{"id":44006,"date":"2023-12-02T17:55:08","date_gmt":"2023-12-02T20:55:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/?p=44006"},"modified":"2026-02-10T12:54:14","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T15:54:14","slug":"how-to-aerate-lawn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/lawn-care-2\/how-to-aerate-lawn\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Aerate Your Lawn: A Complete Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aerating your lawn creates small holes in the soil to break up soil compaction and allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the grass roots. You can use a core aerator (which removes soil plugs), a manual aerator for small yards, or hire a professional service.<\/p>

The process takes 1-3 hours, depending on lawn size and method. It\u2019s best done when your grass is actively growing. For warm-season grasses, that’s late spring or early summer; for cool-season grasses, it’s late summer to early fall.<\/p>

This guide walks you through the complete aeration process, from choosing the right equipment to post-aeration care that maximizes results.<\/p>

Need professional help?<\/strong> LawnStarter’s experts handle aeration<\/a> or you can bundle aeration with overseeding services<\/a>.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>
Key Takeaways:<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u2022 Core aerators work best, removing 2-3 inch soil plugs.
\u2022 Aerate in late spring (warm-season grass) or early fall (cool-season grass).
\u2022 Soil should be moist, not muddy; leave the plugs to break down; fertilize and overseed after.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>
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