How to Prepare for Your Lawn Aeration Service
To ensure the best results from your aeration service, please review and follow the steps below before we arrive.
Mow Your Lawn Beforehand
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Please mow your grass within a few days of your appointment. The grass should be at a normal mowing height — not excessively tall. Taller grass can prevent the aerator from properly reaching the soil.
Water Lawn 1–2 Days Before (Highly Recommended)
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If there hasn’t been recent rainfall, lightly water your lawn 1–2 days prior to your service. This helps loosen the soil slightly so the aerator tines penetrate better. Proper moisture allows the aerator to pull deeper, more effective cores. Extremely dry soil can result in smaller cores and reduced results. Bone dry soil can result in no cores at all.
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*DO NOT* water the day of service. Wet turf combined with the weight of the aerator can cause unnecessary turf damage and tire marks.
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*DO NOT* soak or flood your yard. The ground should be moist, not muddy.
Clear the Yard of Obstacles
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Remove toys, hoses, furniture, decorations, pet waste, and any other items that may block access to areas needing aeration.
Flag Sprinklers & Underground Hazards
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Mark all sprinkler heads, shallow irrigation lines, invisible dog fences, termite bait stations, or other underground features.
If flagging isn’t possible, please be available to walk the property and point out these areas to your aeration specialist. -
Wire flags (from hardware stores) work best — spray paint isn’t recommended as it doesn't always stay visible during aeration.
Point Out Areas of Concern
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When we arrive, let us know about any soft spots, low areas, drainage issues, newly repaired sections, or areas you’d like us to be mindful of during service.
Additional Preparation for Overseeding Customers
If you’ve added overseeding to your aeration service, the steps below are very important for proper seed-to-soil contact and successful germination.
Mow Lawn to 2–2½ Inches Before Service
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Please mow your lawn to a height of 2 to 2½ inches prior to your appointment. Shorter grass allows seed to reach the soil surface more easily and helps prevent existing grass from growing too tall and crowding out new seedlings during germination.
Clear Surface Debris
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Leaf-blow or mulch up leaves, clippings, and surface debris before service. A clean surface allows seed to drop directly onto the soil and settle into the aeration holes, which is critical for proper seed-to-soil contact.
Why this matters - These steps significantly improve germination by ensuring the seed reaches the soil and has space, light, and moisture to establish before surrounding grass grows back in.