Aeration should play an important part in any lawn care regime. A lawn that receives regular aeration is more likely to be in healthy condition. All soil types are vulnerable to compaction, although heavy clay soils are more prone to this than light sandy soils due to the small soil particles of clay. Aeration is the process of relieving compaction and increasing air space to help promote a healthy growing environment for grass.

Compaction is basically a result of weight/traffic placed on the soil particles, which causes a breakdown in soil structure resulting in lack of air/oxygen. This in turn has an adverse effect on the health of the lawn often resulting in weak grass coverage/excessive thatch and moss build up. Heavy compaction causes the pore spaces in the soil to become smaller, thus reducing the amount of air space held in the root zone. This inhibits drainage, which in turn has a negative effect on rooting, encourages shallow rooted grasses which in turn will reduce drought resistance. A deeper rooted grass will survive better through the summer months.

The lack of air/oxygen also has a detrimental effect on micro organisms living in the soil, which need air to survive. These micro organisms are needed to help break down the thatch layer and return nutrients to the grass. Overall a lack of air has an adverse effect on the overall health of your lawn.