass seed  - Fertilizer 1.
thumb_up Like (16)
comment Reply (3)
thumb_up 16 likes
comment 3 replies
A
Andrew Wilson 4 minutes ago
Choose your aerator - Firstly, you need to decide what you want to use to aerate your lawn. Two type...
M
Madison Singh 8 minutes ago
Core aerators, on the other hand, pull up 'cores' of soil as they work, leaving them on th...
Show 1 more replies
A
Choose your aerator - Firstly, you need to decide what you want to use to aerate your lawn. Two types of aerator exist: spike and core aerators. Spike aerators literally feature long spikes that puncture the ground as you pass over it.
Alexander Wang Member
access_time 7 minutes ago
Choose your aerator - Firstly, you need to decide what you want to use to aerate your lawn. Two types of aerator exist: spike and core aerators. Spike aerators literally feature long spikes that puncture the ground as you pass over it.
thumb_up Like (41)
comment Reply (2)
thumb_up 41 likes
comment 2 replies
M
Mia Anderson 7 minutes ago
Core aerators, on the other hand, pull up 'cores' of soil as they work, leaving them on th...
A
Andrew Wilson 5 minutes ago
This will make the task much easier as the soil will break apart more freely. You can always schedul...
L
Core aerators, on the other hand, pull up 'cores' of soil as they work, leaving them on the surface.  (Image credit: Shutterstock) You can find manual tools for each method so you can aerate by hand, however attachments also exist which you can hitch and tow from behind a riding lawn mower. Alternatively, you can rent or buy electric dethatcher and aerators from most home department stores, such as the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless 14" Cordless Battery Dethatcher/Aerator ($429, The Home Depot (opens in new tab)).  Between the two methods, core aeration is generally more effective because it leaves a much larger gap for the air to penetrate, but bear in mind it is more messy as 'cores' will be scattered across your yard by the time you're done. Today's best lawn aerator dealsReduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$86.06 (opens in new tab)$40.76 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$46.10 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)No price information (opens in new tab)Check Amazon (opens in new tab)We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices 2. Water your lawn - Make sure you water your lawn the day before you plan to aerate it.
Liam Wilson Member
access_time 40 minutes ago
Core aerators, on the other hand, pull up 'cores' of soil as they work, leaving them on the surface.  (Image credit: Shutterstock) You can find manual tools for each method so you can aerate by hand, however attachments also exist which you can hitch and tow from behind a riding lawn mower. Alternatively, you can rent or buy electric dethatcher and aerators from most home department stores, such as the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless 14" Cordless Battery Dethatcher/Aerator ($429, The Home Depot (opens in new tab)).  Between the two methods, core aeration is generally more effective because it leaves a much larger gap for the air to penetrate, but bear in mind it is more messy as 'cores' will be scattered across your yard by the time you're done. Today's best lawn aerator dealsReduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$86.06 (opens in new tab)$40.76 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$46.10 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)No price information (opens in new tab)Check Amazon (opens in new tab)We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices 2. Water your lawn - Make sure you water your lawn the day before you plan to aerate it.
thumb_up Like (28)
comment Reply (2)
thumb_up 28 likes
comment 2 replies
G
Grace Liu 22 minutes ago
This will make the task much easier as the soil will break apart more freely. You can always schedul...
A
Alexander Wang 35 minutes ago
You want about an inch of water across your lawn.  3. Mark any necessary areas you want to ...
H
This will make the task much easier as the soil will break apart more freely. You can always schedule the work in accordance with the next downpour if you want to save water.
Harper Kim Member
access_time 36 minutes ago
This will make the task much easier as the soil will break apart more freely. You can always schedule the work in accordance with the next downpour if you want to save water.
thumb_up Like (8)
comment Reply (3)
thumb_up 8 likes
comment 3 replies
S
Sophie Martin 29 minutes ago
You want about an inch of water across your lawn.  3. Mark any necessary areas you want to ...
L
Lily Watson 3 minutes ago
(Image credit: Shutterstock) Mark any areas you need to avoid when aerating, such as irrigation syst...
Show 1 more replies
M
You want about an inch of water across your lawn.  3. Mark any necessary areas you want to avoid - Once you start aerating your lawn, you'd be surprised how determined you can get. So much so that it's all too easy to run over an unsuspecting irrigation head.
Mason Rodriguez Member
access_time 50 minutes ago
You want about an inch of water across your lawn.  3. Mark any necessary areas you want to avoid - Once you start aerating your lawn, you'd be surprised how determined you can get. So much so that it's all too easy to run over an unsuspecting irrigation head.
thumb_up Like (39)
comment Reply (3)
thumb_up 39 likes
comment 3 replies
K
Kevin Wang 40 minutes ago
(Image credit: Shutterstock) Mark any areas you need to avoid when aerating, such as irrigation syst...
N
Noah Davis 7 minutes ago
Remember to keep your markings for use next year as well.  4. Make sure the ground is soft ...
Show 1 more replies
L
(Image credit: Shutterstock) Mark any areas you need to avoid when aerating, such as irrigation systems or tree roots. You can really use whatever you want to do this, but make sure whatever you use is noticeable and won't get knocked out of place. We recommend the ACE Supply Orange Marking Flags ($18.99, Amazon (opens in new tab)).
Liam Wilson Member
access_time 44 minutes ago
(Image credit: Shutterstock) Mark any areas you need to avoid when aerating, such as irrigation systems or tree roots. You can really use whatever you want to do this, but make sure whatever you use is noticeable and won't get knocked out of place. We recommend the ACE Supply Orange Marking Flags ($18.99, Amazon (opens in new tab)).
thumb_up Like (17)
comment Reply (3)
thumb_up 17 likes
comment 3 replies
N
Natalie Lopez 7 minutes ago
Remember to keep your markings for use next year as well.  4. Make sure the ground is soft ...
E
Elijah Patel 39 minutes ago
If it's too firm, it might require more water and a few more days.  On the other hand,...
Show 1 more replies
H
Remember to keep your markings for use next year as well.  4. Make sure the ground is soft - When the day arrives to aerate your yard, make sure the ground is soft enough to work. If you're unsure, test your aerator in a discreet spot.
Harper Kim Member
access_time 12 minutes ago
Remember to keep your markings for use next year as well.  4. Make sure the ground is soft - When the day arrives to aerate your yard, make sure the ground is soft enough to work. If you're unsure, test your aerator in a discreet spot.
thumb_up Like (17)
comment Reply (3)
thumb_up 17 likes
comment 3 replies
G
Grace Liu 11 minutes ago
If it's too firm, it might require more water and a few more days.  On the other hand,...
H
Hannah Kim 4 minutes ago
Then try again.   5. Aerate the lawn - Now comes the main event....
Show 1 more replies
M
If it's too firm, it might require more water and a few more days.  On the other hand, the ground can also be too wet. If the soil is bordering on muddy, don't bother aerating it. Wait a couple of days for it to firm up.
Mia Anderson Member
access_time 39 minutes ago
If it's too firm, it might require more water and a few more days.  On the other hand, the ground can also be too wet. If the soil is bordering on muddy, don't bother aerating it. Wait a couple of days for it to firm up.
thumb_up Like (25)
comment Reply (0)
thumb_up 25 likes
V
Then try again.   5. Aerate the lawn - Now comes the main event.
Victoria Lopez Member
access_time 56 minutes ago
Then try again.   5. Aerate the lawn - Now comes the main event.
thumb_up Like (36)
comment Reply (3)
thumb_up 36 likes
comment 3 replies
S
Sebastian Silva 36 minutes ago
To aerate a lawn, you essentially want to work your way up and down in one direction to cover the wh...
S
Sebastian Silva 24 minutes ago
This is necessary because that section of soil is likely more compacted than anywhere else.&nbsp...
Show 1 more replies
A
To aerate a lawn, you essentially want to work your way up and down in one direction to cover the whole space, and then back and forth across yourself from a perpendicular angle. This means you will work over the same soil twice.  (Image credit: Shutterstock) If you're aerating an area which suffers from particularly high traffic, such as near a pathway or across from the driveway, pass over that section with the aerator a few more times to be thorough.
Andrew Wilson Member
access_time 75 minutes ago
To aerate a lawn, you essentially want to work your way up and down in one direction to cover the whole space, and then back and forth across yourself from a perpendicular angle. This means you will work over the same soil twice.  (Image credit: Shutterstock) If you're aerating an area which suffers from particularly high traffic, such as near a pathway or across from the driveway, pass over that section with the aerator a few more times to be thorough.
thumb_up Like (8)
comment Reply (3)
thumb_up 8 likes
comment 3 replies
D
Dylan Patel 57 minutes ago
This is necessary because that section of soil is likely more compacted than anywhere else.&nbsp...
A
Aria Nguyen 30 minutes ago
It should only take a few days to a week for these cores to fully decompose. Don't be tempted t...
Show 1 more replies
M
This is necessary because that section of soil is likely more compacted than anywhere else.  6. Wait and see - If you used a core aerator, it may look like a bit of a mess once you're finished, but all of that soil on top is actually a good thing. If you leave it on its own to dry and break down naturally, it will better spread the nutrients across your yard.
Mia Anderson Member
access_time 48 minutes ago
This is necessary because that section of soil is likely more compacted than anywhere else.  6. Wait and see - If you used a core aerator, it may look like a bit of a mess once you're finished, but all of that soil on top is actually a good thing. If you leave it on its own to dry and break down naturally, it will better spread the nutrients across your yard.
thumb_up Like (30)
comment Reply (2)
thumb_up 30 likes
comment 2 replies
S
Sofia Garcia 33 minutes ago
It should only take a few days to a week for these cores to fully decompose. Don't be tempted t...
D
Daniel Kumar 46 minutes ago
  (Image credit: Shutterstock) 7. Apply what's needed - Now that your lawn is fully ae...
I
It should only take a few days to a week for these cores to fully decompose. Don't be tempted to rake them away in the meantime - you will only be removing the precious nutrients your soil is imparting on your lawn.
Isabella Johnson Member
access_time 51 minutes ago
It should only take a few days to a week for these cores to fully decompose. Don't be tempted to rake them away in the meantime - you will only be removing the precious nutrients your soil is imparting on your lawn.
thumb_up Like (28)
comment Reply (0)
thumb_up 28 likes
J
  (Image credit: Shutterstock) 7. Apply what's needed - Now that your lawn is fully aerated, it's time to overseed and apply fertilizer to encourage growth.  Remember to water well and keep an eye on it.
Julia Zhang Member
access_time 72 minutes ago
  (Image credit: Shutterstock) 7. Apply what's needed - Now that your lawn is fully aerated, it's time to overseed and apply fertilizer to encourage growth.  Remember to water well and keep an eye on it.
thumb_up Like (9)
comment Reply (2)
thumb_up 9 likes
comment 2 replies
L
Luna Park 17 minutes ago
A freshly aerated lawn will dry out much more quickly compared to a compacted one, so you will likel...
H
Henry Schmidt 61 minutes ago
Soil which suffers a lot of footfall should be aerated every year, while sandy soil will only need i...
A
A freshly aerated lawn will dry out much more quickly compared to a compacted one, so you will likely need to water it more frequently at first.Today's best Scotts Green Max Fertilizer dealsReduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$185.99 (opens in new tab)$27.97 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Low Stock (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$68.41 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)No price information (opens in new tab)Check Amazon (opens in new tab)We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices When should you aerate the lawn &nbsp Most tend to aerate their lawn in the late summer or early fall, mainly due to the heavy traffic the ground has suffered over the holidays. This gives the grass time to recover before the winter months hit as well.  However, there's no rule against aerating in the spring time either. Just make sure you do not do it in full summer when the weather is hot and dry - this could dry out your lawn and do more harm than good.  (Image credit: Shutterstock) How often should you aerate the lawn &nbsp This depends on the type of soil you have, as well as the amount of traffic it gets.
Amelia Singh Moderator
access_time 19 minutes ago
A freshly aerated lawn will dry out much more quickly compared to a compacted one, so you will likely need to water it more frequently at first.Today's best Scotts Green Max Fertilizer dealsReduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$185.99 (opens in new tab)$27.97 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Low Stock (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$68.41 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)No price information (opens in new tab)Check Amazon (opens in new tab)We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices When should you aerate the lawn &nbsp Most tend to aerate their lawn in the late summer or early fall, mainly due to the heavy traffic the ground has suffered over the holidays. This gives the grass time to recover before the winter months hit as well.  However, there's no rule against aerating in the spring time either. Just make sure you do not do it in full summer when the weather is hot and dry - this could dry out your lawn and do more harm than good.  (Image credit: Shutterstock) How often should you aerate the lawn &nbsp This depends on the type of soil you have, as well as the amount of traffic it gets.
thumb_up Like (5)
comment Reply (2)
thumb_up 5 likes
comment 2 replies
S
Sophia Chen 10 minutes ago
Soil which suffers a lot of footfall should be aerated every year, while sandy soil will only need i...
L
Luna Park 18 minutes ago
She also covers smart home products too, so is the best point of contact for any household advice!&a...
L
Soil which suffers a lot of footfall should be aerated every year, while sandy soil will only need it every 2-3 years.  For more lawn tips, tricks, and how-tos, check out our guides on how to plant grass seed, how to make your grass greener, how to stripe your lawn, how often should you fertilize your lawn and when to do it, how to lay sod, 7 common lawn care mistakes you're probably making right now, this is when you should stop mowing your lawn for the winter and read about the 7 ways to revive dead grass.    Today's best gardening gloves deals56 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$13.99 (opens in new tab)$6.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$7.20 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$16.10 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Be In the Know Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Katie MortramHomes EditorKatie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools.
Luna Park Member
access_time 60 minutes ago
Soil which suffers a lot of footfall should be aerated every year, while sandy soil will only need it every 2-3 years.  For more lawn tips, tricks, and how-tos, check out our guides on how to plant grass seed, how to make your grass greener, how to stripe your lawn, how often should you fertilize your lawn and when to do it, how to lay sod, 7 common lawn care mistakes you're probably making right now, this is when you should stop mowing your lawn for the winter and read about the 7 ways to revive dead grass.    Today's best gardening gloves deals56 Amazon customer reviews (opens in new tab)☆☆☆☆☆Reduced Price (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$13.99 (opens in new tab)$6.99 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$7.20 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)$16.10 (opens in new tab)View Deal (opens in new tab)Show More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Be In the Know Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Katie MortramHomes EditorKatie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools.
thumb_up Like (21)
comment Reply (0)
thumb_up 21 likes
A
She also covers smart home products too, so is the best point of contact for any household advice! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over 6 years, so she knows what to look for when finding the best. Her favorite thing to test has to be stand mixers as she loves to bake in her spare time.  See all comments (0) No comments yet Comment from the forums MOST READMOST SHARED1Rick and Morty season 6 episode 6 release date and time - How to watch online tonight, channel and more2House of the Dragon episode 8 release date and time - how to watch online tonight3MLB Playoffs live stream 2022: How to watch Wild Card baseball online right now4Nvidia RTX 4090 leak points to killer performance and plenty of stock5I just tested the AirPods Pro 2 for workouts - and I was surprised1Daily Quordle #258 - answers and hints for Sunday, October 92The best luxury mattress in 20223Rick and Morty season 6 episode 6 release date and time - How to watch online tonight, channel and more4House of the Dragon episode 8 release date and time - how to watch online tonight5MLB Playoffs live stream 2022: How to watch Wild Card baseball online right now
Amelia Singh Moderator
access_time 21 minutes ago
She also covers smart home products too, so is the best point of contact for any household advice! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over 6 years, so she knows what to look for when finding the best. Her favorite thing to test has to be stand mixers as she loves to bake in her spare time.  See all comments (0) No comments yet Comment from the forums MOST READMOST SHARED1Rick and Morty season 6 episode 6 release date and time - How to watch online tonight, channel and more2House of the Dragon episode 8 release date and time - how to watch online tonight3MLB Playoffs live stream 2022: How to watch Wild Card baseball online right now4Nvidia RTX 4090 leak points to killer performance and plenty of stock5I just tested the AirPods Pro 2 for workouts - and I was surprised1Daily Quordle #258 - answers and hints for Sunday, October 92The best luxury mattress in 20223Rick and Morty season 6 episode 6 release date and time - How to watch online tonight, channel and more4House of the Dragon episode 8 release date and time - how to watch online tonight5MLB Playoffs live stream 2022: How to watch Wild Card baseball online right now
thumb_up Like (31)
comment Reply (1)
thumb_up 31 likes
comment 1 replies
R
Ryan Garcia 10 minutes ago
How to aerate a lawn and when you should do it Tom's Guide Skip to main content Tom's Gui...

Write a Reply

Similar Discussions