Core aeration
Pull plugs, relieve compaction and let water, air and nutrients reach the roots.
Core aeration, in plain terms
A core aerator rolls over the lawn and pulls out small plugs (cores) of soil and thatch, leaving finger-sized holes about 2.5 inches deep. The plugs are left on the lawn to break down.
Unlike spike aeration, which just pokes holes and can press soil tighter, core aeration actually removes soil, so the ground around each hole can loosen up.
What aeration does for your lawn
Relieves compaction
Foot traffic, mowing, play and construction squeeze soil tight. Pulling cores gives roots room to grow.
Moves water, air and food
Water soaks in instead of running off, and oxygen and fertilizer reach the root zone.
Breaks up thatch
The layer of dead stems and roots on the surface gets broken up and mixed with soil, which helps it decompose.
Deeper, stronger roots
Looser soil means deeper roots and a lawn that handles heat and dry spells better.
Does your lawn need it?
- Water puddles or runs off instead of soaking in
- A screwdriver is hard to push into moist soil
- Heavy use: kids, dogs, a well-worn path to the shed or the street
- Thatch thicker than about half an inch (spongy feel underfoot)
- Thin or tired-looking turf even with regular feeding
- A newer home where the lawn went in over packed construction soil
We aerate in the spring
Lawns around here are mostly cool-season grasses (Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass and fescues), which grow best in the cooler parts of the year.
- Core aeration: spring. We schedule it once the ground has thawed and dried out enough to work, as the lawn starts growing.
- Want new seed too? Fall. We recommend aeration + overseeding in the fall, when warm soil and cool nights help new grass get established.
- Not mid-summer: heat and drought already stress the lawn.
How to get ready
- Mark what's underground (list below).
- Mow at your normal height a day or two before.
- Soil should be moist, not soggy. If it's been dry, water about an inch a day or two ahead.
- Unlock gates and keep pets inside while we work.
Please flag before we come
- Sprinkler heads and irrigation lines: flag every head. The tines go about 2.5 inches deep.
- Invisible dog fence wire: it's usually buried shallow, so flag its path or tell us where it runs.
- Anything else shallow: landscape lighting wire, cable or utility lines, septic or drain lines, buried downspout pipes.
- Tolvstad's Turf Care LLC is not responsible for damage to unmarked sprinkler heads or objects.
What to expect
- The lawn will be dotted with plugs for a week or two. That's normal, so leave them.
- You can mow as usual once the plugs dry; mowing helps break them up.
- Water and fertilizer now reach deeper, so it's a good time for a feeding.
How it fits
Aeration is an add-on to the 5-step program, not a replacement. The program feeds the lawn and controls weeds, and aeration helps those applications reach the roots. Spring aeration helps the season's applications reach the roots from the start. If you'd also like to add seed, see aeration + overseeding in the fall.
PremiumWant to go further? Lawn Restoration
We add a soil test, a second aeration pass and a custom fertilizer and micronutrient blend applied after seeding.
Learn more →Aeration FAQ
Should I rake up the plugs?
No. Leave them on the lawn. Rain, sun and mowing break them down in a week or two, and the soil and organic matter work their way back into the turf.
How often should a lawn be aerated?
It depends on the lawn. Heavily used or compacted lawns, and lawns with heavy soil, often benefit every year. Many other lawns do fine every two or three years. We're happy to look at yours and give an honest opinion.
Can I mow right after aeration?
Yes, once the plugs have dried a bit. Mowing actually helps break them up. If you're also overseeding, follow the new-seed mowing rules on the overseeding page.
When do you do core aeration?
We schedule core aeration in the spring, once the ground has thawed and dried out enough to work. If you also want new seed, we recommend aeration + overseeding, which we do in the fall, when new grass has warm soil and cool nights to get established before winter.
Should the soil be wet or dry?
Moist, not soggy. In dry spells, water the lawn about an inch a day or two before so the tines can pull good plugs. Very dry, hard soil gives short plugs; saturated soil just smears.
Will aeration help with weeds?
Not directly. It helps the grass grow thicker, and a thick lawn crowds out weeds over time. Weed control itself is part of the 5-step program.
Towns we serve
Holmen first, then out through the La Crosse County area. Wisconsin lawns only.
Holmen · Onalaska · La Crosse · West Salem · Trempealeau · Galesville · Mindoro · Bangor · Sparta · Westby · Coon Valley · Viroqua · Stoddard
Ask the people who do the work
The owners run the aerator themselves. Call or text Matt at 608-769-2852 to get on the list.