Core Aeration

Macon and Warner Robins Lawn Care Tips: Core Aeration

Core aeration is a great way to ensure your lawn will be dense and healthy throughout the growing season.  As your Bermuda, Centipede, and St Augustine and Zoysia, Bermuda, Centipede, and St Augustine and lawns begin to green up, keep in mind one of the keys to maintaining a healthy green yard is through core aeration. It’s important for your lawn’s health to schedule aerating annually as it offers many health benefits for the grass.

Why is Core Aeration good for my Lawn?

It’s easy to ignore what’s happening beneath the surface of your grass. Over time, soil becomes compacted as a result of foot traffic, mowing, rain, etc. The clay present in central Georgia soils enhances this compaction issue in Macon and Warner Robins lawns. As the top few inches of soil become compressed, your lawn’s heath is threatened. Soil compaction reduces the flow of key nutrients, air and water to the root system hindering your grass from growing healthy and strong. One thing you can do to make sure the soil underneath your grass is less compacted is through the process of aeration.  Learn more about aerating from Walter Reeves.

How Is Core Aeration Performed?

Aeration is performed on a moist lawn using a tool to perforate your turf. An effective aeration tool will have hollow tines that remove small cores, about a half-inch around. The tool is run horizontally and vertically across the yard, removing thousands of plugs. These plugs are left atop the soil to dry out before they are broken down with a mower for a cleaner look and to add nutrients back into the grass.  Check out this video on the equipment we use for aerating.

What Benefits Does Core Aeration Provide?

  • Enhances the soil’s ability to receive water, oxygen uptake and nutrients

    core aeration

    plugs from aerating

  • Reduces soil compaction
  • Lowers water runoff
  • Contributes to breakdown of thatch
  • Increases tolerance to stress and drought
  • Creates healthier root systems
  • Increases benefits of fertilization

When Should I Core Aerate Warm Season Grasses?

Core Aeration can be the key to a thick, rich Bermuda, Centipede, St. Augustine or Zoysia lawn.  Proper timing will ensure the best results when it comes to reaping the benefits of aeration. Make sure your lawn is actively growing when you aerate so that it’s able to recover effectively from this strenuous process. Spring and early summer are the best times to do this. In central Georgia, the end of April through June presents a good window of opportunity for aeration of your Bermuda and Zoysia grasses.

At Liquid Lawn, aeration is available as an add-on service to all of our customers or can be purchased as an individual service outside of a lawn care program.  Call us at 478-318-7644 for a free estimate or contact us and schedule your spring aeration today. Help your lawn breathe easier this year!