Reasons Lawn Aeration in the Winter is Important
As fall turns into winter, many homeowners find themselves indoors more often. The cold New Jersey temperatures can be harsh, making yard maintenance less than enjoyable. Before homeowners get too cozy inside, lawn aeration in the winter is essential to maintaining a healthy lawn all year long.
What is Lawn Aeration?
Lawn aeration is the process of penetrating grass with either a lawn aerator or something sharp to create holes. These holes open a path to the soil and roots under the top of the lawn, allowing it to breathe, move, and providing a way for water and nutrients to nourish the grass roots. When lawn aeration is done consistently and correctly, grass roots grow deeper and stronger which results in a lavish green landscape.
Reasons Lawn Aeration in the Winter is Important
Many homeowners think spring is the only time to aerate a lawn. In New Jersey, where we often experience brutal winters with plenty of snowfall, ice, and rain, lawns will benefit from winter aeration.
1. Improves Root Growth
Roots spend all of their life underground, and when soil becomes too compact and hard, nutrients and water don’t have easy access to the roots. If grass roots go too long without nourishment, they die off leaving the lawn looking sub-par. By creating holes in the yard, the water and nutrients are able to flow through the ground and nourish the roots properly.
2. Minimizes Lawn Diseases
Lawn diseases leave landscapes looking drab, dry, and spotted with brown and yellow patches. Diseases most often form and linger in lawns that are weak and unable to combat their impact. By making sure the grass roots have access to water and nutrients, lawns are stronger and better equipped to fight off diseases.
3. Eliminates Thatch Build-up
Inclement weather leads to lawns developing thatch. Lawn thatch is a layer of dead grass between the roots and the top layer of green blades. It usually occurs because the grass is unable to break down or decompose adequately as new grass grows. Too much thatch build up prevents the grass roots from getting proper nutrients and hinders lawn growth in the spring.
4. Better Seeding Results
Just like water and nutrient need a way to seep into the ground, so do seeds and fertilizer. If the soil is too compact, seeds will lay on the top of the grass instead of finding root in the ground.
5. Makes it an Enjoyable Space
Everybody dreams of having a beautiful landscape and enjoyable space to spend time outdoors in the spring and summer. By aerating a lawn in the winter, it has a better chance of becoming the space you want in the Spring.
Perennial Lawn Care offers lawn care services in addition to tree, shrub, and pest control services to homeowners. Contact our office today to see how we can help with lawn aeration in the winter.
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