If you're like most people, you try to keep your home, yards, and garden as attractive as possible. And it's understandable, considering how much natural beauty we have surrounding us every day in the Puget Sound area. We're spoiled living in the Seattle metro, with all the entertaining things we have to do and see.
Seattle Gives Us Many Choices
Feel like spending a weekend downtown? You can go to the top of the Space Needle and take in the sights or go to Pike Place Market and pick up some fresh seafood. But if you're more of a sports fan, nobody can blame you with so much excellence around us. Visit CenturyLink Field and cheer on our champion Seahawks, or root for the home team at T-Mobile Park, watching the latest Mariners game.
Lawn of Luxury
But you already know all about the exceptional offerings for entertainment we have here in Seattle. In spite of everything, sometimes you'd rather be home. Home is the place where you can finally relax and enjoy spending time with your loved ones. If you have a vision of a beautiful, lush and luxurious lawn, then aerating your grass may be something to consider.
Benefits of Aeration
Why bother aerating? With all the rain and challenging weather we can sometimes get here in Seattle, your grass needs a chance to breathe. Aerating helps to break up the soil, creating small air pockets. It allows more air, water, and nutrients to be absorbed into the dirt, which gives your grass roots more nourishment.
Have you ever seen a plant that's rootbound and needs to be repotted? Remember your grass is a plant and needs room to grow, as well. When you aerate, it breaks up the overcrowded root system as well as loosening the soil.
Why does that matter? You'll be happy with the results; you'll see a thicker and denser turf within 2 to 3 weeks after you aerate. What's even better? With more air and better nutrient absorption, your grass will thank you by turning a more vibrant shade of green - and continue staying green into the summer as the temperatures climb.
Aeration Basics
There are two primary types of aerating: spike aeration and core aeration. If you choose spike aeration, you're not alone. Many people like spike aerating because it's relatively easy. In the simplest version, you can buy aeration spikes and put them on your shoes, and walk around your yard. You won't permeate the soil much below the surface, but even a little aerating will provide some benefit.
If you'd like to take it further, you can purchase or rent an aerator from the local garden center for a few hours. The aerator pokes holes into your ground at intervals of a couple of inches. If it's been some time since your lawn was last aerated, you may want to take a couple passes over your yard for better results.
Spike and Core Aerating Options
The second kind of aerating is core, also known as a plug, aerating. It's more labor intensive but also more effective, because core aeration creates holes that are approximately 2 to 3 inches deep. In comparison, spike aerating generally permeates the ground to a depth of 1 to 2 inches, and as a result, it needs to be done more frequently.
With core aerating, you dig a small hole and pull the soil plug from the ground. You can choose to leave the soil plugs in the lawn, as they create an organic compost that nourishes the grass. They decompose quickly, in about 2 to 3 weeks. If you find the plugs too unsightly, you can rake them and dispose of them as well.
Aerate, Fertilize and Overseed
Both types of aeration will generate noticeable results. Once you've aerated your ground, it's a perfect time to apply a high-grade nitrogen-based fertilizer and overseed. You'll be rewarded for all your hard work with a vivid tapestry of bright green in just a couple weeks. Aerating your lawn is one of the most effective ways to upgrade your lawn without spending much money.
Signs That You Should Aerate Your Yard
If you're observant, your lawn will let you know when it needs some aeration done.
• Do you see bald spots or patches in your yard?
• After a rain, does the water consistently puddle in certain areas?
• Do you have heavy traffic from children or pets on your grass?
• Is your ground hard when you try to dig a shovel into the soil?
• Is your grass struggling and not as thick as it should be?
If you see any of these signs, then you'll be happier with your yard once you've aerated. Once you've put in the hard work, you can enjoy your newly rejuvenated lawn throughout the growing season.
A Beautiful Lawn Requires a Commitment
We realize that growing and maintaining an attractive lawn and garden requires a significant commitment of time, energy and hard work. Have you ever considered hiring a team of lawn care professionals to help you?
Hire the Right Team of Lawn Care Technicians
Lawn Love offers top-shelf solutions to all your lawn maintenance needs. We're different from other lawn care companies because we bring a new style of customer care to the industry. We aren't just a lawn care company; we're a tech company that offers the best lawn care professionals in Seattle.
We Provide an Array of Year-Round Solutions
Servicing the entire metro, including Redmond, Bellevue, Sammamish and Mercer Island, we offer everything from snow removal to tree trimming, and gutter cleaning to weed control. We can provide regular services like lawn mowing, or just assist you with an occasional seasonal task. Using our convenient online platform you can manage all services, payment, and more. Try us today, and you'll love your lawn. You can count on it. It's our guarantee.
