Do Texas Lawns Need Core Aeration in the Fall?
In Texas, with extreme heat and sometimes very dry summers, lawns go through a lot. On top of the environmental stress and a heavy clay soil type, we use our lawns for play and recreation. To fully recover from a hot summer of fun, lawn mowing, and neighborhood cookouts, Texas lawns need some TLC. Fall lawn aeration is the end-of-summer facelift your lawn needs.
Understanding Lawn Aeration
Aeration is one of the most important lawn care tasks that should be at the top of any homeowner’s checklist. Aeration is like a cleansing that gives your lawn a breath of fresh air. Lawn aeration is the process of penetrating small holes in the soil to help break down soil compaction, thatch layers, and encourage root growth and expansion. There are multiple types including core aeration, liquid aeration, or spike aeration.
Liquid vs. Core Aeration
Core aeration is used with an aerator machine that pulls plugs from the soil that are deposited back onto the lawn. The openings created in the soil allow space for grass roots to grow or expand, resulting in stronger, healthier root systems. The plugs of soil are left on the lawn to work back in naturally, depositing additional nutrients into the lawn that help break down excessive thatch build-up. Liquid aeration achieves the same result with a little less physical impact on the turfgrass. The liquid process uses a wetting agent containing humic acid that penetrates deep into the root zone to break down soil compaction. With liquid aeration, you won’t have to mark sprinkler heads or worry about heavy machinery on your lawn. However, both methods of lawn aeration help loosen the soil structure, allowing the roots to better receive air, water, and other important nutrients.
What are the Benefits of Aerating in the Fall?
For the same reasons we aerate lawns in the late spring and early summer, it’s smart to do the same come fall. Every year, lawns become worn down naturally as we use them. Weather, foot traffic, lawn maintenance equipment, and disease or insects take a toll on the overall health of your lawn and the root systems. Fall aeration is a great way to repair summer stress for warm-season grasses, like St. Augustine, zoysiagrass, and bermudagrass before they go into winter dormancy. Similar to how fall fertilization restores valuable nutrients, like carbohydrates, in a plant, aeration restores the health of your lawn’s soil and root systems. Fall aeration helps alleviate soil compaction and break down the thatch layer that can suffocate your lawn over time. And with fall aeration, you’ll be able to enjoy a healthier lawn next spring.
The Best Time of Year for Lawn Aeration
If you can only aerate once per year, late spring should be the priority. It’s the best way to set your lawn up for a successful summer. Spring lawn aeration is beneficial as the lawn is beginning its active growing season and will make all your hard work on summer lawn care much more effective. But fall is just as beneficial for lawns that have struggled through a long Texas summer. Fall aeration can help repair and restore your lawn after foot traffic from mowing, playing, and everything in between. It’s especially helpful before putting down any fall fertilization to help improve winter hardiness. No matter when you aerate, make sure you do it. Healthy grass roots are the key to a healthy lawn.
Fall Lawn Aeration Services in Dallas, Texas
For top-quality lawn aeration in the Greater Dallas area, homeowners can call the team at Lawn Tech! Established in 1985, we provide lawn care services including weed control and fertilization, tree and shrub care, lawn aeration, perimeter and lawn pest control, and more. We service Dallas, Allen, Frisco, Prosper, Plano, McKinney, Irving, Denton, Fairview, Flower Mound, and surrounding areas. We know what Texas grass types need and we look forward to helping you maintain a lush, green lawn. Contact us today for a free quote.
