How to Aerate Your Lawn and Garden

Compacted earth hinders the growth of gardens and lawn. Aerating your lawn and garden will fix this problem, allowing your plants and lawn to grow lush, healthy and strong. Regularly aerate your garden and you will be on your way to a beautiful lawn and garden.

• For a small area a spaded fork can be used. Though not ideal because it does not pull plugs of dirt up, it will work for little aerating project.


• When aerating your lawn you will need to use an aerator. This can be either purchased or rented for the day. Be sure to use an aerator that actually pulls up plugs of dirt. Aerators that simply make holes only increase the compaction of the dirt. Ones that create holes allow the water and nutrients to get to the roots of the plant which will then grow to fill the holes.


• Lightly water your lawn the night before aerating it so that the soil is soft and will be easy to aerate.


• The penetration depth of the aerator depends on the type of soil you have. Consult a professional or ask the company you are renting from before setting up the aerator.


• Aerate your lawn and gardens one to two times a year. High traffic areas of your lawn will need to be aerated more often.


• Leave the plugs of soil on your lawn. Though this may not look ideal at first, they will quickly decompose and help the thatched grass to do so as well.