Aeration and overseeding are essential to maintaining a healthy lawn. When done regularly each year, especially in the fall, they revitalize the lawn and provide new growth to counteract the stresses placed on the grass each year. Doing this process keeps the lawn full and healthy and is the best way to prevent weed growth as this gives weeds very little room to germinate and grow. Over time thatch layers grow, soil compaction occurs, and gases build up in root zones.
Thatch is a layer of organic matter that exists between the grass and the soil surface. When the thatch layer becomes too thick, it can keep nutrients and oxygen from reaching the root zone, hold excess water during rainy periods, and can harbor large populations of disease-causing organisms and insects. Lawn aeration helps reduce this layer; when soil cores are removed, the thatch layer is also reduced. Doing this regularly keeps the thatch layer under control and manageable.
Grass depends on roots to grow and thrive. Soil compaction directly impacts and diminishes root growth. Soil needs to be light with plenty of pore space to allow root hairs to penetrate and provide nutrients and water to the grass. Soil compaction can occur from the organic matter being used up in the soil reducing pore space and from mechanical means such as foot traffic and lawnmowers. Aeration helps to reduce compaction by breaking up the soil and introducing more pore space for roots to thrive.
