Aerating is the process of
punching holes
(usually 3-4 Inches deep) into your lawn to allow water, oxygen, fertilizers, and other nutrients to penetrate the soil and better reach the roots of your grass.
How is Aerating done?
Aerating is usually done by pushing hollow cylinders into the ground and forcing out plugs of soil to the lawn surface. Spikes are also used to aerating, but are not usually as effective. Because spikes do not remove "plugs" from the ground, they do not create holes in the soil for expansion and in some cases, weed prevention. Aerating can also help in breaking up the buildup of Thatch in your lawn.
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When Should I Aerate?
In Minnesota with Kentucky Bluegrass, late summer or early fall is the best time.
Aerating is usually either done with a Power Aerator (or Coring Machine) or a Manual (foot-pressed) Aerator. The Power Aerator kind of resembles a conventional motorized snow blower with the engine on top and wheels on the back or sides. The major difference is that the Power Aerator has a circular wheel in the front or back with hollow cylinders or spikes pointing out around the wheel. Click here to learn how to Aerate your lawn this year (link)
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Overseeding
Overseeding at the time of Aeration is a great way to thicken up a thin lawn or introduce better grass types to a lawn. Simply spreading grass seed over a lawn will give very poor results. By aerating first, the soil is cultivated, greatly improving the results. The majority of the new grass will grow in the aeration holes. ‘Tufts’ of new grass will grow out of the holes and then ‘tiller-out’ and thicken up the lawn.
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