Core Aeration
TLC Lawn Care, Inc.

As a full service lawn care company we can handle all your outdoor needs.

In Kansas City, core aeration is considered an essential mechanical treatment rather than just a cosmetic upgrade. Because the metro area is built on naturally dense clay soil, lawns are highly prone to compaction, which suffocates roots and prevents water and nutrients from reaching the plant. Aerations can be done any time of the year, as long as the ground isn’t frozen!

Benefits of Core Aeration:

· Decompacts Heavy Clay: KC’s "tight" soil is among the hardest in the country. Core aeration physically removes plugs of soil, relieving pressure and allowing the ground to "breathe".

· Maximizes Nutrient Efficiency: Aeration creates direct channels to the root zone, making fertilizers and lime significantly more effective. Without aeration, nutrients often sit on top of the clay and wash away.

· Boosts Summer Resilience: By encouraging roots to grow 3–4 inches deeper, aeration helps fescue and bluegrass survive Kansas City's brutal, 90°F+ summer heat and dry spells.

· Reduces Thatch and Water Runoff: The holes help break down the spongy thatch layer that can trap pests and diseases like Brown Patch. It also prevents water from pooling or running off the surface during heavy midwestern thunderstorms.

Why Aerate instead of Verticut and Seed?

In Kansas City, the choice between aeration and verticutting usually comes down to whether you are trying to fix the soil (aeration) or fix the grass (verticutting). Because of our heavy clay, many KC homeowners actually do both during the fall renovation season.

1. Core Aeration: The "Deep Fix" for Clay Soil

Aeration uses hollow tines to pull 3 - 4 inch "plugs" out of the ground.

· Primary Goal: Relieving soil compaction

· Best For: Lawns that feel hard as a rock, have standing water after a Kansas thunderstorm, or have been stressed by heavy foot traffic.

· The Benefit: It creates deep "chimneys" that allow air, water, and fertilizer to bypass our dense clay and reach the roots directly.

· Appearance: Leaves small "soil plugs" on the lawn that melt away after a few rains.

2. Verticutting: The "Surface Prep" for Seeding

A verticutter (power rake) uses vertical blades to slice shallow grooves into the surface of the thatch and soil.

· Primary Goal: Creating seed-to-soil contact and thinning out thatch.

· Best For: Lawns that are thinning, have bare spots, or have a thick, spongy layer of dead grass that prevents new seed from touching the dirt.

· The Benefit: It prepares a perfect "seed bed." Since Tall Fescue (the KC standard) doesn't spread on its own, verticutting is the best way to ensure new seed actually grows.

· Appearance: Initially looks like you "beat up" the lawn; it creates a significant amount of debris that often needs to be raked or mowed up.

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