Lawn Care 101
Aerating benefits all lawns by loosening soil and reducing thatch buildup.
The right time: Aerate when soil is moist and grass is actively growing.
Why timing matters: Lawns should be aerated when the grass is actively growing and soil is moist. A common mistake is aerating when soil is dry and hard, and aerators are unable to penetrate the soil deeply. Water before aerating, or wait for a good rain. Ideal conditions for aerating occur more often in spring and fall (for cool-season grasses), but summer also is acceptable for well-watered lawns.
Grubs often go unnoticed until fall, when the damage becomes all too obvious. Unfortunately, grubs are difficult to control by that point. Wait until early summer of the following year, and apply one of the new-generation grub killers that provide season-long control.
Continued on page 4: Watering
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