There are two buzzwords going around the lawn care industry right now that you might have heard. Folks are talking about “liquid aeration” and claiming that this is a way to create air pockets in the soil without traditional, mechanical aeration. But does it really work?
When comparing liquid aeration vs. core aeration, can it actually stack up?
In order to write this article with as much knowledge as possible, we turned to some industry experts and asked for their opinions. After all, we’ve always cared about keeping up with the latest technology and innovations if they will benefit our clients.
However, the last thing we like to see is the industry flooded with false promises. In this article, we’ll dive into what the experts say about core aeration vs liquid aeration so that you’re making educated decisions for your lawn.
What is Liquid Aeration?
First and foremost, we want to be clear that we believe there is no such thing as “liquid aeration,” at least in the way that this service is being advertised.
Lawn care companies who are offering “liquid aeration” are applying products to the grass that are said to help break down thatch and tough soil. These products contain biostimulants that add valuable microorganisms into the soil and boost its natural biological composition for overall better soil health.
Healthier soil is definitely better for your grass plants to grow in.
Because of that, applying these types of products is definitely valuable. But if you’ve been reading our blog articles or paying attention to our lawn care program, you would know this is something that Oasis already does.
We don’t call it “liquid aeration,” because that’s not what it really is.
It’s lawn care that is focused on soil health with high-quality fertilization products that contain biostimulants.
When companies start calling this “liquid aeration” it creates a misbelief that it’s going to have the same effect as mechanical, core aeration.
And that’s simply not true.
We’ll dive more into that next but it’s important to recognize that what many companies are calling “liquid aeration” is really just the addition of high-quality fertilization products they could have already been using in their lawn care program.
In our opinion, it’s a slippery slope to call this liquid aeration. We strongly believe it’s spreading false information about the capabilities of this service.
Is Liquid Aeration as Good as Core Aeration?
What homeowners really want to know is whether the same effects can be achieved with liquid aeration vs. core aeration, and (as you probably know by now) the answer is no.
As our experts have expressed to us, this is because of compaction.
Here in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, and Northern Kentucky, our heavy clay soils make mechanical aeration an ESSENTIAL service. We mean the mechanical process that involves pulling cores of soil from the ground in order to help break up that compaction.
With mechanical aeration, those cores of soil are also intentionally left on the ground so that they can decompose back into the soil and add even more nutrients.
There is simply no better way to help break up soil compaction than mechanical lawn aeration. Core aeration helps to improve the penetration of oxygen, water, and nutrients to the lawn’s root zone, where these elements are needed most.
As our experts have expressed, products used in a liquid program have benefits, but not without alleviating compaction first.
That means that a so-called “liquid aeration service” would be most beneficial along with mechanical aeration. Then, these products will be able to penetrate down to the root zone and help improve the soil.
This is why Oasis performs BOTH of these services. We know that there are some really great products on the market that can improve soil health and we’ve made these part of our program. But we do not sell them as an add-on service and claim that it’s aeration.
Any company that is trying to claim that there is no difference between liquid aeration vs. core aeration is simply spreading false information.
Your Partner in Lawn Care Success
We know that there is a lot of information (and misinformation) out there and it can be hard to know what’s true. Many lawn care companies make bold claims or get caught up with popular buzzwords or trends. But sometimes this does a disservice to the homeowner if they start to believe things that aren’t really true.
At Oasis Turf & Tree, we have always expressed our desire to be your partner in success. Along with that, we want to help steer the industry away from false claims or overpromising benefits that are strongly exaggerated.
We think that calling liquid products, like those containing biostimulants, a form of “aeration” is misleading to homeowners. While we definitely think these products have a valuable place in our industry, we want homeowners to understand what they can (and can’t do).
When it comes to actually breaking up soil compaction and getting the best possible results, there should be no skimping on investing in a true lawn aeration service in Cincinnati and Dayton, OH.
But if something truly new and improved does come around, you want you to know that you can count on us to let you know.
We’re here to be your lawn care experts so that you can sift through the false claims, block out the noise, and simply know you’re getting what’s best for your lawn.
Want to learn more about our lawn care services for your Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio, or Northern Kentucky home? Request your quote, choose the lawn care program that’s right for you, and then sit back and relax as the pros help you get the lawn of your dreams!
