Is lawn aeration necessary? Almost all lawns will benefit from aeration, and a great lawn demands it. That said, most lawns do not need it. Lawns suffering from heavy foot traffic, excessive thatch (>1 inch thick) or grown on heavy soils will benefit most.

But if your grass is healthy and thriving and hasn't been impacted by a lot of equipment or foot traffic, it likely doesn't need aeration. Once annually is usually enough in most cases, and for healthy lawns that receive regular maintenance and are performing well, every two to three years may be sufficient.

The time it takes for the holes to heal after aeration depends on the soil condition and the weather. Generally, it takes two to four weeks for the holes to heal completely.

Coring lasts longer than aeration as the holes left by the plugs of soil taken out will fill in slower than those left by aeration, and leaves softer sections of soil once filled in – so your lawn's root system can continue using them to access oxygen and nutrients.