Aeration - Best thing for your Lawn or Garden! Courtesy: Nutri-Lawn, your Ecology Friendly Lawn Care company (informational advertisement) We all know the benefits of cultivating and "turning over" our vegetable and flower gardens in the spring. We know that it is "good for the soil", as it loosens and allows air into the soil. We would not think of trying to seed and grow a garden in hard compacted soil. The soil under your lawn is no different. If it becomes hard compacted, and lacking air, the roots will have difficulty to grow, and the plant will not flourish. Aeration is the natural process of physically of opening and loosening the soil under your turf. By removing the small cores of soil, thatch, and turf to approximately 5% of the lawn surface area, we perform a benefit to the remaining turf which is highly beneficial. Regular annual aeration is highly recommended, and the frequency and need for aeration can vary depending on soil type (clay is worst for compaction), traffic on the turf, and grass type (kentucky blue can be a heavy thatch producer). The root system of your lawn needs oxygen to function. A heavy clay soil, or one that is compacted from foot traffic or rain accumulation, severely impedes air exchange and movement. When this happens, oxygen cannot get to the root system, and your lawn begins to show symptoms of slow gradual decline. The most obvious result of compaction is a lack of growth and thickness. A compacted lawn has a tendency to just "sit there", and you seldom need to mow it! With many homeowners there is a belief that grass clippings result in thatch build-up, and that there is a need to bag clippings to keep the lawn clean and more healthy. The truth is that clippings are a "natural source of nitrogen" which can return up to 30% of nitrogen requirements. Clippings are ninety percent water and break down quickly. Try to cut your lawn more frequently so that clippings are shorter and will not accumulate in clumps on the lawn surface. Thatch is the other problem resolved by core aeration. Thatch is predominantly the build-up of dead and decaying root systems. It is a layer of dense fibrous "peat" looking material between the crown of the grass plant and the root system. Thatch can be so dense and impenetrable that it can deny water to the root system. Once thatch gets to over a half inch in thickness it is a serious problem. Power raking is a quick and very laborious way to remove thatch, which can also result to damage to the turf. The better answer lies in Core Aeration. Aeration is a slow process to remove thatch, which stimulates microbial activity. Microbes feed on the thatch, eventually converting it back to top soil. Aeration is a natural process of revitalizing your soil below your lawn, and allowing your turf to take maximum benefit of water and nutrient up-take. Have an aeration annually and it will help your lawn to flourish! It is the single best thing for your lawn. Contact a lawn professional to book an aeration. Choose a company who stands behind their work with a full guarantee of satisfaction and will ensure the job is done correctly.