Is Your Lawn Struggling? It Might Be Compaction!

A customer recently asked why part of his new lawn looked patchy and dead. He thought it was because he’d waited too long for the first mow after a trip overseas.

But the real issue? Compacted soil.

I grabbed a garden fork and tried to push it into the ground. In the healthy spots, it slid in easily. In the bad patch, it barely went in and made a loud clang—clear signs the soil was too dense for roots to thrive.

Common causes of soil compaction:

• Heavy construction equipment

• Cars or heavy items parked on the grass

• Foot traffic and play areas

• Clay-heavy or poor-quality soil

The fix?
Aeration! For small areas, use a garden fork to poke holes and let air, water, and nutrients in. For bigger jobs, a mechanical aerator works best.

Bottom line:
If your lawn looks sickly despite watering and mowing, try the fork test. Aeration could be the simple solution your lawn needs!