Silt soils, clay soils, and heavy foot traffic can compact soils, which creates a barrier from air, water, and nutrients to the roots and can inhibit grass growth. Compacted soils can lead to pest and maintenance problems if not properly maintained, making it easier for weeds and diseases to affect your lawn.
Core aeration is the best way to break up compacted soil. An aeration machine can be rented to take cores of earth out of larger lawns and a hand corer will work for smaller areas. The removed cores can be left on your lawn for extra nutrients, and the holes left in your yard will be filled in with new grass.
If you do plan to schedule an aeration for your lawn it is important that any pre-emergent herbicide be applied after the aeration is completed. But, a split application of herbicides can be done. All of that is covered in this video!
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