Aerating is the process of making finger size holes in your lawn and depositing the removed material on the surface to break down. This allows oxygen, water and nutrients to get to the roots where healthy grass originates. In areas where the soil has a high clay content, compaction and thatch buildup is more prevalent and aeration should be done twice a year. In areas of more sandy soils, annual aeration will result in continued healthy lawns.
Aerating is extremely beneficial for our soil in Nebraska, as well as in areas of heavy traffic, more than ½” of thatch, standing water after irrigation or rain, or lawns that brown easily in heat. These are all excellent candidates for aeration.
In reality, any yard, healthy or not, can benefit from annual aeration.