Core Aeration Services
Core aeration is the mechanical process of pulling small plugs of soil out of your lawn to relieve compaction and reduce thatch. It is the most direct way to get air, water and nutrients back down into the root zone — and the option we most often recommend for lawns with heavy foot traffic, hard soil or a thick thatch layer.
What Is Core Aeration?
Lawn aeration or more accurately called “core aeration” is a process that removes 1/2″ wide, by 3″ deep cores every few inches, from your lawn. The process helps to alleviate soil compaction and helps minimize thatch build-up. The open cores allow water to better penetrate the root zone and increases air exchange to improve the overall health of your lawn.
Lawn aeration is a key part of maintaining and enhancing your lawn. It is a service that is recommended to be performed annually. As a matter of fact, aeration is performed on many golf courses, 2 or even 3 times per year! It is a beneficial service for many reasons and is considered a very important “cultural practice” for maintaining a quality lawn.
Comprehensive Core Aeration Services in the Midwest
ExperiGreen provides the best aeration programs that are specifically tailored to lawns around midwestern cities such as Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, and more. For homeowners comparing local service options, ExperiGreen provides Detroit lawn care services and South Bend lawn care with aeration recommendations tailored to regional turf conditions.
At ExperiGreen, we offer two types of aeration services:
- Core Aeration Services
- Liquid Aeration Services
These beneficial services are essential for relieving soil compaction and improving nutrient absorption in your lawn. Keep your yard patch-free and healthy by contacting our lawn care specialists today.
Core Lawn Aeration Services
Performing core aeration allows the root systems in your lawn to spread and thickens your existing turf. By removing the soil cores and decreasing thatch levels, your lawn can “breathe” and better utilize water, air and nutrients. Overall, core aeration will help restore the health and color back into your lawn. Especially when paired with overseeding, your lawn will see the best results.
Our core lawn aeration service benefits you and your lawn in several ways:
- Hassle-Free Service: No need to rent, transport, or operate a heavy aeration machine yourself. We handle everything for you
- Alleviates Soil Compaction: By removing cores in the aeration process, soil density is decreased allowing for air, water, and fertilizer to reach your lawn’s root system
- Reduces Thatch: Helps minimize thatch buildup, preventing lawn-damaging insects and diseases
- Builds a Thicker Lawn: Core aeration stimulates your lawn’s root development and growth
- Maximizes Lawn Health: Enhances the effectiveness of your ExperiGreen lawn care program
Let us take the hard work off your hands and give your lawn the care it deserves!
Highly Rated Lawn Care Company
Why Your Neighbors Love ExperiGreen
We use industry-leading products and employee training to deliver exceptional lawn and landscape service.
Our Proven Lawn Aeration Methods
At ExperiGreen, we recommend annual aeration, Liquid, or Traditional/ Mechanical Core Aeration to go with our overall lawn care program.
Aeration performed in any manner is highly beneficial for your lawn. At ExperiGreen we recommend that you aerate your lawn every year. With the introduction of our new Liquid Aeration service, the best and most beneficial option for your lawn is to get on a schedule of liquid aeration one year, then the next year have mechanical core aeration performed. This way your lawn gets the best of both methods to keep your lawn at its peak appearance, health, and performance. Additionally, we recommend pairing lawn aeration with our overseeding services for even better results!
Sure Signs Your Lawn Needs Aeration!
The Grass Feels “Spongy” When Walking on It
This indicates excessive thatch build up. Layers of dead roots, grass clippings, leaves and other organic debris builds up under your grass plants on top of the roots. This thatch layer can give your turf a “spongy” feeling when you walk on it. This excessive thatch prevents air, water and nutrients from being effective and can also harbor lawn damaging insects. Core aeration pulls plugs up through that thatch layer, which helps break it down and keeps build-up in check.
Compacted Soil
Foot traffic, construction, heavy equipment and thatch build up can cause the soil get hard and compacted. This also hinders air movement and water infiltration/percolation down into the root zone. Compaction also prevents roots from growing freely and expanding.
Water Pools on the Surface
Soil compaction and thatch build-up tend to prevent water from being absorbed into the soil and can cause runoff. This can cause loss of needed nutrients. If there is standing water after a rainfall or after you water your lawn, this is another sign you need to aerate your lawn.
When Is The Best Time To Aerate My Lawn?
Northern Lawns
For northern lawns, grass types are classified as “cool season” grasses. These include Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Turf Type Fescue lawns. You can aerate these grasses anytime during active turf growth (late spring, through late fall), although it is recommended that mechanical core aeration is best done during the fall. This timeframe helps the grass plants recover from the stress of the hot and dry summer and takes advantage of cooler temperatures and fall rains so root growth and expansion are maximized. If your lawn is also being overseeded, scheduling core aeration in the fall lets both services be handled in the same visit
Southern Lawns
For southern lawns, grass types are classified as “warm-season” grasses. These grass types include Bermudagrass, Zoysia grass, Centipede grass, and St. Augustine grass. Warm-season grasses go dormant and turn brown or tan in the late fall through the cooler winter season. Once temperatures rise and daylight increases in the spring, warm-season grasses start to come out of dormancy, and growth starts again. Mechanical core aeration is best performed on warm-season grasses once they are actively growing and fully out of dormancy. Mechanical core aeration is highly beneficial for warm-season grasses when they are actively growing.
Benefits of Our Core Aeration Service
Core Aeration Directly Relieves Soil Compaction
Core aeration removes 1/2″ wide by 3″ deep plugs of soil every few inches across your lawn. Foot traffic, heavy equipment and dense clay soils press soil particles tightly together over time, and physically pulling cores is the most direct way to break that compaction apart so roots can expand freely again.
It Physically Reduces Thatch Build-Up
Layers of dead roots, grass clippings, leaves and other organic debris build up under your grass plants to form a thatch layer that blocks air, water and nutrients from reaching the root zone. Pulling cores breaks through that layer and brings soil microorganisms up to the surface, which helps break the thatch down naturally.
Water, Air and Nutrients Reach the Root Zone
The open holes left behind by core aeration give water, oxygen and fertilizer a direct path down into the root zone instead of running off the surface. Lawns that pool water after rainfall or irrigation are often the ones that respond most noticeably to a core aeration service.
The Strongest Preparation for Overseeding
Core aeration is the best option when a lawn is going to be overseeded. The open holes put seed in direct contact with soil, which is exactly what seed needs to germinate and establish. For this reason we often recommend overseeding immediately after a core aeration service.
Recommended for Severe Compaction and Heavy Traffic
For lawns with severe compaction, heavy foot traffic, or ground that has been driven on or worked during construction, core aeration is the stronger choice. Because it is a mechanical process, it works the soil directly rather than relying on a product to loosen it.
Lawn Aeration Service Areas
Our team of experts provides professional lawn aeration services to a variety of cities and suburbs across the Midwest. If your lawn is struggling with compaction or poor soil health, contact our staff for a free evaluation and expert assistance!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best time of year to aerate your lawn?
The best time to aerate depends on your grass type and growing season. Cool-season lawns are generally best aerated in fall, when cooler temperatures and seasonal moisture support root growth. Warm-season lawns are usually aerated in late spring or early summer while the grass is actively growing. An ExperiGreen lawn care professional can recommend the right timing for your lawn and local conditions.
Do you really need to aerate your lawn?
A lot of people and even our own customers ask, “Do you really need to aerate your lawn?” The answer is yes! Lawn aeration is the most important “cultural practice” you as a homeowner can perform, in addition to proper mowing and watering practices. If you couple these practices along with a professional lawn care program you will see great results over time and know you are doing all you can to make your lawn look the best, it can! At ExperiGreen, we offer a superior lawn program and professional lawn aeration services.
How much does it cost to aerate the lawn?
Aeration service from a professional, established lawn or landscape company with cost in the range of $75 to $200 or more. In most cases, the cost of aeration will depend on the size of your lawn, with larger lawns costing more. A lawn in a typical suburban neighborhood will generally cost around $100 – $150. Be sure to give ExperiGreen Lawn Care a call for a price to have your lawn aerated.
What do you do after you aerate your lawn?
Many people and some of our own customers ask; what do you do after you aerate your lawn? There is nothing that is absolutely required after a lawn is aerated, but we often recommend that you overseed immediately after. With the holes or cores pulled from the lawn, applying improved seed varieties is a very effective way to thicken the lawn, help to fill in bare areas and introduce newer, improved varieties of grass into your lawn.
The best scenario is to have the lawn aerated and overseeded at the same time. At ExperiGreen Lawn Care we offer a lawn aeration and overseeding service and recommend it for most customers.
Is core or liquid aeration better for my lawn?
The better option depends on your lawn’s condition. Core aeration physically removes small soil plugs and is often the stronger choice for severe compaction, heavy traffic, or lawns being prepared for overseeding. Liquid aeration can fit mild compaction, ongoing soil care, or lawns where homeowners want to avoid visible plugs and mechanical disruption. Learn more in our liquid aeration vs. core aeration guide, or ask ExperiGreen to assess your lawn.
Should I water my lawn after aeration service?
Follow the watering instructions provided after your aeration service because the right schedule depends on the aeration method, weather, soil conditions, and whether overseeding is included. Keeping the soil appropriately moist can support recovery and seed establishment, but avoid overwatering or allowing water to pool. Your ExperiGreen service professional can explain the recommended next steps for your lawn.
