How to aerate a lawn

Over time, soil can become compacted, especially in areas of your lawn that get a lot of foot traffic. This leads to reduced airflow and water infiltration, which in turn prevents roots from growing properly.

Aerating your lawn, which is the process of creating small holes in the soil, breaks up this compaction and allows grass roots to breathe, expand and absorb vital nutrients, leading to a healthier and more resilient lawn.

If you have enough time, the right tools and a guide to closely follow, you can likely complete this job yourself, but it’s always easier to hire an expert.

How do you aerate a lawn?

Here are some steps you can follow to successfully aerate your lawn:

Step one: choose a tool

There are two main types of aerators, and these come in various forms, some manual and some powered by gas and electricity.

Spike aerators punch holes in the ground, pushing the surrounding soil sideways. On the other hand, core aerators remove plugs of soil from the grass.

Most gardeners suggest using a core aerator, as these are much more effective at relieving compaction compared to spike aerators, which can actually worsen compaction.

Step two: mow the lawn

Before aerating, mow the grass slightly lower than you usually would. This makes the lawn more accessible and also helps you clearly see the spacing of the aeration holes as you go.

Not only that, but if you plan to overseed or fertilise the lawn afterwards, having shorter grass helps the seeds and nutrients get to where they need to go.

Step three: water the lawn

If there hasn’t been a lot of rain lately, consider watering the grass a couple of days before aeration, as this will make the surface softer and easier to penetrate. This is especially important if you’re aerating manually.

Step four: aerate the lawn

Once you’ve done the necessary preparation and selected an aerator, you’re ready to begin the process.

Start at one corner of the lawn and move in straight lines, as you would if you were mowing the grass. Be sure to overlap slightly on each pass to cover the lawn evenly.

For areas that get the most foot traffic and so have the most severe compaction, you might need to pass over the area twice from different directions.

If you use a core aerator, don’t throw the plugs away. Leave them on the grass to break down and return their beneficial microorganisms to the soil.

Step five: complete the finishing touches and clean up

If you’re wondering how to aerate and overseed your lawn, you simply need to follow the steps above and then lightly rake your lawn to remove debris and break up the soil plugs (if you used a core aerator). Then, evenly distribute the seed.

Follow the recommended seeding rate on the package. The seeds should find their way into the holes you created, leading to better soil contact and a higher chance of germination.

Similarly, now is a good time to spread some fertiliser, as the nutrients will reach the grass roots more effectively.

Finally, water the grass once more, clean your aerator and pack everything away until next time.

How often to aerate lawn

The ideal frequency for aerating is about once a year. However, every lawn is different and the best frequency for yours will depend on your soil type and how compacted it gets by things like equipment and foot traffic.

For instance, while clay soils will often need to be aerated once or twice a year, sandier soils can often thrive without needing as much aeration. As a general rule, if your grass is healthy and doesn’t have to withstand much traffic, it probably doesn’t need to be aerated. But if it’s rock solid and looks patchy, it’s likely that aerating it will help.

How to aerate lawn by hand

Aerating a lawn by hand is more difficult than using a machine or specialised device, but it’s feasible for specific patches or small lawns. If you’re wondering how to aerate a lawn without a machine, follow these steps:

Step one: Choose a tool

If you don’t have access to a machine or specialised aerating tool, you can use a pitch fork or garden fork, or any tool capable of punching cylindrical holes in the ground.

This will be much less efficient than using a tool designed for the job, but again, it’s fine for small lawns or for aerating specific patches.

Step two: Prepare the lawn

Ensuring the soil is nice and soft is more important when aerating by hand, as this will make the job much easier.

Mow the lawn a bit shorter than usual, then water your grass a day or two before aerating so the soil is moist but not waterlogged.

Step three: Aerate lawn by hand

Starting in one corner of the lawn, or the edge of the compacted patch, begin aerating, moving in straight lines and overlapping slightly on each pass to ensure even coverage.

Push the forks into the ground and wiggle them around slightly to enlarge the holes, then pull it out. Repeat this every few inches.

Step five: Finishing touches and clean up

After aeration, water, overseed and fertilise the grass if you need to. Avoid heavy traffic on the lawn for a few days after aeration and be sure to water it regularly if you distributed seed.

Lastly, clean up and pack away your tools, and you’re finished. Well done!

How deep to aerate lawn

If you’re aerating your lawn by hand or you’re looking for the best aeration tool for the job, you might be wondering how deep to aerate your lawn.

It’s best to aim for about two to three inches in depth. For the best results, find a tool that can remove soil plugs that are roughly 0.5 to 0.75 inches in diameter and around two or three inches apart.

How to find a professional gardener

If you don’t have the time, tools or DIY skills to complete this job yourself, don’t worry, most of us don’t! Having your lawn aerated professionally is relatively cheap.

You can connect with a highly reviewed, Checkatrade-approved gardener in your area by entering your postcode into the search box below.