What is Soil Compaction and How Does it Affect Your New England Lawn

Soil compaction is a common problem here in New England due to the clay-like nature of our soils. But you might be wondering what causes soil compaction in the first place and why it’s such a problem. Is it really that big of a deal?

The truth is, compacted soil can be a major problem if you care about growing a healthy lawn. In this article, we will dive into everything you need to know about compacted soil - including how to prevent it.

Jump to:

What is Compacted Soil?
What Are the Signs of Compacted Soil?
How to Loosen Compacted Soil
Choosing Lawn Care in Southern NH, Northeastern MA, and Southern ME to Address Compacted Soil

What is Compacted Soil?

Soil is considered “compacted” when the soil particles become compressed and there is no longer ample spacing between them. Certain soil types are naturally more prone to compaction than others and unfortunately our clay-like soils here in New England are prime targets for soil compaction.

What Causes Soil Compaction?

As we mentioned, certain soil types (like clay-heavy soils) are simply more prone to becoming compacted. But foot traffic, equipment, and overall yard usage can also exacerbate a compaction problem. The natural breakdown process of soil over time can also contribute to compaction.

Why is Soil Compaction Bad?

Compacted soil can cause major problems for your lawn. When particles become compressed without spacing, it also means that there is no room for water, oxygen, and nutrients to penetrate and move within the soil. This can lead to water-logged soil in rainy conditions as well as other drainage and runoff problems.

In addition, without water, oxygen, and nutrients making it down to the root zone, grass won’t thrive like it should. Compacted soil is considered unhealthy soil in terms of overall soil structure.

What Are the Signs of Compacted Soil?

One of the signs of compacted soil is water pooling at the surface of the lawn. This is because it has nowhere to go. You might also notice that grass is thinning and taking on an overall unhealthy appearance as it struggles to grow without ample water, oxygen, and nutrients reaching its roots. During drier periods you may even notice cracks forming in the soil.

How to Test Soil Compaction

While there are tools that can measure ground compaction (“penetrometers”) an easy way to test yourself is simply using an object like a screwdriver and seeing how easily it penetrates the dirt. If it’s hard to push the screwdriver into the soil, then you’ll know it’s compacted.

While soil tests don’t necessarily help determine compaction levels, they can tell you about the general composition of your soil. This may help indicate if your lawn will be more prone to issues like compaction and can pinpoint other deficiencies.

How to Loosen Compacted Soil

As far as how to loosen lawn soil, regular lawn aeration is one of the best things that you can do for your lawn.

Lawn aeration is the process of pulling small cores of soil from the ground and depositing them back on the lawn where they will break down and recycle nutrients back into the soil. Put simply, this helps your lawn to “breathe” as the soil becomes less compacted. Plus you get an increase in the flow of air, water, and nutrients to the critical root zones that need it most.

Choosing Lawn Care in Southern NH, Northeastern MA, and Southern ME to Address Compacted Soil

If you’re worried about compacted soil, the best thing that you can do for your lawn is choose professional lawn aeration.

Getting the most out of a lawn aeration service comes down to choosing a lawn care company that invests in high-quality equipment and also uses the best grass seed. While plenty of lawn care companies offer these services, the best results will come from those that don’t skimp or cut corners.

At Seacoast Turf Care, we want to see you get the best possible results from your lawn aeration service. We truly believe that aeration and overseeding are two of the best things that you can do to produce a thick, healthy, and thriving lawn.

Want to learn more about what makes us a great choice for your lawn care needs? At Seacoast Turf Care, we service NH towns near Stratham, North Hampton, Exeter and many more. Get lawn care pricing for your Southern New Hampshire, Southern Maine, or Northeastern Massachusetts property.

Image Sources: cracked soil