The once verdant leaves began to yellow and shed upon her slumped and weary figure.  The unrelenting heat, and sparse rains of late Summer were more than she could bear.  These are the dog days indeed.

But August too will soon concede, and with it, any remnants of Summer. Autumn is upon us and changes are afoot. Cooler temperatures, diminishing sunlight and increasing rainfall can and should be taken advantage of. Autumn offers a plethora of opportunities in the garden and landscape. Opportunities to right some wrongs, implement preventative measures, and plant for next Spring. As you know, late Summer/early Fall offers the perfect conditions in which to seed a lawn. It’s also the ideal time to aerate.

Aerations can be likened to vitamins – part of a healthy lifestyle when combined with proper year round care and maintenance. Although aerations can be performed in Spring, Sweeney’s believes Fall is the best time and offers the greatest benefit.

So, what’s aeration? Aeration is the process in which soil compaction and thatch build up is relieved through removing cores/plugs of soil that are then left on the surface to act as topdressing. Essentially, aeration allows for better air circulation, and the effective penetration of nutrients and water. It also allows the soil to relax and expand while promoting microbial activity. Additionally, aerations have proven to mitigate certain fungal diseases while discouraging the growth of weeds. Lawns that are aerated are healthier overall and tend to hold up better in periods of brief droughts – remaining green and actively growing.

Many landscape companies only aerate in one direction (i.e. north to south OR east to west). Sweeney’s aerates in two directions (both north and south AND east and west) allowing for the maximum amount of holes per square foot, which is recommended.

Contact Sweeney’s today to schedule your aeration! It’s a great way to insure your lawn faces dormancy in tip-top health and comes out swinging in Spring.   We proudly serve the communities of Villa Park, Elmhurst, Oakbrook, Oakbrook Terrace, Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wood Dale, Itasca, and more!

Sweeney’s:  A Plant Based Company

Plant of the Week

Let’s Dance Big Easy® Hydrangea

Oversized, mophead flowers emerge green then turn vivid shades of pink mid-Summer through early Fall.  Prefers sun to partial sun, and moist, well-drained soil.  Grows 2-3′ tall and 3-4′ wide.  Attracts pollinators.

“When the petal falls and lies
Wrinkled like a leaf that dies,
When the flower that once was merry
Sobers to the russet berry,
When the rose and hawthorn draws
Slowly down to hips and haws,
‘T is the season birds are mute,
‘Twixt the flower and the fruit.”
~Philip Henry Savage 

Best wishes,

Kim Sweeney