Austin has been one of the fastest growing large cities in America for several years, and as a resident, you may know first-hand what our hometown's appeal is. From the gorgeous Hill Country just to the west and Austin's numerous waterways and parks to its incredible culture, delicious food, and friendly people, Austin is the perfect place to get out and about on a regular basis. The last thing that you want is to be stuck at home doing yard work when you should be out walking around Zilker Park, enjoying a delicious meal with friends in SoCo or preparing to hit the town on Rainey Street or Sixth Street.
Why Austin Lawns Need Periodic Aeration Service
Regardless of whether your lawn has St. Augustine or Bermuda grass, you understandably struggle to keep it looking great for many reasons. Austin has many beautiful weather days that are ideal for you to get out and about, but it also has viciously hot days that may drive you straight to the cool waters at Barton Springs Pool. Likewise, frigid winter days with ice covering the ground are most common in January and February. These extreme temperatures are difficult for you to deal with, and they can wreak havoc on your yard's soil.
Adding to your challenges with lawn maintenance and care are Austin's extreme rainfall conditions. Many residents monitor the intensity of drought conditions by looking at how low or high the water level is on Lake Travis. They likewise monitor flooding conditions by seeing how many road closures are in the area or how many floodgates are open at Mansfield Dam and other area dams.
With these extreme weather conditions, the soil in your yard will understandably get compacted. St. Augustine and Bermuda grass thrive in soil that is rich in nutrients, that is properly hydrated and that enables fresh air to reach the roots. Compacted soil inhibits the healthy growth of your lawn's grass because it limits water and air from entering the roots. Grassroots may then remain shallow rather than growing deep into the soil. The grass quickly becomes unhealthy.
Signs That Your Lawn Requires Aeration
While not all lawns require aeration, the unique weather conditions in Austin create conditions that are conducive to compacted soil. An untrained eye may not be able to determine if their lawn needs aeration service soon quickly, but these signs may help you to identify the need to take a closer look:
Significant Thatch Covering: Thatch is a layer of dead, decomposing vegetation that lies on top of the soil and below the grass blades. Some thatch is healthy for your lawn because it insulates the soil against extreme temperature conditions and may moderate the hydration of the earth. However, significant thatch covering makes it difficult for grassroots to receive fresh air and moisture. While removing some of the thatch is essential, aeration may also improve the health of your lawn.
Water Puddles: If you notice significant puddling or pooling of water after even a brief downpour, this is a sign that the soil is too compacted to absorb water quickly. You likewise may notice puddling after watering your lawn for a reasonable period of time. Aeration enables this water to penetrate below the surface so that the roots can receive the hydration that they need.
Heavy Foot Traffic: When people and pets walk across the ground frequently, soil compaction is common. Assess how you and your family use the yard as well as how much time your pets spend on your grass to determine if this may be a source of soil compaction.
New Grass Patches: Replacing sections of lawn or even the entire lawn is, unfortunately, a common practice that some Austin homeowners repeat from time to time because of how challenging lawn care in the local area is. If you have recently laid new patches of sod in your yard or if you plan to soon, aeration may help the roots of the fresh grass get established quickly and healthily.
Why You Need Professional Aeration Service
Aeration may seem like a simple task that even homeowners with a brown thumb may not be able to mess up doing, but this task actually must be completed carefully for the best results. The goal of aeration is to create small holes in the top few inches of the soil so that fresh air and water can penetrate through compacted soil and reach grass roots. However, some aeration equipment or tools that you can find at Austin's favorite home improvement stores actually compact the soil even further. Rather than pulling small plugs of the dirt up and out of the ground, they merely push holes into the ground. This pushing motion packs the soil down further. The proper aeration technique involves pulling small plugs of soil upward, and this typically must be done using quality aeration equipment.
In addition to using the proper aeration equipment and techniques, you also must commit the time and energy covering every inch of your yard. Unlike many other major cities in the United States, Austin did not start growing rapidly until recently. Many suburbs have developed around the downtown area and outward that have large yards, and aerating these large spaces is a tremendous undertaking. Keep in mind that you likely want to aerate both the front yard and backyard at the same time.
How We Can Help
Your yard may be your pride and joy. It makes a significant impact on curb appeal, and it can even affect property value, how easy it is to sell your home in the future and more. You do not want to take chances trying to complete this important task on your own, and you also do not want to trust just any company to do the work. We are your convenient and preferred source for locating reputable, trusted lawn care companies in the area, and we can quickly connect you with companies that offer this specialized service. Make plans to spend your next weekend out enjoying all that Austin offers, and let the professionals handle lawn aeration for you. Put our service to work today to cross this task off of your to-do list.
