If you're wondering why there are clumps of soil across your lawn in Ohio after aeration, don't worry - this is normal! Those clumps are called soil cores and are caused by the aeration process. This process involves pulling them up from the ground to loosen compaction and create passageways for nutrients, sunlight, oxygen, and water to reach the roots of your grass more easily. It's best to leave them alone because they will return nutrients to your lawn as they decompose. If you don't like how they look, you can break them up by raking or going over them with a lawn mower. While you can remove them altogether, it's not recommended because your turf won't benefit from the nutrients they contain!

Why are there clumps of soil on your lawn after aeration?

If your lawn was recently aerated and you notice clumps of soil across it, it can be surprising when you don't know why they're there. However, this is a result of the aeration process. Those clumps are called soil cores, which occur because aeration involves pulling them up from the ground to loosen compaction and create passageways for nutrients and resources, such as water, oxygen, and sunlight, to reach the roots of your grass more easily; this leaves you with tiny holes in the surface of your lawn, and those clumps, or cores, of soil!

What should you do with the soil cores left behind from aeration?

The best thing to do with the soil cores left behind from aeration is to leave them on your lawn as is. After all, they'll decompose over time, and when they do, they return the nutrients your turf previously had before they were pulled up. These nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are vital for improving its overall health.

It's highly recommended to core aerate your lawn at least once a year, though you can do it twice, in the spring and fall, for even better results!

What should you do if you don't like the look of the soil cores on your lawn?

While leaving the soil cores on your lawn after aeration is beneficial, some people don't like the look of them. Fortunately, you can break them up with a rake or go over them with a lawn mower to make them less conspicuous. Not only will this improve your turf's curb appeal, but it'll also speed up the decomposition process, meaning it still benefits from the nutrients these soil cores contain, only sooner! On the other hand, there is the option of removing the soil cores from your lawn altogether. However, it's highly recommended that you don't do this because you're also ridding your grass of these nutrients, which are essential for the health of your soil.

Call Us Today to Sign Up for Our Core Aeration Service

At Hoffmans Lawn & Fertilization, we offer our professional core aeration service to residential and commercial properties, as well as HOAs, in Delaware, Lewis Center, Powell, OH, and other nearby areas. Our team will pass over your lawn with an aerator to pull up tiny plugs of soil, loosening compaction and allowing nutrients and other resources to flow more easily to its roots. Additionally, we'll leave the cores alone so that they can return nutrients to your turf once they decompose! We can perform this service in the spring, fall, or both to ensure it continues to have optimal access to everything it needs to thrive. With us, you can trust that we have the skills, training, and knowledge to aerate your lawn right the first time and give you the best results. Call us today at (740) 318-5296 to sign up for our core aeration service!