Guide to Aerating Your Lawn

Lawn aeration is one of the most important tasks for keeping grass healthy, lush, and resilient. Whether you’re working with premium turf on the Sunshine Coast or managing a compacted yard in Gympie, aeration is the key to improving soil structure, allowing air, water, and nutrients to penetrate deep into the root zone. Without regular aerating, even the best lawns eventually lose their vibrancy.

This guide covers everything you need to know—from why and when to aerate, through to methods, post-care, and when to call in the professionals.

Why Aerating Helps Lawns

Over time, soil becomes compacted, especially in high-traffic areas where kids play or pets roam. Compaction makes it difficult for air, water, and nutrients to move freely through the ground and reach the roots. That means your turf won’t be able to absorb what it needs for growth.

Here’s what aeration does for your grass:

Reduces soil compaction – Loosens the ground, so roots can spread.
Improves nutrient flow – Fertiliser and organic matter can penetrate deeper.
Encourages stronger roots – Healthy roots equal a thicker, greener lawn.
Boosts drought resistance – Better water infiltration helps grass withstand dry spells.
Breaks down thatch – Thick thatch layers stop nutrients from reaching the soil; aeration helps manage them.

Think of aeration as giving your lawn a breath of fresh air—it helps turf recover from stress and flourish through every season.

When Lawns Need Aeration

Your lawn will often show visible signs when it needs aerating. Watch out for:

Water pooling or slow drainage after rain.
Thatch buildup thicker than 1–2 cm.
Bare or thin patches, even with regular lawn care.
Hard soil that’s difficult to push a spade into.
Poor colour or weak growth, even after fertilising.

If any of these sound familiar, it’s time to aerate your lawn. Regular aeration is especially important for clay soils, which compact more easily, and for high-traffic lawns that get constant use.

When to Aerate Your Lawn

The best time to aerate lawn depends on your grass type and the local climate. The rule of thumb is to aerate during the active growing season, so your turf recovers quickly.

Warm-season grasses (couch, buffalo, kikuyu): Aerate in spring through early summer.
Cool-season grasses: Aerate in autumn when growth is strong.

Seasonal Tips:

Spring: Perfect time fertilise lawns and aerate together for maximum growth.
Summer: Aerate early if needed, but avoid peak heat.
Autumn: Great for cool-season lawns; also a good chance to overseed.
Winter: Avoid aeration—grass growth slows, and recovery takes longer.

For a structured schedule, our 8-Week Lawn Care Programme pairs aeration with fertilising, watering, and mowing for year-round results.

How to Aerate Your Lawn

Aerating your lawn is straightforward if you prepare properly and choose the right method.

Step-by-Step Guide

Mow short – Cut grass low so aeration equipment can reach the soil.
Water lightly – Moist soil is easier to penetrate; avoid bone-dry or soggy conditions.
Select your aeration method – Core, spike, or liquid (explained below).
Cover the entire area – Make passes across the lawn to ensure even aeration.
Leave soil plugs on the surface—they’ll break down and return nutrients.
Fertilise and overseed immediately after aerating.
Water well for the next couple of weeks to aid recovery.

Aeration might look rough at first, but within weeks, your lawn will bounce back greener and stronger.

Types of Lawn Aeration Methods

There are three main ways to aerate: core, spike, and liquid. Each has pros and cons depending on your soil type, compaction level, and equipment.

Core Aeration

Removes plugs of soil (5–10 cm deep).
Best for severe compaction and clay soils.
Provides long-lasting benefits.
Leaves visible plugs on the surface.

Spike Aeration

Uses spikes or tines to punch holes.
Quick and simple, ideal for light compaction.
Can cause further compaction around holes if overused.
Better for sandy soils or small areas.

Liquid Aeration

Uses a liquid solution to break down compacted soil at a microscopic level.
Easy to apply with a hose sprayer.
Great for improving soil structure over time.
Works best as part of an annual lawn care routine.

Comparison Table

Method	Best For	Pros	Cons
Core Aeration	Clay soils, heavy use	Deep relief, long-lasting	Messy plugs, needs equipment hire
Spike Aeration	Sandy soils, small areas	Quick, low-cost, simple	Can worsen compaction if overdone
Liquid	General maintenance	Easy application, no mess	Slower, less effective for severe compaction

How Often Should I Aerate My Lawn?

The frequency of lawn aeration depends on your soil type, lawn use, and overall health of your turf.

Clay soils: Aerate once a year. Clay compacts easily and benefits most from regular coring.
Sandy soils: Aerate every 2–3 years. Sandy soils already allow more airflow, so they don’t compact as quickly.
High-traffic lawns: Aerate annually or even twice a year if kids, pets, or heavy equipment frequently use the lawn.
New lawns: Wait at least 12 months before the first aeration, so the roots can establish properly.

A good rule of thumb: if water isn’t soaking in, grass is thinning, or the soil feels hard underfoot, it’s time to aerate.

Soil pH Levels and Tips to Improve Your Soil Type

Your lawn’s health depends not just on regular mowing and watering but also on what’s happening beneath the surface. Soil pH and soil type directly affect how well your grass absorbs nutrients and grows. Most lawns thrive with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0—slightly acidic to neutral. If the pH is too low or too high, your turf may struggle, even with good fertilising and watering routines.

How to Test Soil pH

Use an at-home soil pH test kit from your local garden centre.
For more precise results, send a sample to a professional testing lab.

Adjusting Soil pH

Acidic soils (low pH): Apply lime (calcium carbonate) to raise the pH and neutralise acidity.
Alkaline soils (high pH): Apply sulphur or organic matter like compost to bring pH back down into the ideal range.

Tips to Improve Your Soil Type

Lime (calcium carbonate): Helps raise soil pH and balances acidic conditions, creating an environment where nutrients are more available to grass roots.
Gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate): Particularly useful for clay soils, as it helps break down heavy particles, improving structure and drainage.
Fertiliser: Because aeration creates small holes that allow nutrients to penetrate deeper into the ground, the period straight after aerating is the perfect time fertilise lawn and support strong root growth.
Topdressing with organic matter: Adding compost or nutrient-rich soil improves sandy soils, boosting water and nutrient retention.

By combining regular aeration with targeted soil amendments, you’ll not only improve pH balance but also create a healthier soil structure that supports thick, vigorous turf.

What to Do After Aeration

What you do after aeration determines how well your lawn responds. Post-care is just as important as the aeration itself.

Fertilise: Apply a balanced or slow-release fertiliser straight after aerating.
Overseed: Fill bare or thin patches to encourage thicker turf.
Water deeply: Keep the soil moist to help new roots establish.
Topdress: For clay-heavy soils, add sand or soil amendments to improve structure.
Rest the lawn: Avoid heavy traffic for 1–2 weeks to let roots settle.

This is the perfect time fertilise lawn—nutrients can now penetrate deeper into the aerated soil profile.

Professional Lawncare

While DIY aeration is possible with hand tools or rented machines, many homeowners prefer the expertise of a professional team. With the right equipment, knowledge of soil types, and seasonal experience, professional lawncare ensures the best results with less effort on your part.

At Robert’s Turf Supplies, we offer expert lawn care services across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie. From turf supply and installation through to seasonal maintenance, we can set up a programme tailored to your property.

Pairing aeration with fertilising, mowing, and irrigation creates a complete care cycle that keeps lawns thriving year after year.

Additional Tips for Success

To keep your lawn looking its best, follow these ongoing care strategies:

Aerate annually for high-use lawns, or every 2–3 years for lower traffic areas.
Adjust for soil type: Clay soils benefit most from core aeration; sandy soils may need spike or liquid aeration only.
Combine aeration with topdressing to improve drainage and soil structure.
Use Pennington Smart Seed or other quality turf seed if overseeding.
Stick to a regular lawn care schedule—aeration, mowing, watering, and fertilising all work together.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is lawn aeration the same as dethatching?
No. Aeration relieves soil compaction by creating holes, while dethatching removes the thick layer of dead grass and roots (thatch) on the surface. Both can improve lawn health, but they tackle different problems.
Can I walk on my lawn straight after aerating?
Light foot traffic is fine, but avoid heavy use for 1–2 weeks. This gives the roots time to recover and take advantage of the improved airflow and nutrients.
Do I need to remove the soil plugs left on the lawn?
No—leave them where they are. They’ll naturally break down with rain and mowing, returning nutrients back into the soil.
What’s the best fertiliser to use after aeration?
A slow-release fertiliser works best, as it provides steady nutrition while the roots grow deeper into the aerated soil.
Can I combine aeration with overseeding?
Yes, it’s one of the best times to overseed. The holes give seeds excellent contact with the soil, improving germination rates.

A well-aerated lawn is healthier, thicker, and more resilient—better able to handle heat, heavy use, and seasonal changes. If you’re ready to transform your lawn, explore our services or get started with the 8-Week Lawn Care Programme to keep your turf at its best.

Got a question? Just call us—help is always at hand.
Call us today on 07 5478 9438

Visit our turf farms at:

Roberts Turf Supplies Sunshine Coast
520, Chevallum Road,
Chevallum, QLD 4555
https://maps.app.goo.gl/yRud5D78NqBZE1fs6

Roberts Turf Supplies Gympie
54 Wide Bay Hwy
Bellsbridge QLD 4570
https://maps.app.goo.gl/7ChiZSGzjoAPoFMh7