Get matched with top lawn irrigation specialists in Larimore, ND

To prepare your lawn for core aeration, water it the day before you aerate. (Alternatively, you can wait until it rains and aerate the following day.) Aerating after watering or a rainy day will make the process easier since you can penetrate moist soil better than dry soil. You should also flag your sprinklers so that you don’t accidentally hit them while aerating. If you have a lot of thatch buildup in your yard, you might need to dethatch your lawn before aerating as well.

Try the tool test first. A screwdriver or a similarly long, thin tool will work best, as spades and shovels are too big. If something still seems off despite the screwdriver smoothly going into the soil, look for other signs that you need aeration, like thinning grass, discolored areas, and puddles forming on your lawn after light rain. This indicates poor drainage because of too many areas being compacted.

Costs depend on property size, service frequency, and additional tasks like aeration or overseeding.

In most cases, it is worth paying for professional lawn care. DIY lawn maintenance is possible, but it can get extremely time-consuming, especially to make your property look well-maintained. Not only is lawn maintenance time-intensive, but it can also get expensive, even to DIY, especially considering the cost of fuel and maintenance for your lawn care tools. Professional lawn care services average around $100 per service, making it a relatively inexpensive investment, especially for how much time it saves you.