When a lawn is properly aerated, oxygen is able to permeate the top layer of soil. Like all living things, grass requires oxygen and minerals to live. When aeration occurs, not only is oxygen allowed into the top layer, the thatch is broken up. Thatch is made up of living and dead matter, mostly roots and rhizomes, that can build up into a kind of ‘carpet’ over the soil. Unless broken up, thatch will eventually cause soil to acidify making new growth harder with each passing season.
By aerating your lawn annually, thatch is broken up, allowing oxygen into the soil. The plugs are then left on the ground to be broken up from either rain water or by your lawn being mowed. This breakdown will naturally redistribute minerals and organic compounds back into the ground, guaranteeing a good growth cycle the following season.
We recommend customers aerate their lawns annually in either spring or fall. Doing so optimizes grass growth during growing seasons. At Semper Viridis Property Maintenance, we pride ourselves on performing quick and affordable aerations that not only benefit you, but also the environment by keeping soil healthy.