Aeration is an essential lawn care service that involves pulling up plugs of soil using an aerator machine to loosen compaction and make it easier for nutrients and other resources to reach the roots of your grass. However, before this process is performed on your lawn in Oregon, you should take some steps to prepare it. First, you should mow your grass shorter than usual to ensure the aerator machine can reach the soil. You should also water your lawn 1-2 days before the service so the soil will be moist, making it easier for the machine to penetrate it. Additionally, you should mark anything that could be damaged during the process, such as sprinkler heads and underground obstacles. Finally, you should remove any debris or obstructions to ensure nothing hinders the aerator from passing over your lawn.

Mow your grass shorter than usual before your lawn is aerated.

Freshly mowed lawn with striping in a backyard in Gresham, OR.

One of the best ways to prepare your lawn for aeration is to mow it shorter than usual. This is because the aeration machine needs to be able to reach the soil in order to perform its job effectively. Cutting the grass a bit shorter than you normally do will allow it to penetrate the soil more easily without any hindrance from overgrowth. However, you should always follow the 1/3 rule, which states to never cut off more than 1/3 of the grass blades to avoid stressing out your lawn before its aeration service.

Water Your Lawn 1-2 Days Before Aeration to Moisten the Soil

Another thing you should do to prepare your lawn for aeration is to water it 1-2 days before the service. This is because the soil needs to be moist so that the aeration machine can more effectively perforate it. However, you should avoid overwatering because if the soil is too wet, the machine may sink into it, thus inhibiting its movement across your lawn. By watering your lawn 1-2 days before the service, you can help ensure that the soil is moist enough for the aeration machine to penetrate it while giving it time to firm up.

Mark anything that could be damaged during the aeration process.

Blue flag on a lawn in Gresham, OR, marking a sprinkler head.

Before your lawn is aerated, you should mark anything that could be damaged during the process. This includes sprinkler heads, underground wires, piping, and other obstacles. By marking these things, you can help ensure that the lawn care tech avoids them so they aren't hit during the aeration process. That way, you can reap all the benefits of this service without any damage.

It's best to schedule core aeration for your lawn annually in the fall to ensure it can always access the nutrients and resources it needs.

Remove Debris & Obstructions From Your Lawn Before Aeration

Another essential step to preparing your lawn for aeration is to remove any debris or obstructions from it. Sticks, rocks, toys, and other items can block the aerator as it moves across your turf, preventing it from effectively reaching all areas. Not only that, but if it hits any of these things, it can damage the machine. Removing these obstructions will allow it to do its job, ensuring the best results for your lawn.

Call us today to schedule our core aeration service!

If you want to help your lawn reach its full potential, you've come to the right place! At J&C Lawn Care, we offer our core aeration service to residential and commercial property owners in Gresham, Happy Valley, Troutdale, OR, and other surrounding areas. Aeration is performed in the fall to help alleviate soil compaction and make it easier for nutrients and other resources to reach the roots of your grass. Call us today at (971) 284-2035 to schedule our core aeration service.