ELawnCare aerates lawns across Cambridge using hollow-tine hand tools. Part of the renewal package from £200 per 100m², covering scarifying, aeration and premium overseed together for the best result.
Hollow-tine aeration pulls small plugs of soil out of the lawn, relieving compaction so water, air and nutrients reach the root zone. It is the single most effective thing you can do for a lawn that drains poorly or feels hard underfoot.
Written by Evaldas, owner of ELawnCare. Last reviewed .
Three-step hand restoration: scarification with a rake, hollow-tine aeration, and premium overseed. Add topdressing if you supply topsoil.
Best in March–April or September–October · ≤50m² min £150 · >300m² in-person quote
Striped, healthy lawns with squared edges. From courtyard plots to country gardens.
+50% surcharge for overgrown first cuts
A hollow-tine fork punches cores out of the soil rather than just poking holes. The cores are left on the surface to break down or raked off. This creates channels that stay open longer than solid-tine holes, which close up within days.
The result is improved drainage, deeper root growth and better uptake of water and feed. Lawns that puddle after rain or feel like concrete underfoot are the ones that benefit most.
March to April or September to October. Both windows give warm soil and enough growing weather for the lawn to recover. Aerating in midsummer on dry, hard ground is counterproductive because the tines cannot penetrate properly.
Cambridgeshire clay soils compact heavily over winter, so spring aeration before the growing season is particularly effective in the CB1 to CB5 area.
Water pooling on the surface after rain rather than soaking in. Grass that thins out despite mowing at the right height. Soil that feels hard when you push a screwdriver into it. Moss spreading in areas that used to grow grass.
All of these point to compacted soil starving the roots of what they need. Aeration addresses the cause rather than treating the symptoms.
Aeration is part of the renewal package at £200 per 100m², which also includes scarifying and premium overseed. Lawns of 50m² or under have a £150 minimum. The three steps work best together, which is why they are packaged rather than priced separately.
March to April or September to October. Both give warm soil and reliable moisture for recovery. Avoid midsummer when the ground is hard and dry. In Cambridge, autumn is slightly safer because Cambridgeshire is one of the driest counties in the UK.
Hollow-tine pulls cores out of the soil, creating channels that stay open. Solid-tine pokes holes that compress the surrounding soil and close within days. Hollow-tine gives a lasting result, which is why it is the method used here.
Water pools on the surface after rain, grass thins despite proper mowing, the soil feels rock-hard, or moss spreads where grass used to grow. All point to compacted soil. Push a screwdriver into the lawn and if it resists, aeration will help.
You can, but the results are better with both. Scarifying removes the thatch blocking the surface, aeration opens the soil beneath it, and overseeding fills the gaps. Skipping scarification means the aeration holes can clog with surface debris.
£2M public liability
CB1 to CB25 free callout
Owner handles every visit
Or book a free in-person visit for fencing and larger jobs.
