7 experts on the importance of aeration as part of your Foxboro landscaping

If you’ve been trying to turn your lawn into the healthiest, greenest, and most eye-pleasing in Foxboro, you’re not alone. That’s an ultimate goal for many home and property owners for their Foxboro landscaping. A healthy lawn, however, can require a comprehensive lawn care program. One key and often under-rated factor that plays a large role in achieving this goal is aeration.

Simply put, aeration is the process of removing small pieces of soil to improve the circulation of air. Aeration can provide many benefits to your lawn, such as improving water and fertilizer uptake, turf roots, drainage, reducing soil compaction, and breaking down thatch. But, enough from us telling you how aeration can benefit your lawn.

Here are 7 experts on the importance of aeration as part of your Foxboro landscaping.

“An attractive lawn begins with a healthy root system. Roots growing in light airy topsoil can grow deep to be firm and robust. In a heavy clay or compacted soil, oxygen, water and nutrients do not enter the soil causing roots to be weak and prone to diseases and stress. Lawns that have a weak or shallow root system are thin and yellow-green in appearance. They do not hold up well to foot traffic or weather stress, and are slow to recover when damaged. Aerating improves rooting by loosening compacted soils and breaking up thatch. It allows water and other nutrients to seep into the soil, encouraging new root growth and establishing a stronger deeper root base for a lusher, healthier turf.”

– Lynn Loughary, Kansas State University Research and Extension

“Core aeration improves the soil and grass by providing several benefits. It helps break up compaction of the soil caused by construction, foot traffic or children playing. This miracle process also reduces the build up of thatch, improves water and nutrient infiltration, and adds oxygen while releasing carbon dioxide—all encouraging roots to push deeper into the soil.”

– Dennis L. Patton, K-State Research and Extension/Johnson County

“Aeration contributes to improved turf in a number of ways. It helps the plants build better root systems, increases the movement of air and water into the soil, and, at the same time, increases the effectiveness of fungicides or fertilizers that are applied. These benefits help ensure dense turf while maximizing the beneficial use of turf, both through avoidance of revenue loss and avoidance of lawn enjoyment time lost.”

– Nancy Riggs, 20 year green industry writer

“Homeowners often overlook problems associated with soil compaction. Insects, diseases, nematodes, improper watering and a lack of fertilizer are often blamed for a lawns decline when the real culprit is compaction. Compacted soil contributes to the accumulation of thatch because restricted oxygen levels in highly compacted soils impair the activity of earthworms and other thatch-decomposing organisms. Left unmanaged, thatch can lead to serious maintenance and pest problems. Thatch accumulates faster on compacted soils and heavy clay soils than on well-aerified soils. Therefore, some lawns may require frequent aerification to aid in thatch control.”

-Bob Polomski and Debbie Shaughnessy, Clemson University

“Soil compacting forces are most severe in poorly drained or wet sites. Compaction greatly reduces the pore space within the soil that would normally hold air. Roots require oxygen to grow and absorb nutrients and water. Compaction reduces total pore space and the amount of air within the soil. It has a negative impact on nutrient uptake and water infiltration, in addition to being a physical barrier to root growth. This results in poor top growth and lawn deterioration. Core aeration can benefit your lawn.”

– Marc Aveni and David Chalmers, Virginia Extension

“Lawns may deteriorate over time due to excess thatch, soil compaction, or a combination of the two. Aeration helps to manage thatch buildup and reduce problems arising from soil compaction. Proper aeration can help build a thicker, healthier turf with superior resistance to weeds, diseases, and insect pests. Core aeration (cores of soil are pulled from the ground) can even help smooth out a turf surface.”

– John C. Stier, University of Wisconsin-Madison

“Why is aeration necessary? In the old classic “The Foot Book,” Dr. Seuss tells us about all the different kinds of feet we meet … “small feet, big feet, here come pig feet.” The fact is that feet and paws wear down turf differently. As people walk and run, their weight rolls from heel to toe, causing compaction problems. Dog paws, on the other hand (pun intended), actually dig in from the front claws, causing more tearing. To exacerbate the problem, dogs tend to pace and use the same pathways over and over again. The soil compaction from foot traffic slows water penetration and can reduce root growth.”

– Genevieve Schmidt and Scott Cohen, Landscaping Network

There are many parts to a comprehensive lawn care program, one of which is aeration. These experts have explained how important aeration is to reducing soil compaction and contributing to a healthier lawn. If you would like our Foxboro landscaping professionals to help you achieve the luxurious lawn you have been dreaming about, contact us today for a free consultation.

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