Aeration is one of the best things you can do for your lawn in Tennessee. This process involves using an aerator to pull up plugs of soil from your lawn, which will help loosen compaction and make it easier for nutrients and other resources like water, oxygen, and sunlight to reach the roots. After this service is performed, you'll likely notice that there are clumps of soil on your lawn. These clumps are called soil cores that were pulled out during the aeration process. Soil cores contain many beneficial nutrients that will be returned back to your lawn as they decompose. While most people don't like how the soil cores look, you should leave them so that they can benefit your turf! However, if you don't like the sight of them, you can help them break down quickly by raking or mowing them.

What are the clumps of soil on your lawn after aeration?

Soil plugs on a lawn after aeration in Gallatin, TN.

When a lawn undergoes core aeration, it is common to notice clumps of soil left behind. There is no need to worry about them, as they are left behind intentionally to help improve the health of your lawn. These clumps, also known as soil cores, are a result of the aeration process in which small plugs of soil are removed from the ground in order to break up compaction and allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate more easily. That way, the roots of your grass have better access to the resources they need to promote healthy, vibrant growth.

Thicken up your turf by pairing core aeration with overseeding!

You should leave the soil cores on your lawn after aeration.

It is important to leave the soil cores on your lawn after an aeration service. These cores are a valuable byproduct of the process and benefit your lawn. Over time, the soil cores will break down. During this decomposition process, they will return essential nutrients, such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, back into the soil, which is highly beneficial for the growth of your grass. So, it is best to let them break down naturally and let your lawn reap the benefits.

Soil cores usually break down within 2 weeks after being aerated.

If you hate how the soil cores look after aeration, you can break them apart.

If you're not happy with the appearance of the soil cores left behind after a core aeration service, you can take some additional steps to speed up the decomposition process. One option is to use a rake to break up the soil cores. This will help to distribute the soil cores throughout your yard, making them less noticeable and allowing them to break down more quickly. Alternatively, you can run over the soil cores with your lawn mower. This will break them up into smaller pieces, which will help them decompose faster. While you can remove them altogether, it's not recommended, as the nutrients are important for soil health!

Give us a call today to schedule our core aeration service!

Are you looking to give your lawn a boost? If so, contact us at Performance Lawns Inc. for our core aeration service! We offer this service in the spring and fall, with the former season for warm-season grasses and the latter for cool-season types. Additionally, we always do two passes to pull up twice as many soil cores and ensure optimal results. We'll leave these cores on your lawn to decompose naturally and return nutrients as they do.

We provide our core aeration service to commercial and residential properties in Gallatin, Hendersonville, Lebanon, TN, and surrounding areas. Call us at (615) 708-5549 to schedule our core aeration service today!