How Much To Get Lawn Aerated

When Should You Not Aerate Your Lawn

The spring is not the best time to aerate the lawn. It may be necessary to aerate in the spring if the soil is so dense that the grass cant grow. Spring aerating is discouraged because the aeration holes provide a perfect spot for weed seeds to grow. The first step is to make sure that your lawn is well-aerated.

The best way to do this is with a lawn mower, which can be purchased at most home improvement stores. You can also use a hand-held lawn aerator, such as this one from Home Depot or Lowes, or you can use an automatic lawn sprinkler system. Both of these types of aerators work by spraying water on the grass and then letting it sit for a few minutes to allow the water to evaporate.

Aerators are available in a wide variety of sizes, so you may have to experiment to find the one that works best for your situation. Once you have found the right size, you will need to fill the hole with water.

Aeration Relieves Soil Compaction

This is especially key if your lawn experiences a lot of foot traffic. The increased foot traffic during the summer months can leave your lawn compacted due to the weight and pressure. Pulling out the small cores of soil helps your lawn release the added stress and tension. If you dont loosen the compacted soil, it wont allow new growth and your lawn will begin to dry out. If your soil is compacted, your lawn will experience what is known as runoff, therefore when it rains, or when you water your lawn, it wont be able to penetrate through the dense soil layer.

Lawn Aeration Costs At A Glance

DIYing lawn aeration is possible, and if you do most of the work yourself, it will be significantly cheaper than hiring a professional. It will take considerably more effort, so youll need to consider how much time you can dedicate to the project. In the end, lawn aeration costs much less than other lawn maintenance projects like installing a sprinkler system or tree removal. In this cost guide, well discuss pricing and time commitments to help you decide which route is right for you.

• National average cost of DIY lawn aeration: $75-$100
• Time required for DIY lawn aeration: 1-4 hours, depending on property square footage
• Average cost of professional lawn aeration: $150-$250, depending on property square footage
• Time involved with professional lawn aeration: 30 minutes to 1 hour

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Questions To Ask Lawn Care Professionals

• Do you recommend liquid or core aeration for my lawn, and why?
• Will you flag my sprinkler heads before aerating the lawn?
• Do you offer a discount for bundling aeration with overseeding or fertilizing?
• Are you licensed, insured, and bonded?
• How do you handle damages that happen on the job?
• What does your warranty policy include?
• What is your payment schedule?

Get free estimates on HomeGuide from trusted aeration companies:

Helps Reduce Need For Insect Control

Insects tend to all prey on and gain victory over thin, sparse lawns. Many inspect species also prefer to lay their eggs in damp, thatch-filled lawns. While core aeration does not directly kill insects, it does make a lawn less inviting by creating an inhospitable breeding ground and, by promoting a thicker, healthier turfgrass, roving insects will move on to look for easier turf to infest.

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How To Calculate Aeration Fees

Most landscaping professionals around the country calculate fees for lawn aeration services 1,000 square feet at a time. Depending on where you live and the size of average lawns in your area, you might charge anywhere from $6 to $17 per 1,000 square feet of lawn for aeration services alone. Thats a big discrepancy! So, how do you decide where on the spectrum to set your rate?

Well, as with most pricing for mowing, leaf removal or other lawn services, you might consider pricing for aeration based on lawn size a smaller lawn will obviously take much less time, and be cheaper for the homeowner, than a large lawn. You might consider charging a flat rate for lawns up to 5,000 square feet, another flat rate for lawns 5,000 to 10,000 square feet and so on.

Consider how much it will cost you to offer lawn aeration services. Do you own an aerator or will you need to rent one? Are you able to perform multiple aerations in one day on a tight route, or will it take time and fuel for you to travel between jobs? How much do fertilizer and seed cost in your area? Think about what you need to do and charge to make lawn aeration profitable before you add it to your services.

Diy Vs Professional Lawn Service

Again, lawn aeration is typically priced at fixed rates, but sometimes lawn aeration is charged by the hour, usually with a 2-hour minimum. On average, rates range from $40 to $70 per hour.

Its time-consuming to pick up, transport, and learn how to use a lawn aerator. Add on performing the aeration itself, and youre at least looking at a half-day project. Its cheaper per hour to hire a local lawn care pro to perform lawn aeration. Plus, working with pros ensures your lawn gets the best results.

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Equipment You Need To Aerate Your Lawn

Before you can aerate your lawn, you need to buy or rent an aerator. Aerators are specialized equipment, and there are three main types. Heres what you need to know:

Spike Aerators break up thatch and compacted soil by piercing holes in the ground. There are several types of spike aerators, including tools that look like pitchforks, spike rollers, and even spiked shoes that you strap to your feet and aerate as you walk on the lawn. Some people love spike aerators because they are simple and usually the cheapest type of aerating equipment. Others claim that they are the least effective and can make compaction worse by pressing the soil between each hole closer together. If you decide to go with this option, make sure you read reviews and understand how to use it properly.

Slicing aerators are the next best option. They use rotating blades to slice through thatch and soil to loosen it up and create space for water and air to flow. Like spike aerators, there are inexpensive options to choose from, but there is debate over their effectiveness.

Lawn Aeration Cost Breakdown

Lawn aeration costs fluctuate from one company to another, as companies have different overheads and operation expenses. The best time to install aeration is in late fall and early winter. This is referred to as a contractors down season, and you can expect significant discounts.

Always add around 7 to 15% to calculated aeration costs if you need to pay for unexpected extras. Aerating a lawn is a strenuous task and can cause a sore back. Hiring a landscaping company to do it for you is worth the cost, and they are also clued up on where to find the best prices for lawn aeration.

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Professional Lawn Aeration Costs

If you hire a lawn care company to do the job, they may charge by the hour or the square foot. Or, they may set a flat rate for every quarter acre. Professional lawn aeration service costs, on average, about $15 to $17 per thousand square feet. For a 5,000 square-foot lawn, that adds up to between $75 and $85. Companies that charge an hourly rate usually want $15 to $32 per hour, so the total cost can vary depending on the size of the yard and the job’s complexity.

Lawn Aerator Rental Cost

Core aerator rental costs $45 to $80 for four hours or $70 to $110 per day, plus a $75 to $150 refundable deposit. Renting a utility trailer to haul the aerator yourself costs $15 to $25 per day. Otherwise, aerator rental delivery and pickup fees add $100 to $300.

• Look for discounted weekend rates. Many stores charge homeowners a 1-day fee to rent an aerator on Saturday and return it Monday.
• Home Depot, Lowes, Ace Hardware, and equipment companies like United Rentals or Sunbelt Rentals offer lawn aerator rentals.

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Tips For Lowering The Costs

It is expected that you should pay higher lawn aeration price range for a licensed, professional lawn aerator company or individual and for complex lawns or rush projects. Here are tips to lower your costs:

• Combine fertilization and lawn aeration for that easy digging.
• Minimize other services for your lawn.
• Try doing it yourself.
• Borrow a lawn aerator from a friend or neighbor. Or better yet, hire them!
• Keep track of the perfect time on when to aerate your lawn.
• Be mindful of the discounts in your local shops.

The main reason that aeration is carried out is to allow air and water in the land profile as this helps relieve compaction. All lands have problems with compaction to a point, with heavy clay lands that become wet being more susceptible to compaction. Compaction is caused when the atmosphere is displaced from the land by surface compaction which then breaks down the soil structure leading to low quality growing conditions.

When compaction happens as well as the air is displaced this prevents drainage, supports shallow rooted grasses like annual meadow grass. If lawns are greatly used there is an excellent opportunity theyll become compacted and will need some form of aeration program.

Whether You Include Common Add

Many pros recommend fertilizing and seeding lawns right after an aerating them. Newly aerated lawns absorb nutrients from fertilizer more efficiently. Seeding will fill in patchy areas in the lawn, bringing new life to your turf and grass.

The national average cost for seeding ranges between $150 and $600, depending on the size of the yard, but most homeowners pay around $300. The cost for fertilizing runs between $35 and $180 nationwide, with most homeowners paying around $80 for a 5,000-square foot yard.

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We Provide Deep Core Lawn Aeration

Aeration is the first step to any lawn care program. Aeration creates hundreds of holes in your lawn by using a machine called an aerator. The aerator pulls dirt plugs from the soil level of your grass to allow more water to reach the roots. Lawns that are aerated every year stay greener because more moisture reaches the roots . We all know its always greenest at the downspout. Professionally aerated lawns allow for a healthier, greener lawn.

Weed Patrol Lawn Care

We recommend aerating lawns in Edmonton once a year, in the spring or fall.

Cost Of Centipede Grass Seed

Centipede grass costs approximately $0.75 to $0.85 per sq.ft. and $8 to $16 per pound. It is a warm-season grass that is very climate-specific. Due to the strict soil requirements, it mostly thrives in the southeastern region of the United States. Centipede grass is low-maintenance, nutrient-heavy, and heat-tolerant.

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Lawn Aeration Charges By Type

Lawn services charge $75 to $250 to aerate a lawn, while DIY methods cost $30 to $120. The types of lawn aeration are core, liquid, and spike aeration. Lawn companies use core aeration because it’s the most effective way to relieve soil compaction and create a thicker, healthier lawn.

Corsican Mint Ground Cover

If you plan to plant Corsican mint, expect to pay between $10 and $21 per pound. This is one of the simplest ground covers to plant and maintain. It creates a flat bedding of bright green leaves that look and smell great. This ground cover may freeze in colder temperatures but naturally regrows once the cold weather breaks. You have to water Corsican mint regularly, though it doesnt require as much as natural grass.

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Comparing Cost Vs Value

Its probably safe to say that the number one reason why homeowners choose an aerator rental in Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio, or Northern Kentucky is to save money. But what some people are surprised to learn iswhen all is said and donethe savings is not always that significant.

Generally, an aerator rental is going to cost you about $100. The average lawn that we service is 12,000 square feet and costs you $181 for a professional aeration by our company. Is it really worth the effort of picking up and returning the rental equipment, and spending your valuable weekend time on such hard labor, only to get a lesser resultall for a savings of $80?

Remember, that figure is based on an average lawn size the smallest lawn we currently aerate costs the homeowner only $97, so if your lawn is smaller, the savings are larger! Not to mention, there are the additional benefits of professional service, no liability for damages, more free time and, of course, excellent results.

How To Know If Your Soil Is Compacted

As long as you know what to look for, its relatively easy to detect when your soil is compacted. Here are the tell-tale signs:

• Bare spots and areas with patchy, unhealthy looking grass. When water and oxygen cant reach the roots, grass cant grow.
• Rock hard soil that you can barely penetrate with a pitchfork.
• Water running down from high areas is a sign that your lawn is not absorbing water.
• The Soil has a reddish tint. This is a sign of soil with high clay content, which tends to become compacted.
• Plants with stunted growth and trees with shallow roots.
• If your lawn doubles as a playground for kids or pets, theres a good chance the soil is compacted.

If your grass is thick, green, and healthy, and none of these signs are present, the soil is likely in good shape. If this is the case, stick to an annual aeration schedule until conditions change.

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What Does Aerating A Lawn Do

If you notice your yard looking dull or failing to thrive, aeration can help bring it back to life. Aeration removes physical barriers to the essential air, water, and nutrients that grass needs to survive and flourish, and it can be accomplished using various methods to suit your budget. No matter which method you choose, the basic principle is the same. Aeration allows air, water, and nutrients to be absorbed by the roots of the turfgrass, resulting in a healthier, more vigorous lawn.

Peak Growing Times & Reasons For Aerating Grass

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

The basic idea behind lawn aeration is that, like you, your lawn and the soil under it need to breathe. Aerating a lawn is worth the time and effort because it will help a lawn grow better. But how do you accomplish this? And when should you aerate your grass? Read on to learn how to aerate a lawn yourself and why aerating lawns is beneficial to your landscape.

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Are Lawn Treatments Safe

The vast majority of lawn treatments are considered safe, providing that any instructions for an item such as lawn feed and fungicides have been carefully checked and followed and that machinery is handled with caution.

Lawn care treatments that include the application of active ingredients, such as fungicides and lawn feeds, are harmful when ingested, and can be harmful if they come into contact with skin so most product manufacturers will state a minimum time that the lawn should not be disturbed after application.

With non-application treatments such as scarification, aeration and general mowing, the risk of harm is minimal to yourself, children, pets and the environment.

No matter what treatment is being undertaken, safety precautions should always be followed this can include, but is not limited to:

• Restricting access to the lawn for children and animals during the treatment process, and for a suitable period afterwards where applicable, such as in the use of fertilisers, weed killers and fungicides.
• Wearing adequate safety equipment such as gloves, suitable footwear and protective eyewear.
• Checking the condition of equipment prior to use to ensure it is fit for purpose.
• Carefully disposing of chemicals and containers after use.
• Seeking the help of a professional service if you are uncomfortable to or unable to undertake a task yourself.

Thatch And Compaction: 2 Problems You Can Fix

Over time, little bits and pieces of grass die and gather just above the soil. This is called thatch. A little bit of thatch can be beneficial. It’s organic material that is broken down by microbes in the soil. But sometimes, thatch builds up too fast for natural processes to break it down. It forms a barrier, keeping moisture and air from going where your grass needs it. A half-inch or more of thatch can weaken your lawn. You have 2 ways to remove it: dethatching and aerating.

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Professional Lawn Care Aeration And Treatment

The cost to aerate your lawn by hiring a lawn care company is about $15 to $17 per thousand square feet. The average lawn size is about ten thousand square feet, making the average aeration cost around $150. It will take a lawn care company about 30 minutes to aerate a ten thousand square foot lawn. Adding overseeding and fertilizing to your aeration will bump up the cost. The cost of aeration, overseeding, and fertilizing is around $250 to $300 if you use a lawn care company.