Aerating is the process of making finger size holes in your lawn and depositing the removed material on the surface to break down. This allows fertilizer, water and oxygen to get to the roots where healthy grass originates. In areas where the soil has a high clay content, compaction and thatch buildup is more prevalent and aeration should be done twice a year. In areas of more sandy soils, annual aeration will result in continued healthy lawns.

This is extremely beneficial in clay soils (Nebraska), heavy traffic, more than ½” of thatch, standing water after irrigation or rain, or lawns that brown easily in heat, are all excellent candidates. In reality, any yard, healthy or not, can benefit from annual aeration.