After a hard day at work, you want to relax on your lawn. But that’s hard to do when it’s ragged and worn out. What could be the cause? Oftentimes, it’s due to soil compaction and thatch build-up. Both issues hinder the ability for water, air, and nutrients to penetrate deep into the soil to reach grass roots. Roots can even begin to suffocate when soil is compacted. The good news is you can open up your lawn – and help it breathe easier – with aeration services from the Rockland County area’s experts at Lawn Doctor of Rockland-Pascack Valley-Saddle River.
How Lawn Aeration Works
There are two ways to approach aeration. The first simply uses spikes on a roller. The second, called core aeration, actually punches out plugs of soil and thatch throughout your lawn. This, in turn, minimizes soil compaction and makes more space for air, fertilizer, and water to flow freely into the soil. As a result, your lawn will begin to grow deeper and stronger roots. It will also be able to better tolerate heat and drought. Best of all, your grass will start looking thicker and more luscious in the weeks and months following aeration.
Signs Your Lawn Needs Aeration
If you’re not an experienced lawn care technician, it can be hard to know the signs to look out for that signify compaction and thatch overgrowth. Some of the most common indications that Rockland County area homeowners can look for when considering lawn aeration include:
- Weak and spotty growth in areas
- Standing water that runs off into puddles, rather than getting absorbed into the lawn
- A lawn made up of heavy clay soils, which are prone to compaction
- Regularly parking vehicles on your lawn
You can also perform the screwdriver or shovel test to check for compaction. This simply involves taking a screwdriver or shovel and plunging it into the ground. If it’s hard to do – and you have to struggle to get it in – it’s a sign your soil is compacted and needs to be aerated.
When to Perform Lawn Aeration
As Rockland County area’s lawn care experts, Lawn Doctor of Rockland-Pascack Valley-Saddle River knows you won’t see optimal results if you don’t time aeration correctly. In fact, you could wind up causing damage to your lawn. For warm season grass, like Buffalo and Bermuda, the best time to aerate is in the late spring. For cool season grass, such as ryegrass and Kentucky bluegrass, aim to aerate in the fall or the early spring. That way, aeration is performed just before the active growth cycle, so holes will fill in quickly.
Turning to Lawn Aeration Experts in the Rockland County Area
Don’t want to spend your weekend with heavy, hard-to-use aeration equipment? Leave the work to the Rockland County area’s aeration experts at Lawn Doctor of Rockland-Pascack Valley-Saddle River. We have the proven approach, the specialized equipment, and the extensive expertise to get the job done right. You can enjoy more time with your family – or golfing or fishing – and still get a thick, healthy, beautiful lawn.
Our lawn aeration services are available to homeowners in Rockland County as well as New City, Bergen County, Washington Township, Pearl River, and Saddle River. Call Lawn Doctor of Rockland-Pascack Valley-Saddle River today at 845.638.4999 to learn more or schedule your free consultation.
