Aeration & Spiking

Soil – in particular heavy, clay-based soil – has a tendency to become compacted over time. The soil particles get pushed closer together by heavy rainfall and/or footfall on the surface making it difficult for moisture and essential gases to flow freely and reach the roots of your grass. This can lead to under-developed roots, weak grass, and poor disease / drought tolerance.

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Soil aeration services in Norfolk & Suffolk

Compacted ground can have serious consequences for your lawn, but this problem can be easily solved by aerating the soil. Our lawn aerator service is available in Norfolk & Suffolk.

Professional Lawn Services use professional grass aeration machines that move across the surface of the lawn and punch metal spikes (tines) 2-3 inches into the ground. This creates hundreds of tiny holes in the ground and loosens compacted soil. If necessary, hollow tines can be used to pull a soil core out of the ground – this helps to remove troublesome thatch as well as aerating the lawn.

Lawns should be regularly aerated so grass roots can develop healthily. The RHS recommend spiking your lawn every 2-3 years and carrying out hollow tine grass aeration every 3-4 years.

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Will lawn aeration help prevent waterlogging?

Compaction caused by heavy footfall and/or rainfall can create slow-draining areas that hold water and form muddy puddles. Look for a sticky covering of paste-like soil on the surface of your lawn – if you see this, you may have a waterlogging problem.
Waterlogging relief can be achieved by aerating the soil to a depth of 4 inches, then filling the holes with sandy top dressing to act as miniature ventilation shafts. This will improve the flow of air and water to the grass’s roots and prevent water damage.

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When should I have my lawn aerated?

Lawn aeration services should be carried out in the autumn with a potassium-rich feed used to assist root development.
After an autumn grass aeration service your lawn may look worse for a little while, but this won’t be the case forever. After a short period of recovery, your lawn should grow back looking stronger, healthier and more vibrant than ever! Sounds good, right?