How Much Does it Cost to Aerate a Lawn?

When traditional techniques like watering and fertilizing no longer work to keep your lawn lush and green, it’s time to give your lawn a breath of fresh air. Lawn aeration involves removing cores of grass and soil from the lawn and dropping them on the surface. Think of what cleats do to an athletic field, just in a larger and more measured fashion.

Aeration reinvigorates lawns compacted by heavy traffic or years of wear and tear, and it helps water penetrate the soil. It gives roots the oxygen they need to grow and absorb water and nutrients. Simply put, it makes your lawn healthier.

About Lawn Aeration

Not sure if your lawn needs aeration? Take a shovel and dig out a section about six inches deep. If the roots are less than two inches deep, aeration would benefit your lawn.

Aeration can be done with a manual tool, but nearly all professional lawn care companies use a machine. Typically, eight to 10 cores are pulled from each square foot of the lawn. Cores are usually at least 1/2 inch wide and 1-6 inches deep.

The best time to aerate is late summer/early fall, when the roots are most active. Most experts do not recommend aerating in the spring because that is peak growth season for weeds. Aerating your lawn at that time will also promote weed growth.

Cost to Aerate a Lawn

For an average-sized lawn of about 1,000 square feet, professional aeration starts at about $50 - the cost of renting an aerator from a hardware or home improvement store. In some regions of the country, aeration for a lawn of this size will cost as much as $100.

The larger the yard, the lower the price per square foot. Aeration of a 2,000-square-foot lawn starts at about $75. Beyond that, most companies charge an extra $10 or $15 per additional 1,000 square feet.

Be wary of any company that quotes you a price that seems too good to be true. Make sure the company is licensed, bonded and insured. Some companies offer lower rates because they’re not paying for insurance, but you do not want to hire those companies. Should an accident happen on your property, you could be liable.

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