The days are getting shorter and the evenings are getting cooler in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. And it’s time to start thinking about renovating your lawn back to health after a very wet summer. There are many ways to return your lawn back to its healthy state, and aeration is a good place to start. Aeration means that you loosen up compacted soil using a machine that pulls plugs of soil out of the ground. This process allows air, fertilizer and water to penetrate into the soil and feed your grass. Aeration allows your grass to develop longer roots, as well as healthier crowns, leaf blades, etc.

Why You Need to Aerate in the Fall

Fall is one of the best times to aerate your lawn because your grass is starting to grow again after being dormant during the hottest parts of the summer. Your grass needs to receive nutrients and water for optimal health and longevity.

Typical Ohio lawn grasses that need aeration include Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescues, and tall fescues which are popular cool season grasses.

Where Aeration is Needed the Most

Your lawn will need the most aeration in areas where there is a lot of foot traffic, and where there is too much thatch. Soil compaction happens when the turf is continually walked on or compacted in some way that you end up with a lot of water run-off, and grass will no longer grow in that area.

Thatch build-up means that the organic parts of grass, including dead roots, young shoots, and other material have developed between the soil and the grass line. Keep in mind, some thatch is necessary for a healthy lawn. But too much thatch will kill your grass.

How a Lawn Aeration Works

We've established that a core aeration is just what the doctor ordered for a thinning, stressed out, compacted lawn. Here's how an aeration works:

• You prepare the soil for aeration by getting rid of excess thatch that developed over the spring and summer. Raking loosens up the thatch to enable you to effectively use an aerator on your yard
• Some folks use spiked shoes to remove plugs of soil that are compacted in their yard. However, this is considered a superficial practice
• To fully aerate your soil, you’ll need to rent an aerator designed for lawn aerating
• Or you can hire a local lawn care professional to aerate your lawn for you. They have the professional expertise to properly diagnose your yard, as well as the proper equipment needed to aerate your soil back to health.

More Fall Lawn Recovery Tips

Giving your lawn a core aeration is just one of the many things you should be doing to help your lawn recover from the stressful summer. Download our FREE FALL RECOVER GUIDE to help learn more about what you should and shouldn't do to get your lawn looking great. The best part of this guide is that it's yours ABSOLUTELY FREE by clicking on the button below to download it!

About Wendy:
Wendy Komancheck is an accomplished Freelance Writer for Trade Magazines, Websites, and Local Businesses, specializing in horticultural articles. Check out Wendy's bio and website by Clicking Here. Wendy's Google+ Page