Brunnings Lawn Builder solved my crusty patches — bet your grass wants this too

May 15, 2025

The Dead Patch Secret: Why Aeration Might Be Your Lawn's Missing Link

Lawns look simple. Green, neat, soft underfoot. But if your grass is patchy, compacted, or just plain tired — it might not be your watering routine or fertiliser. It could be compacted soil. That’s where aeration comes in — the backyard fix that feels almost like cheating… and yet so many skip it entirely.

Before We Get into It...

In a local lawn makeover this autumn, one homeowner went from a brittle, browning lawn to lush growth within 3 weeks of aeration. No new turf. No complicated gear. Just a proper aerator and patience.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve just moved in or you've been wrestling with your grass for months — aeration might be the game-changer you've been waiting for.

What Is Lawn Aeration?

Lawn aeration is the process of creating small holes through your lawn and into the soil below. This allows air, water and nutrients to reach the grassroots more easily. Think of it like unblocking the pores of your skin — letting everything breathe again.

Most Australian lawns grow on clay-heavy or compacted soils. Between summer footy matches, backyard BBQs, pets on patrol, and just life, soil becomes compressed. When it can’t ‘breathe’, the roots can't grow deep — and you get a sad, shallow lawn that stays that way, no matter what you throw at it.

How to Know If Your Lawn Needs Aeration

Here are the tell-tale signs your lawn’s begging for a breather:

Water pools on the surface instead of soaking in
The soil feels dense and hard — digging is tough
Patchy or thinning grass even after fertilising
High foot traffic zones that never bounce back

If this sounds like your backyard, keep reading.

How to Aerate Your Lawn (Without Fancy Equipment)

You don’t need a landscaping crew or top-dollar tools. Here’s what works:

1. Manual Spiked Aerator Shoes or Fork

The old-school option, but surprisingly satisfying. Just walk across your lawn in aerator shoes or stab the soil with a garden fork every few centimetres. Yes, it’s a workout — but it gets the job done.

2. Hollow-Tine Aerator

This tool removes small plugs of soil as it goes, which tends to be more effective long-term than simple spikes. Many locals find this type at hardware stores (yes, you'll spot one right here).

3. Powered Aerators (for Big Lawns)

If your lawn is larger than what the eye can mow in ten minutes, you might want to hire a petrol-powered unit to make the job quicker. These machines remove plugs automatically — like vacuuming, but for your grass.

Tip: Water your lawn lightly the day before you aerate. It makes the soil soft enough to pierce, but not muddy.

What to Do After Aerating

Don’t just stand there marvelling at the holes — this is your moment! Here’s how to make the most of it:

Top dress with a quality lawn mix or compost to feed the roots
If you’re reseeding, now is the time — the seeds tuck in beautifully
Water deeply so nutrients reach the root zone
Resist mowing for a week while your grass regains its footing

The Often-Forgotten Benefit: Soil Health

Healthy lawns need more than surface care — they need deep, living soil. Aeration encourages worms, breaks up thatch, and restores balance below the surface where growth really starts. And because aeration allows air back into the mix, it supports soil microbes that break down organic matter. Translation? Less waste, better growth, naturally.

Used to Feel Like Fighting My Lawn — Now We’re Finally on the Same Side

One Strath local shared her story recently: "I kept blaming the heat and lack of rain for my crunchy, yellow patches. Turns out it was just tired soil. I aerated in under an hour with a basic fork and the grass practically sighed in relief. Within a fortnight, it looked like someone flicked a switch. My neighbour even asked what turf brand I used!"

That’s the magic. No gimmicks. Just understanding the way soil breathes — and helping it do just that.

Here’s What This Means For Future Gardeners

We spend time choosing the right seeds and perfecting the watering schedule... but if there’s no space in the soil for roots to grow, the rest won’t matter. Aeration isn’t a chore — it’s a conversation with your lawn. One that says: I see you, and I’m listening.

Lawn care doesn’t need to be expert-level or expensive. It needs to be informed. And just a bit consistent.

So next time your lawn feels like it's giving you the silent treatment… ask yourself: have you let it breathe lately?

See you on the greener side,

Candeece

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