Should I pick up soil plugs after aerating?
Written by
Benjamin Miller
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.When it comes to aeration, leaving soil plugs behind is beneficial to your lawn. They contain microbes and nutrients that actually benefit the soil as they decompose. I learned this the hard way when I raked all the plugs away one year, and then my lawn took longer to recover than when I left them in place. They can even act as some form of free fertilizer!
Under normal conditions, the breakdown process takes around two weeks. Microorganisms break down the plugs, releasing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium into the soil. These nutrients then feed directly into the grass roots. Moisture speeds up the breakdown process, so water lightly if there isn't rainfall.
Normal Conditions
- Leave all plugs undisturbed
- Water normally to speed decomposition
- Mow after plugs disappear
Excessive Thatch
- Rake gently if plugs contain >40% thatch
- Compost removed plugs separately
- Follow with dethatching treatment
Heavy Rain Periods
- Spread clustered plugs with leaf rake
- Prevent washouts on slopes with straw mats
- Delay mowing until plugs firm up
The only caveat would be if the plugs contained thick thatch. If the plug has more than 40% thatch material, you'll want to gently rake the thatch away. Thatch-heavy plugs will smother the grass when left; the plug follows through. Instead of placing them in a landfill, compost these plugs away from the table and make compost continuously with added benefits.
Having an appropriate management of plugs enhances soil structure over the long term. Each plug adds soil organic matter, which improves drainage in clay soils and increases water-holding capacity in sandy soils. In recent plug area trials, I observed improved root growth of up to 20% in plugs that decomposed naturally.
Read the full article: How to Aerate Lawn: The Complete Guide
