Aeration

We all need to breathe and lawns are no exception. Aeration is the process of giving your lawn a better access to air for its roots and helping it take a fresh breath so it can grow better.  Without proper aeration the roots can't get enough air or grow to their full length which means that grass is weaker, more susceptible to competition from weeds, and simply not as good looking as grass that is properly aerated. There are a number of reasons why soil can need aeration but our professional aeration services can correct the problems and allow your lawn to breath again.
 
Compaction
The key reason why lawns need aeration is that the soil has become compacted and is too dense to allow proper root growth. Compacted soil doesn't drain properly and doesn't allow water to seep through to the roots so grass becomes weak and may die off altogether. There may be other problems such as water run off or pooling as a result. There are lots of possible causes for compaction but some of them may not be obvious at first. It is only reasonable to expect soil to be compacted where it is subject to heavy traffic and pressure but sometimes compaction occurs for unseen reasons.  Where soil has been dug up or disturbed and then relayed there may be problems with air pockets that then collapse and cause compaction in the subsoil. 
 
Snow and Ice
Snow and ice are a simple fact of life in Anchorage but they can be a problem for your soil. Melt water can lead to saturated soil and saturated soil is then prone to compaction just as your lawn is hoping to grow for the year. We can't stop the snow in Alaska, but at least we can do something about the compaction and put the green back in your yard.
 
Aeration
There are essentially two ways of professionally aerating a lawn and ending the undesirable effects of compaction; spike aeration and core aeration.  Spike aeration is just what it sounds like – spikes are thrust into the soil to break it up and get air in while causing minimal disruption to the lawn. You could do that yourself with a garden fork but why would you when we have spiked rollers that mean we can cover a lot more ground, more systematically and effectively. Core aeration, also called plug aeration uses an aeration machine that drills a core into the soil and is more effective than simply spiking. Both techniques lead to better root and shoot density so let us talk to you about what is best for your yard.
 
Dethatching
There's another factor that brings the need for aeration; thatching.  Thatch is that green mix of organic matter, dead grass, and living stems that occurs between the soil and the blades of grass on your lawn. It can build up and interfere with the exchange of air and water into the soil so as well as aerating we will dethatch your lawn to give it room to breathe.