Core aeration pricing for Dane County clay soil -- the #1 treatment your lawn needs.
| Lot Size | Core Aeration Only | Aeration + Overseeding | Aeration + Overseed + Top Dress |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 1/4 acre | $75-100 | $125-175 | $200-275 |
| 1/4-1/2 acre | $100-150 | $175-250 | $275-375 |
| 1/2-1 acre | $150-225 | $250-375 | $375-525 |
| 1+ acre | $225-350 | $375-550 | $525-750 |
Dane County clay compacts severely -- most Madison lawns need double-pass aeration.
Larger lots get better per-square-foot pricing.
Adding seed after aeration dramatically improves results.
Compost top dress after aeration fills cores and feeds soil.
Properties with in-ground irrigation need head flagging before aeration.
Fall (September) is ideal and peak demand. Spring aeration is 10% less effective but available if you missed fall.
Core aeration (hollow tines that pull plugs), NOT spike aeration
Double-pass aeration on clay soil (single pass is barely effective on Dane County clay)
Cores left on lawn to decompose (the soil needs them back)
Sprinkler head flagging if you have irrigation
Overseeding recommendation with seed variety suited to Wisconsin (fine fescue/Kentucky bluegrass blend)
If they use spike aerators -- they're compacting your soil further, not aerating
Spike aerators push soil aside instead of removing it.
If they do single-pass on clay -- they're cutting corners
Dane County clay needs double-pass for real results.
If they rake up the cores -- they don't understand the science
Cores break down and return nutrients to the soil.
Our core aeration for a standard 1/4-1/2 acre Madison lot is $100-140, and we always do double-pass on clay soil because single-pass doesn't cut it in Dane County. Add overseeding for $75-100 more -- we use a Wisconsin-rated fine fescue/Kentucky bluegrass blend. Cores stay on the lawn where they belong.
Dane County soil is heavy clay. Period. This means compaction is your lawn's #1 enemy, and annual core aeration isn't optional -- it's maintenance. The freeze-thaw cycles every Wisconsin winter compact soil further. Fall aeration (late August through September) is ideal because it gives grass 4-6 weeks of active root growth before dormancy. Spring aeration works but risks disturbing pre-emergent crabgrass barriers. If you're only doing one lawn treatment per year, make it aeration.
Every property is different. Tell us about yours and we'll send a clear, no-obligation quote within 24 hours.