Who Can I Hire to Aerate My Lawn and How Much Does It Cost?
You’ve got options when delegating this important lawn maintenance task
Lawn maintenance is a multi-layered proposition. You might think you’re doing great with regular mowing, watering, and fertilizing, but if your soil isn’t primed to receive those nutrients and TLC, your lawn might not be showing the fruits of your labor. That’s why aerating your lawn once or twice a year is so important.
Aerating your lawn involves loosening up the tight soil for better air circulation, which allows the root system to thrive. If you don’t have the ability or time to DIY it, hiring a local lawn aeration service is the best move. Here’s what you need to know about hiring out this vital lawn care task.
Benefits of Hiring a Local Lawn Aeration Company to Aerate Your Lawn
The advantages of hiring a local lawn aeration company to aerate your lawn are similar to those of hiring a professional to do any other yard work or exterior home improvement project.
A Job Well Done
Lawn aeration can be a DIY task if you have the time and willingness to do the work. But if you don’t have the patience to stand there with a hose to distribute liquid aerator or the very idea of learning how to aerate your lawn with a core or spike aerator makes you tired just thinking about it, then hire a lawn maintenance pro who knows what they are doing to aerate your lawn for you. They’ll do a great job without you having to lift a finger.
Time-Saver
There’s no shame in freeing up your time to tackle any other DIY project or simply relax and catch up on your favorite TV show. Leave it to someone who’s done this work many times before, and it’s likely to get done much faster than you could DIY it.
Easy Scheduling
The beauty of having outdoor work done is that it won’t affect anything going on inside your house. In fact, you really don’t even have to be home when the lawn aeration service stops by, so this might be one of the easiest projects to get done.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Lawn Aeration Pro?
The average cost for lawn aeration is $139 for a 10,000-square-foot yard. The actual cost may range between $75 for more basic services and upwards of $200 for additional services, like seeding and fertilizing.
The price depends on which method of aeration is used. Liquid aeration ranges from $80 to $150. Core aeration costs between $75 and $250, while spike aeration costs $40 to $250. Keep in mind that liquid aeration has cumulative effects, which may mean multiple doses for your lawn, which would drive up the price. Core aeration, on the other hand, is done only once a year.
Can I DIY Lawn Aeration?
Most homeowners value a lovely lawn, but not everyone can or is willing to do the work themselves to maintain one. But if you enjoy a hands-on approach to lawn maintenance, you can do aerate your lawn on your own for a healthy, verdant yard.
You can use a core aerator, although liquid aeration might be the more beginner-friendly method. Depending on the current condition of your lawn, you might have to commit to a combination of both to improve the soil.
Of course, if you’re unsure which lawn aeration method is right for you, consult with a local lawn aeration company.
Can I Hire a Handyperson for Lawn Aeration?
A handyperson can be very useful when tackling many home improvement projects, handling anything from cleaning your gutters to painting your bathroom. While an experienced handyperson might have versatile skills, you’ll need to confirm that lawn care is one of them before hiring one to aerate your lawn.
In short, always ask about a handyperson’s skillset before hiring them to do a job. A good handyperson will let you know upfront whether or not they have the know-how to take on a job. If they don’t, they might end up referring you to another handyperson or a local lawn aeration company that can do the work instead.
Consider hiring a local lawn aeration company from the get go. Pros will be more in tune with the lawn maintenance schedule in your area and, therefore, will be able to do the work sooner rather than later. Set up an aeration appointment for your lawn as soon as possible.
How Do Lawn Pros Aerate Lawns?
There are three main types of lawn aeration: liquid, core, and spike. The one you choose should depend on the current state of your lawn.
Liquid Aeration
Liquid aeration involves distributing a liquid solution evenly over the lawn by way of a garden pump. This method will take longer to work its magic to relieve tight, compacted soil, but the results are cumulative—meaning their benefits will continue to build with each dose—and ultimately last longer.
Core Aeration
Core aeration involves a core aerator—either a manual or an automatic one—that pulls out plugs of soil, creating pathways for air to circulate. The aerator you need will depend on the size of the lawn. Most homeowners can get by with a manual aerator, either one you can push like a manual lawn mower or press up and down into the ground with a foot to remove the soil plugs (imagine extreme soccer cleats). But if you’ve already got a riding mower for your expansive property, you can hook up an automatic aerator that you can tow behind the mower for a much faster (and easier) aeration process.
Either way, core aeration will lead to faster results for your lawn, but they won’t last as long without the proper ongoing lawn maintenance, including mowing, watering, and fertilizing.
Spike Aeration
Like core aeration, spike aeration creates holes in the soil for air to circulate. There are manual aerators that look like spiked shovels that you press into the ground with your foot, or you might prefer to strap on spike “shoes” that aerate the ground as you stomp about your yard. Unlike with core aeration, where soil plugs are removed, the spikes make the holes by pressing down into the lawn, further compacting the soil. This option might be fine for an already healthy lawn, but for those needing more TLC, it’s best to go with either core or liquid aeration.
Lawn aeration is best done before or after the growing season, which is also peak time for your local lawn aeration service. If you decide to hire a professional to do the work for you, call early to secure an appointment.