OKC Lawn Aeration Services

Brendon Willis
Lawn aeration plug closeup

Why Aeration Improves Your Lawn

Lawn aeration (AKA aerification) can be, in effect, a steroid shot to your lawn. If you’re already on our lawn health program this service can have a multiplier effect on the improvement and health of your lawn.

  • By nature, lawn aeration it creates an immediate space for a flush of new root growth underground.
  • It can rapidly speed up the decomposition of excessive thatch in your lawn. (Thatch is a buildup of old organic material that, if left unmanaged, can slow down its very own decomposition and create a spongy feel in the lawn. This creates a welcome environment for pests and diseases.)
  • It increases the transfer of water, air, and nutrients down into the direct root zone of your lawn.

How Aeration Is Achieved

Proper core aeration of your lawn is performed with a heavy machine. The machine has a number of tines (hole punches) with sharpened edges that are repeatedly forced down into the soil of your lawn. (Imagine a cookie cutter that’s really small but is 4” tall.)

The tines grab the soil that they “cut” and eject these plugs onto the surface of the lawn.

Lawn with core aeration plugs
Core aeration plugs on lawn.

The plugs can be removed or left on the lawn. Typically, they are left on the lawn to decompose which saves tremendously on labor.

When these voids are created in the soil, it gives space for the compacted soil to spread out and get some space. This can cause an incredible flush of root development and your lawn will LOVE it.

FAQ’s About Lawn Aeration

Do I need to aerate my lawn?

All lawns will see positive results from aeration. Some lawns need it more than others. If your lawn has a lot of foot, play, pet or vehicle traffic you will see grass growing more evenly. If you have heavy clay soil, you will see less water run-off and more evenly growing grass. If you have an established healthy lawn you will see results in the form of reduced thatch.

When do I need to aerate my lawn?

For warm-season grasses like Bermuda grass, any time during the growing season is a good time to aerate! You will get the most bang for your buck in early summer when the grass is growing quickly.

What do I need to do before aerating my lawn?

Mark your underground systems and dog fences so the aerator doesn’t damage them. Water your lawn each day leading up to the service. Don’t water on the day of service or you’ll have a muddy mess on your hands.

How much does it cost to aerate my lawn?

All companies are different, but it’s usually not any more than a small multiple of what you are paying for standard lawn treatments. Or if you are our customer, you can have a small adjustment made to your monthly billing amount to add aeration.

Is core or plug aeration better?

Plug and core aeration are the same thing, there is no difference besides the wording.

Is spike aeration better than core?

No. Spike aerators essentially force a steel spike into the ground. This does create a hole in the ground, but it actually creates compaction problems. Consider – if you shove your finger into a sponge – what happens to the material under and around your finger? It is compressed. Positive results come from creating more space in the soil, which is why we always choose core over spike aeration.

Can I aerate my own lawn?

A: Of course! Beware: there are plenty of methodologies and products touted as aeration but are in fact simple “spike” aeration and thus actually increase soil compaction. The “spike-bottom shoes” and methods you will find on Google describing how to shove a pitchfork in the ground many times are not effective tools.

To properly aerate you should rent or purchase a core-aerator. It is quite labor-intensive to do it the right way, but with the proper machinery, you can achieve good results!

What should I do after aerating my lawn?

Resume normal maintenance! Following core aeration or plug aeration you will have many thousands of small half-inch wide, 2-3 inch long “plugs” of soil laying all over the top of your lawn. It can be unsightly at first but as you water your lawn these will break down in 1-3 weeks.

What risks are there with aeration?

The risks involved with aeration are damage to underground or in-ground objects such as sprinkler heads, sprinkler valve boxes, invisible dog fences, etc. Be sure to mark all of these prior to aeration service.

Conclusion

If you’re already on a solid lawn health regimen, the next service you would benefit from is this one! Once you have the service done the first time you will be a believer! For a relatively small investment, you can greatly increase the effectiveness of your lawn health program. Be sure to reach out to us at 405-920-3679 for more information or to get signed up!

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