Aerating your lawn is a beneficial practice that helps improve soil compaction and allows better air, water, and nutrients to reach the grassroots. The timing of lawn aeration depends on the type of grass you have and the climate of your region. In general, the best time to aerate cool-season grasses (such as Kentucky bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass) is during the early fall or late summer. For warm-season grasses (like Bermuda, zoysia, and St. Augustine), the ideal time is late spring to early summer.
Here’s a bit more detail based on grass type:
- Cool-Season Grasses (Fall or Late Summer):
- Aerate in early fall (September to October) when the grass is actively growing, and there is still enough time for recovery before winter.
- Late summer (August) is also suitable if fall is not an option.
- Warm-Season Grasses (Late Spring to Early Summer):
- Aerate in late spring (May to June) when the grass is coming out of dormancy and actively growing.
- Early summer (June to July) is also acceptable, but try to avoid aerating during the hottest part of the summer.
It’s important to perform aeration when the soil is moderately moist. If the soil is too dry, it may be difficult to achieve proper core penetration, and if it’s too wet, you risk causing additional compaction. Water the lawn a day or two before aerating if the soil is dry.