Here in South Eastern PA, summer can be rough on our landscapes. With our fluctuating temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns, both summer heat and excessive flooding can damage our lawns. Add to that the playtime, lawn equipment, and vehicles we often drive on our grounds; this can all take a significant toll on our grass.

Many times these stressors can compact our soil and produce excessive thatch. Fortunately, there is a solution. Lawn aeration is a service that will help to revitalize your lawn. Read on and learn everything there is to know about compacted soil, aeration, and a process called overseeding that can also increase the health of your lawn.

What Is Compacted Soil?

Soil compaction occurs when soil particles are pressed together, reducing pore space between them. It’s a problem because it prevents much-needed water, oxygen, sunlight, and nutrients from getting to the roots of your soil.  If your soil is compacted, it will look fatigued and dried out. Other signs and symptoms that indicate you have compacted soil include:

• Spongy grass
• Water runs off or pools in areas of your yard. 
• Bare or patchy areas of grass
• Stunted growth of plants
• Hard soil 

If you want to be sure you have compacted soil, you can use what we refer to as the screwdriver test. Take a screwdriver and stick it in your yard. If it’s difficult to drive the screwdriver into the soil, then your soil is compacted.

What Is Thatch?

Thatch is an intermingled blend of organic material that gathers between the soil and the grass.  As it builds up, it too prevents essential elements such as water, air, and nutrients from penetrating your soil. When these elements are unable to get to your roots, your grass will begin to weaken, wither and eventually die. Soil compaction and thatch are two of the biggest lawn problems that residences and businesses in Eastern Pennsylvania face.

Aeration to the Rescue

A process called lawn aeration can help relieve your grass of soil compaction and excessive thatch. It is the process of removing plugs of soil from your grass, depositing them on top, and distributing them across your lawn.

Additional Benefits of Lawn Aeration Include:

• Reduces compacted soil: Cores of compacted soil are pulled from the lawn, allowing grassroots to spread out and grow deeper.
• Reduces excess thatch: Aeration relieves your lawn of excess thatch, allowing your grass easy access to air, water, and nutrients.
• Access to water, air, and nutrients: Relieving soil compaction and reducing thatch build-up enables your grass to have easier access to air, water, and fertilizer.
• Stronger root system: With less soil compaction, your grassroots will have more space to spread out. This results in deeper root systems and healthier grass.

When Is the Best Time To Aerate Your Lawn?

Able to be performed annually, lawn aeration should only ever be performed during the growing season. Here in Pennsylvania, most of our lawns are made of cool-season grasses such as tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and ryegrass. The growing season for cool-season grasses is in the spring and fall. Having aeration performed now in the fall will help to strengthen your roots and prepare them for our upcoming frigid winters.

Overseeding Your Eastern PA Lawn

Typically done after aeration, overseeding is the application of new grass seeds onto your existing yard. Usually, it is a mix of different strains of grass. Adding in a variety of grasses can help increase your turf’s resistance to lawn pests, drought, and lawn disease. Overseeding can also quickly thicken up your lawn and fill in bare spots.

How to Prepare Your Lawn Before Aeration and Overseeding Services

Fall is the best time for lawn aeration, but it’s essential to prepare your lawn for the service. Make sure to mark any areas near electric dog fences and mark your sprinkler heads as well. This helps your lawn care technicians navigate your lawn safely, without causing any accidental damage. It’s also a good idea to make sure the soil is moist before your aeration service. Watering your grass a couple of days before the service will ensure the tines from the aerator can easily penetrate the soil.

Contact the Professionals at Showcase Lawn Works for Professional Aeration and Overseeding Services Now

Revitalize your lawn with Showcase Lawn Work’s aeration service. Or combine it with our overseeding service and bolster the strength of your grass, making it less prone to pest infestations, disease, and weeds. Learn more about our aeration and overseeding services by reaching out to us online or calling us at 717-354-3226. Invest in our year-round lawn care program now and start giving your turf the care and nutrients it needs when it needs them.

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