Do You Need to Aerate Your Lawn Every Year?

Core aeration is a lawn care service that involves pulling up plugs of soil from your lawn to alleviate soil compaction and make it easier for nutrients and other resources to reach the roots of your grass. If you skip this service, your soil can become or stay compacted, and nutrients and other resources will have a difficult time reaching the roots of your grass. If the roots of your grass aren't receiving the nutrients and resources they need, they can struggle to grow and become susceptible to disease and insect infestations. To get the best results, you should have your lawn in Florida aerated between late May and early July. This will help your grass absorb the nutrients that it needs to withstand the hot summer season.

What is core aeration?

Core aeration is a lawn care practice that involves removing small plugs of soil from the ground to improve the health of your turf. This process is usually performed with a specialized machine called an aerator, which pulls out evenly spaced cores across your lawn. By doing this, aeration relieves soil compaction, a common issue that limits the flow of air, water, and nutrients into the soil.

When soil becomes compacted, grassroots struggle to grow deeply and absorb the essential elements they need to thrive. By pulling up these plugs, aeration creates small channels that allow nutrients, oxygen, and moisture to penetrate more effectively into the root zone. Over time, this encourages stronger root systems, enhances drought resistance, and improves the overall vigor and appearance of your lawn. Regular core aeration can also help reduce thatch buildup, making it a valuable service for maintaining a healthy, resilient lawn.

What happens if you skip core aeration?

If you skip core aeration, your lawn can suffer the consequences of compacted soil. When soil is tightly packed, it restricts the natural flow of air, water, and nutrients down into the root zone. Without access to these essential resources, grassroots remain shallow and weak, making your lawn more vulnerable to stress from heat, drought, or heavy foot traffic.

Compacted soil doesn’t just limit nutrient uptake—it can also lead to poor drainage since water has a harder time soaking into the ground. Instead of reaching the roots, excess water may sit on the surface, creating soggy conditions that can contribute to root rot and other lawn diseases. Over time, this lack of proper resource flow and drainage results in thin, patchy, and unhealthy turf that struggles to bounce back.

By making core aeration part of your regular lawn care routine, you give your grass the open pathways it needs to develop strong, deep roots and stay lush and resilient year-round.

When should core aeration be performed?

Core aeration should be performed between late May and early July. This is because your warm-season grass will be actively growing during this time, which means it will be better equipped to endure the core aeration process. Additionally, by performing core aeration during this time, you can help your grass absorb the nutrients that it needs to withstand the hot summer season.

Call us today to schedule our core aeration service.

At FertiGator Lawn Care, we offer a core aeration service that involves pulling up plugs of soil from your lawn to alleviate soil compaction and make it easier for nutrients and other resources to reach the roots of your grass. We offer this service to property owners in The Villages, FL, and surrounding areas like Lady Lake and Wildwood. Give us a call today at (352) 314-2867 to schedule our core aeration service and help your lawn reach its full potential.