Lawn Aeration in Springfield: What is it and When do you Need it?

extremely green grass photo fills entire frame showing lawn aeration in SpringfieldYour turf needs a few basic essentials – like water, air, and nutrients – to ensure healthy growth. But when soil gets compacted and surface thatch grows heavy, it can prevent these from flowing to roots, leading to a sharp decline in the appearance and strength of your lawn. That’s where lawn aeration comes in and can help homeowners in the Springfield, IL area get their yards back on track toward beautiful growth.

While there are different approaches to aeration, Lawn Doctor of Greater Springfield relies on and recommends core aeration. With this method, a machine – called an aerator – moves across your lawn to perforate it and punch out small chunks of soil, grass, and thatch. These holes break up the stifling thatch growing on the surface that’s hindering rainfall, fertilizer, sunlight, and other vital essentials from soaking into the soil. Likewise, it relieves dense soil compaction that’s suffocating roots and stopping them from absorbing nutrients and water.

The plugs left behind serve a purpose, too. As they decompose, they act as a topdressing, nourishing your lawn. When they break down, they also release microbes that further eat away at the surface thatch on your lawn.

Lawn Aeration: How Springfield Homeowners Can Tell It’s Needed

Whether you know it or not, every lawn needs aeration. That’s because every lawn experiences some level of foot traffic, heavy rain, and regular mowing. These all put pressure on the soil and roots down below. In addition, when your soil type is clay, frequent aeration is often needed, whether annually or several times a year.

You’ll notice your lawn needs aeration with:

  • Water puddling after rain rather than flowing into the ground
  • Water running off in higher areas
  • Discolored grass, spotty growth, and thinning turf
  • Soil that feels spongy due to heavy thatch
  • Ground that’s too hard to easily drive a screwdriver into

Lawn Doctor of Greater Springfield: Learn More About Our Services

We know there are many benefits to aeration. Once your lawn is opened, grass roots can breathe again and have the space to grow deeper and spread out. A stronger root system is also the foundation for a better-looking, healthier lawn. But to take advantage of all aeration can offer, you need the right approach and equipment. Don’t go it alone; leave the task to our trained team, and go relax and enjoy your day. We can aerate your lawn, seed and fertilize it after, and produce lush, full results you love coming home to.

Call our team today at (217) 529-5288 to schedule your free assessment and find out why customers from Springfield and Sherman to Chatham, Rochester, and beyond rely on us for expert lawn aeration.