What is Aeration? Understanding Lawn Aeration for a Healthier Lawn

Sometimes lawns need a breather, and that’s where aeration comes in. But what is an aeration service, and why is it so important for your lawn? Aeration is a key lawn care practice that helps your grass grow stronger, access nutrients more easily and recover from stress caused by soil compaction or heavy foot traffic.

Let’s dig deeper into TruGreen’s aeration services and what they can do for your lawn. 

Core aeration, also called aeration, is the process of mechanically removing small plugs of soil, thatch and turf from your lawn using a hollow coring machine. This is the most common practice, as the removed soil cores are left on the surface where they naturally break down and act as a topdressing with the lawn’s own native soil. Aeration reduces compaction, improves oxygen, water and nutrient flow to the roots, and creates an ideal seedbed when overseeding. The result is stronger, deeper root growth, a thicker and healthier lawn and better resilience against drought, disease, foot traffic and other stresses, while also enhancing the effectiveness of fertilization and other lawn care treatments.

How Aeration Improves Soil Health

• Loosens compacted soil: Aeration creates small holes in the soil, reducing compaction and allowing roots to expand freely. This gives your grass more room to grow stronger and improves overall lawn density.
• Increases oxygen flow to roots: Grass roots need oxygen to survive and grow. By loosening the soil and creating air channels, aeration ensures that oxygen reaches the soil and promotes healthier root development.
• Enhances water penetration: Aerated soil absorbs water more efficiently, reducing runoff and pooling. This ensures your grass receives adequate hydration for optimal growth.
• Improves nutrient absorption: Aeration allows fertilizer and natural nutrients to reach deeper into the root zone, making fertilization more effective and boosting turf health. 

• Manages thatch buildup: Thatch is a layer of dead grass, roots and debris that can prevent water, nutrients and air from reaching roots. Aeration breaks up thatch and encourages decomposition, improving lawn health.
• Reduces soil density: Over time, heavy foot traffic or clay soils can compact the ground. Aeration reduces soil density, creating a better environment for roots and beneficial soil organisms.
• Strengthens grass against stress: By relieving compaction and improving nutrient flow, aeration helps grass survive heat, drought, disease and pest pressures more effectively.
• Supports overseeding: Aeration opens the soil, creating ideal conditions for seed-to-soil contact. This allows new grass to establish faster, fill bare spots and create a thicker, more uniform lawn. 

Core Aeration vs. Spike Aeration

Core aeration: Removes small plugs of soil and thatch from your lawn, allowing nutrients to penetrate deeper. This method is highly effective for compacted soils and thatch buildup.

Spike aeration: Pokes holes in the soil without removing cores. While it can temporarily reduce surface compaction, it’s less effective for improving root growth and soil health than core aeration and is not a service provided by TruGreen. 

• Mark sprinklers and underground lines: Protect irrigation, electrical lines and other underground utilities to prevent damage during aeration.
• Water the lawn thoroughly: Softening the soil the day before aeration allows deeper plugs to be removed and ensures minimal stress on your grass.
• Use an aerator to remove soil plugs: The machine creates holes ½ to ¾ inch in diameter and 2-3 inches deep, loosening the soil and improving root access to air and nutrients.
• Allow plugs to break down naturally: The removed cores contain nutrients that feed the soil as they decompose, enriching your lawn naturally over time.
• Seed and fertilize after aeration: Applying seed and fertilizer after aeration maximizes seed-to-soil contact, boosts nutrient absorption and promotes faster recovery. 

Signs Your Lawn Needs Aeration

• Puddles form after rainstorms: Water pooling on the surface indicates poor absorption due to compaction, signaling that aeration is needed.
• Lawn fails the screwdriver test: If a screwdriver or pencil is difficult to push into the soil, roots are likely struggling to grow, and aeration can relieve this compaction.
• Thick layers of thatch prevent nutrient absorption: Excessive thatch blocks water and fertilizer from reaching roots, making aeration critical for healthy turf.
• Lawn shows signs of stress or thinning: Uneven growth, bare spots and weak roots are signs your lawn would benefit from aeration.

Most lawns benefit from annual aeration, while lawns with compacted soil may require two treatments per year. 

Aeration is one of the most important lawn maintenance tasks, but it can be labor-intensive and time-consuming. TruGreen specialists assess soil, grass type and lawn conditions to recommend the best treatments, ensuring your lawn receives tailored care that maximizes health, thickness and resilience.

Learn more about TruGreen lawn aeration services today! 

What is an aeration service in lawn care?

Aeration is the process of removing small plugs of soil and thatch to improve nutrient, water and oxygen access for grass roots.

How does lawn aeration work?

A specialized machine pulls small cores from the lawn, which break down and return nutrients to the soil, improving turf health and reducing compaction.

What are the benefits of aeration for grass?

Aeration promotes stronger roots, reduces soil compaction, enhances nutrient and water absorption, helps manage thatch and supports overseeding efforts for thicker turf.

How often should you aerate your lawn?

Most lawns benefit from once-a-year aeration, while lawns with compacted soil may need two treatments per year to maintain optimal health.