Core aeration is the process of mechanically removing tiny soil plugs, or cores, from your lawn. The purpose of this service is to loosen compacted soil so that the roots of your grass have better access to vital resources like water, oxygen, nutrients, and sunlight. In Virginia, core aeration is typically performed in the fall to help your turf recover from the summer heat and give it a boost heading into the cooler-weather months.

While core aeration is a highly beneficial lawn care service, it does leave your yard covered with thousands of small soil cores. If you're wondering what you should do with them, then you have a few options. You can either leave them on your lawn to decompose naturally, rake them to speed up their decomposition process, or remove them completely. Continue reading to learn more about these options and the impact each can have on your turf.

Leave Soil Cores On Your Lawn After Aeration

Pile of cores in a lawn after aeration service in Falls Church, VA.

The first course of action you can take after aeration is the easiest and most beneficial. In fact, it requires nothing from you. You can simply leave the soil cores on your lawn after aeration and let them decompose naturally over time. This is the best option for your turf because the soil cores contain nutrients that sink back into your soil and provide nourishment to your grass as they decompose. If you leave them alone, they should break down fully within a couple of weeks. Once the soil cores have disintegrated, your lawn will not only look good but also be better off healthwise.

Soil cores are typically only about 2 to 3 inches long and 3/4 of an inch wide.

You can rake soil cores to speed up the decomposition process.

Another course of action you can follow in the aftermath of aeration involves speeding up the decomposition process of the soil cores. This can be accomplished by raking the soil cores that were left on your lawn during core aeration. This is not a bad option at all for property owners who don't want to wait for the soil cores to decompose naturally but still would like their lawns to benefit from the nutrients they contain. Raking the soil cores helps them break down quickly while ensuring their nutrients return to your soil. If you choose this route, you will just have to expend some time and energy raking your property to achieve your desired outcome.

You Can Completely Remove Soil Cores After Aeration

Cores removed from lawn during aeration service in Arlington, VA.

The final option you have when it comes to dealing with soil cores on your lawn involves completely removing them after aeration. This can be done but is not recommended because your lawn will miss out on receiving nutrients the soil cores would otherwise return to your soil. It is better to let soil cores decompose on your lawn, either naturally or by raking them, than to remove them from your grass immediately after aeration. However, if you really can't stand the way that soil cores affect the appearance of your grass, then this is an option you can choose.

Call today to schedule our core aeration service!

When was the last time your lawn was aerated? If it hasn't been done in the past year, then your grass is due! Aeration is a critical lawn care service that should be performed annually in the fall to promote your turf's overall health and help it breathe easier. We offer our core aeration service to residential property owners in Arlington, Falls Church, Annandale, and nearby areas in Virginia. Give your lawn the attention it needs. Call us today at (703) 527-6950 to schedule our core aeration service!