Lawn aeration is important in Rochester because the heavy clay soil found in many areas becomes compacted easily. Olmstead County also gets heavy rainfall and snow, which make it difficult for compacted soil to drain efficiently.
Compacted soil does not absorb water or circulate moisture and other nutrients well. It also hinders root growth. According to the Olmsted County Planning Department, most of Olmstead County has “highly erodible” soil. The holes poked into the soil when you aerate allow the water to soak into the soil instead of running off the surface, which can lead to erosion.
Aerating your lawn helps water, air, and other nutrients penetrate and circulate the soil, which promotes healthy roots and grass growth.
What is Lawn Aeration?
Lawn aeration is a process that loosens compacted soil by poking holes in the ground, usually with a plug aerator, to allow water, air, and other nutrients to penetrate and circulate. Small pieces of the soil are removed, which loosens the soil and allows nutrients to move more freely.
When the soil is hard and compacted, plants and grass cannot get what they need to be healthy and thrive. Factors like heavy foot traffic, rainfall, or too much watering can cause soil compaction. Certain soil types are prone to compaction, like heavy clay soil.
When Should You Aerate in Rochester?
When and how often to aerate your lawn depends on soil type, use, and grass type.
Typically, once a year will keep your grass thriving. The best time to aerate your Rochester home lawn is from the middle of August through the middle of October. If you miss this time frame, it is okay to aerate between the end of April and May. However, aerating during Roch’s hot summers can damage your lawn.
Rochester has a combination of soil types, ranging from silt, clay, and loam, with variations of these soil combinations. So, your soil could be a sandy loam with a fine texture or a silt clay loam type. If your lawn endures a lot of traffic or use or you have a hard clay soil type, aerating at least twice annually is necessary.
The grasses that thrive in Minnesota, like cool-season grasses, are best aerated in the fall and spring. The best time to aerate warm-season grasses is between mid-spring and summer, about mid-May to July.
Do not aerate when the grass is brown, during droughts, or temperature extremes. Lawns recently sodded or seeded should not be aerated in the first year. LawnStarter has guides on best practices for buying and laying sod and the best time to plant grass seed in Minnesota.
Why Aerate?
Rochester gets heavy rainfall and snow. Compacted soil may not soak up and retain water adequately, which can cause drainage problems, waterlogging, and erosion. The clay soils found here are especially prone to compaction and do not drain well, so periodic aeration is important for the long-term health of your lawn.
These are some reasons it’s worth aerating:
- Improves water absorption
- Enhances the circulation of oxygen and nutrients in the soil
- Helps retain fertilizers and pesticides, thereby reducing runoff
- Promotes root development
- Facilitates thatch decomposition
- Reduces waterlogging
- Allows water trapped by sod to penetrate the soil beneath it
- Enhances tolerance to drought and heat stress the Rochester summers can bring
- Helps manage common lawn diseases
Signs That You Should Aerate
Here are some ways to determine if your lawn needs aeration:
Excessive Thatch
If your lawn feels like a sponge or loses moisture quickly, it could have too much thatch accumulation. Thatch more than ½ an inch thick also indicates your lawn needs aeration.
Heavy Use
As stated earlier, factors like heavy foot traffic can cause the soil to become tightly compacted. Other determinants are children regularly playing on the grass or vehicles constantly driving across your lawn. If you’ve had new structures added to your property, the construction traffic, like the movement of heavy equipment, can cause soil compaction.
Clay Soil
If you have thick clay soil, your lawn can benefit from aeration.
For more on caring for your Rochester lawn, check out these guides:
What to Do After Aerating Your Lawn
How to Aerate and Overseed Your Lawn
FAQ About Lawn Aeration in Rochester, MN
What are some cool-season grasses commonly found in Rochester?
Kentucky bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, perennial ryegrass, and tall fescue are cool-season grasses typically found in the Olmsted County area.
Do all lawns have to be aerated?
Lawns that do not have factors that make them susceptible to soil compaction typically grow well without being aerated. Mother Nature has organic methods that loosen tight soil, like earthworms (see “How Earthworms Help Your Lawn, Grass, and Soil“) and the Minnesota winter freezing and thawing cycles.
How much does lawn aeration cost in Rochester?
Lawn aeration in Rochester costs $39 to $86. For the costs of more lawn care services, check out our Rochester lawn mowing cost guide.
When to Call a LawnStarter Pro
While you can aerate your lawn yourself, your grass may not even need it. Our experts recommend aerating twice a year if you have a heavy clay soil type. If you’re unsure about your soil type, you may want to call a professional. It’s always best to be safe than sorry.
Let a LawnStarter pro mow, trim, edge, fertilize, and aerate your lawn so it is as beautiful as the rest of Med City. Find out how much it costs for lawn mowing services and more and easily schedule an appointment. We’re a click, call, or app away.
Main Image Credit: Tomasz Zajda / Adobe Stock Free / License
