{"id":32748,"date":"2024-10-23T08:30:56","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T08:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=32748"},"modified":"2024-11-21T18:50:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-21T18:50:30","slug":"best-time-aerate-lawn-wisconsin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-aerate-lawn-wisconsin\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Time to Aerate Your Lawn in Wisconsin"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Is your Wisconsin lawn looking patchy? Regular aeration can breathe new life into your yard. The best time to aerate your lawn in Wisconsin is between<strong> September 1 to 30<\/strong> in fall or <strong>May 1 and June 15<\/strong> in spring.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want more details? Let\u2019s dive in and make your lawn the envy of your neighborhood.&nbsp;<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-e6dcd93c-d3a9-4927-b948-a2db75e78361\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\" style=\"\">Table of Contents<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-aerate-lawn-wisconsin\/#0-when-to-aerate-your-lawn-in-wisconsin\" style=\"\">When to aerate your lawn<\/a><ul><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-aerate-lawn-wisconsin\/#1-1-fall-aeration\" style=\"\">1. Fall aeration<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-aerate-lawn-wisconsin\/#2-2-spring-aeration\" style=\"\">2. Spring aeration<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-aerate-lawn-wisconsin\/#3-how-often-should-you-aerate\" style=\"\">How often should you aerate?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-aerate-lawn-wisconsin\/#4-how-to-aerate-your-wisconsin-lawn\" style=\"\">How to aerate your lawn<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-aerate-lawn-wisconsin\/#5-more-lawn-care-resources-for-wisconsin\" style=\"\">More lawn care resources for Wisconsin<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-aerate-lawn-wisconsin\/#6-faq-about-aeration\" style=\"\">FAQ about aeration<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-when-to-aerate-your-lawn-in-wisconsin\"><span id=\"when-to-aerate-your-lawn-in-wisconsin\">When to aerate your lawn in Wisconsin<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rsz_aeration.png\" alt=\"illustration showing how aeration works and the benefits of aerating soil\" class=\"wp-image-5850\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rsz_aeration.png 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rsz_aeration-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rsz_aeration-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rsz_aeration-610x305.png 610w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/rsz_aeration-390x195.png 390w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Infographic by Juan Rodriguez <\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best time aerate your lawn in Wisconsin is in the fall, with spring being the next best option. This is ideal for cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescues, which are the <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-grass-seed-wisconsin\/\">best grass seeds for Wisconsin<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-1-fall-aeration\"><span id=\"1-fall-aeration\">1. Fall aeration<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best time for aeration is in fall from<strong> September 1 to September 30<\/strong>. As the heat of summer fades, your grass is ready to go through another growth spurt. Fall is actually ideal for aerating because there\u2019s less risk of weeds taking over, and your lawn will have time to recover before winter.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-2-spring-aeration\"><span id=\"2-spring-aeration\">2. Spring aeration<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next best window for aeration is from<strong> May 1 to June 15 <\/strong>in spring. During this time, your lawn is actively growing after coming out of winter dormancy, making it ideal for quick recovery. Heads up: Spring also means <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/common-weeds-wisconsin\/\">common weeds in Wisconsin<\/a> are popping up, so consider doing aeration along with some weed control.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pro Tip<\/strong>: Aerate when the soil is moist, not soggy. Too dry? The aerator might struggle to dig in. Too wet? You\u2019ll end up with a mess.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-how-often-should-you-aerate\"><span id=\"how-often-should-you-aerate\">How often should you aerate?<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/aerated-lawn-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Pile of plugs of soil removed from sports field\" class=\"wp-image-27027\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/aerated-lawn-1-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/aerated-lawn-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/aerated-lawn-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/aerated-lawn-1-1-610x406.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/pt\/image-photo\/pile-plugs-soil-removed-sports-field-2134845731\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In Wisconsin, most lawns benefit from aeration <strong>every 1 to 5 years<\/strong>. But if your yard is a busy hangout spot \u2014 with kids running around or pets doing zoomies \u2014 you might want to aerate more often. If you notice thatch thicker than 1 inch or compacted soil, consider aerating twice a year until things improve.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Pro tip: <\/strong>Try the screwdriver test to check if your lawn needs aeration. Push a screwdriver into the soil \u2014 if it goes in easily, no aeration is needed. If it\u2019s hard to push in, your soil is compacted and could use aeration.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-how-to-aerate-your-wisconsin-lawn\"><span id=\"how-to-aerate-your-wisconsin-lawn\">How to aerate your Wisconsin lawn<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aerate-garden.jpg\" alt=\"Picture of grass aerator on the green lawn\" class=\"wp-image-23055\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aerate-garden.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aerate-garden-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aerate-garden-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/aerate-garden-610x407.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/picture-grass-aerator-on-green-lawn-2164962247\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shutterstock<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a step-by-step guide, you can check our article: \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-aerate-lawn\/\">How to Aerate Your Lawn<\/a>.\u201d Once you\u2019re ready to start, you\u2019ll need to choose between two main types of aerators<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Core Aerator<\/strong>: This machine removes small plugs of soil from your lawn, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach deep into the soil. Core aeration is the best for breaking up compaction and thatch.<br><\/li>    <li><strong>Spike Aerator<\/strong>: Spike aerators punch holes in the soil but don\u2019t remove any soil. While easier to use, they\u2019re less effective at improving compaction and managing thatch.<\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Want your aeration to really shine? Try these tips:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Fertilize after aeration<\/strong>: A bit of fertilizer right after aerating helps your lawn bounce back fast. September is a perfect time for this. Check out our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/when-to-apply-weed-and-feed-wisconsin\/\">when to apply weed and feed in Wisconsin<\/a> to time it just right.<br><\/li>    <li><strong>Overseed in the fall<\/strong>: If your lawn looks thin, overseed after aerating to give those new seeds a great start before winter. Curious about the best time? Here&#8217;s everything you need to know about <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-plant-grass-seed-wisconsin\/\">when to plant grass seed in Wisconsin<\/a>.<br><\/li>    <li><strong>Water your lawn<\/strong>: Keep it hydrated! About 1 inch of water per week from rainfall or sprinklers will help your grass recover nicely. Make sure you&#8217;re also up to speed on the <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wisconsin-lawn-care-calendar\/\">month-to-month lawn care in Wisconsin<\/a>.<\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-more-lawn-care-resources-for-wisconsin\"><span id=\"more-lawn-care-resources-for-wisconsin\">More lawn care resources for Wisconsin<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Need more help with your Wisconsin lawn? Check out these guides for expert advice.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Lawn care:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-time-dethatch-lawn-wisconsin\/\">The Best Time to Dethatch Your Lawn in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/when-does-grass-stop-growing-wisconsin\/\">When Does Grass Stop Growing in Wisconsin?<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/clover-lawn-wisconsin\/\">Should You Plant a Clover Lawn in Wisconsin?<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/when-to-plant-clover-wisconsin\/\">When to Plant Clover in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/ornamental-grasses-wisconsin\/\">The Best Ornamental Grasses for Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/ground-cover-plants-wisconsin\/\">The Best Ground Cover Plants for Wisconsin<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Weeds and pests<\/strong>:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/when-to-apply-crabgrass-preventer-wisconsin\/\">When to Apply Crabgrass Preventer in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/when-to-apply-grub-control-wisconsin\/\">When to Apply Grub Control in Wisconsin<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-weed-and-feed-wisconsin\/\">The Best Weed and Feed for Wisconsin Lawns<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-faq-about-aeration\"><span id=\"faq-about-aeration\">FAQ about aeration<\/span><\/h2>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-why-should-you-aerate-your-lawn\"><span id=\"why-should-you-aerate-your-lawn\">Why should you aerate your lawn?<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over time, soil can become compacted, and thatch builds up, blocking air, water, and nutrients from reaching your grass&#8217;s roots. Some of the <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/landscaping-lawn-aeration-benefits\/\">benefits of aerating your lawn<\/a> include:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><strong>Helping your lawn \u201cbreathe\u201d better<\/strong><\/li>    <li><strong>Absorb nutrients<\/strong><\/li>    <li><strong>Stay healthy<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re still puzzled about aeration, check out our guide \u2014 \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/why-when-and-how-to-aerate-your-lawn\/\">Why, When, and How to Aerate Your Lawn<\/a>\u201d \u2014 for a deeper understanding.&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-how-can-i-save-money-on-lawn-aeration\"><span id=\"how-can-i-save-money-on-lawn-aeration\">How can I save money on lawn aeration?<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can aerate the lawn yourself by renting a core aerator from a local hardware store (about <strong>$103<\/strong> per day based on our <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/lawn-aeration-cost\/\">lawn aeration cost guide<\/a>). Want to save even more cash? Share the rental with your neighbors \u2014 lawn care party, anyone?<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-can-i-aerate-my-lawn-and-overseed-at-the-same-time\"><span id=\"can-i-aerate-my-lawn-and-overseed-at-the-same-time\">Can I aerate my lawn and overseed at the same time?<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Absolutely! Aerating creates perfect little pockets for grass seeds, making overseeding even more effective, especially in fall.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-how-can-i-prevent-soil-compaction\"><span id=\"how-can-i-prevent-soil-compaction\">How can I prevent soil compaction?<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Limit foot traffic on your lawn, especially when it\u2019s wet. If your yard gets a lot of foot traffic, consider aerating more often and adding compost to improve soil structure.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"11-when-to-call-a-pro\"><span id=\"when-to-call-a-pro\">When to call a pro<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aerating your lawn at the right time in Wisconsin is one of the best ways to keep your grass green, thick, and healthy. If you\u2019re not up for the task, or just don\u2019t have the time, reach out to a <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/wisconsin\">local lawn care professional<\/a> today to keep your yard in top shape.&nbsp;<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-12020437-4e36-4e15-819d-e1092744c40f\" data-mobilecollapse=\"false\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"true\"> <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; border-top-left-radius: 8px; border-top-right-radius: 8px; border-bottom-left-radius: 8px; border-bottom-right-radius: 8px; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-88142642-ae49-4eca-a928-ff26127fbcfc\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-12020437-4e36-4e15-819d-e1092744c40f\" tabindex=\"0\"> \t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-12020437-4e36-4e15-819d-e1092744c40f\" style=\"color: #000000; \">Sources:<\/p> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-12020437-4e36-4e15-819d-e1092744c40f\">  <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/hort.extension.wisc.edu\/files\/2023\/12\/A3710.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Wisconsin: Lawn Aeration and Topdressing<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ci.brookfield.wi.us\/DocumentCenter\/View\/1425\/HealthyLawnCareTips_Calendar?bidId=\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Healthy Communities Project<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/hort.extension.wisc.edu\/files\/2014\/11\/Wisconsin-Lawn-Care-Calendar.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension: Wisconsin Lawn Care Calendar<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>  <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>   <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Main Image Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/close-up-of-soil-plug-from-lawn-core-aeration-with-a-newly-aerated-lawn-in-the-background\/498963847?asset_id=498963847\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sherry<\/a> | Adobe Stock | <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Aerate your Wisconsin lawn from September 1 to 30 in fall or May 1 to June 15 in spring. Discover key tips and why aeration makes all the difference.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":32825,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[177],"tags":[968],"class_list":["post-32748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wisconsin","tag-lawn-care-wi"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/AdobeStock_498963847-1.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Rela Catucod","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/rela-catucod\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32748","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32748"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32748\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32748"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32748"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32748"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}