How Does Mechanical Core Aeration Work? When and How Often Should Core Aeration be Performed? Help your Minnesota Lawn Breath!

Minneapolis, MN Fall Aeration

Help Your Lawn Breath

After an all-too-brief summer, fall has arrived in Eagan. It’s time to help your lawn recover after a season of unpredictable conditions, increased foot traffic, and a long line of environmental stresses. Not sure where to start? Weed Man Minneapolis, MN’s core aeration will help give your lawn a much-needed boost before the arrival of winter, allowing your turf to look and perform its best come next growing season.

Why Do I Need to Aerate My Minneapolis, MN Lawn?                                                                                   

• Aeration will overcome a compacted soil. Compacted soils make it difficult for roots to grow and limit the movement of air, moisture and fertilizer throughout the soil.
• Aeration will improve your water requirements. By relieving soil compaction, water penetration is increased and water runoff is reduced.
• If your lawn has a thick layer of thatch (dead and decaying plant tissue between the soil’s surface and green vegetation), core aeration will help by punching through that layer. This will improve air, water and nutrient penetration.
• Aeration will enhance the development of a deep root system. A deeply rooted lawn is healthier and better able to withstand drought, disease and insect stress.

How Does Mechanical Core Aeration Work?

Aeration equipment consists of a series of hollow coring tines. When these tines are rolled over the lawn, they puncture the soil, removing small soil plugs. The equipment is compact and can easily be used in confined areas.

The cores of soil and thatch are pulled up by the machine and left on the lawn, as they contain beneficial micro-organisms that will help break down any remaining thatch. These cores will disappear back into the lawn within 7-14 days or after the first mowing. Raking the cores to break them up will speed up the process.

When and How Often Should Core Aeration be Performed?

Core aeration may be performed once or twice per season – frequency greatly depends on the condition of the lawn. Minneapolis, MN lawns featuring very thick thatch layers or heavily compacted soil may want to consider two aerations per year. Aerations are usually done in the spring and the fall when the soil is moist. Weed Man of the Twin Cities performs aeration in the fall only to minimize interference with pre-emergent. 

If you have a newly sodded lawn, aeration is still a crucial step in caring for your turf. When new sod is laid, there is also a layer of soil that is added. This soil does not always match up with the existing soil on your property, resulting in layering problems two to three years after sodding. Aeration minimizes layering issues and aids in the health and vitality of new turf.

Customers who have damaged areas from drought, disease or insect damage also benefit from core aeration. Overseeding immediately following aeration enhances germination by allowing seeds to drop down into the holes left on the lawn.

Brought to you by Weed Man Minneapolis, MN Lawn Care: we care for your lawn. Call (651) 456-9696 or request an online quote to find out how we can help your lawn look its best.