Should I Pick Up Plugs After Aerating

If you’ve just aerated your lawn, you’re probably looking at all those soil plugs on the surface and wondering what to do. Should I pick up plugs after aerating? The short answer is usually no, and leaving them is often the best choice for a healthier lawn. Those little cores might look messy, but they’re packed with benefits that will break down and feed your grass naturally.

This article will explain why those plugs are good for your yard. We’ll cover the pros and cons of removal, give you clear steps for both options, and help you decide what’s right for your specific situation.

This is the central question for many homeowners after aeration. The sight of soil plugs littering an otherwise neat lawn can be unsettling. However, in the vast majority of cases, you should not pick up the plugs. They are a valuable part of the aeration process itself, not just waste to be cleaned up.

Think of aeration as giving your lawn a deep breath. The machine pulls out small cores of soil to relieve compaction. Those cores then sit on the surface, where they perform several important functions before they disappear back into the turf.

The Benefits of Leaving Plugs on the Lawn

Leaving the plugs to break down is the standard recommendation for good reason. Here’s what they do for you:

Free Topdressing and Soil Amendment: The plugs are made of your existing soil and thatch. As they break down, they act as a perfect topdressing material. They filter back into the holes, improving soil structure and adding organic matter without you having to buy or spread anything.
Microbial Activity: The broken-down plugs feed the beneficial microbes in your soil. This boosts the overall health and biology of your lawn’s ecosystem, making it more resilient.
Thatch Reduction: If your lawn has a thatch layer, the plugs contain some of that material. Letting them decompose helps naturally break down that thatch over time.
Water and Nutrient Channels: The holes left open allow water, air, and fertilizer to reach grass roots more effectively. The returning soil helps keep these channels from closing up to quickly.
It Saves You Work: Raking and hauling away heavy, wet soil plugs is hard labor. Letting nature handle it is the easiest option.

When You Might Consider Picking Up Plugs

While leaving them is generally best, there are a few exceptions where removal might be necessary or preferred.

Excessively Thick Thatch: If your lawn had a very severe thatch problem (over 1 inch thick), the plugs might be mostly spongy thatch material. These can take a very long time to decompose and may smother grass. In this case, removal can be helpful.
Heavy Clay Soil: Plugs from heavy clay soil can dry into hard, brick-like pellets that don’t break down easily and can dull mower blades. You might choose to remove them.
Immediate Aesthetic Needs: If you need the lawn to look perfectly manicured for a special event soon after aeration, you might remove them. But know your are removing nutrients.
Before Overseeding or Topdressing: Some professionals prefer a completely clean surface for overseeding or adding a sand-based topdressing. Removing plugs ensures seed or new material has direct soil contact.

How to Break Down Plugs Quickly (If You Leave Them)

If you choose the leave-them method, you can speed up their disappearance. Here’s how:

Let Them Dry: Allow the plugs to dry out for a day or two. Dry plugs crumble much easier than wet, sticky ones.
Go Over Them with a Lawn Mower: Once dry, set your mower to a normal cutting height and mow the lawn. The mower blades will chop and shatter the plugs into tiny pieces that will vanish into the turf quickly. This is the most effective method.
Use a Flexible Tine Rake: Lightly drag a flexible lawn rake (not a stiff garden rake) over the area. This breaks up the plugs without damaging the grass or pulling out to much material.
Water the Lawn: After breaking them up, a good watering helps wash the soil particles down into the aeration holes and encourages decomposition.

What to Do If You Have Clay Soil Plugs

Clay plugs are the toughest to deal with. If they are not breaking down after a week and are causing issues, you can use a core collector attachment on your aerator (if you rented one) or carefully rake them up. Consider amending your soil over time with compost to improve its texture for future aerations.

Step-by-Step: How to Pick Up and Dispose of Plugs

If you’ve decided removal is necessary for your situation, follow these steps.

Let Plugs Dry First: Never try to pick up wet, fresh plugs. They are incredibly heavy and messy. Wait for a few sunny days.
Choose Your Tool: A stiff-tined garden rake or a lawn sweeper attached to a riding mower are the best tools. For small lawns, a rake is fine. For large areas, a sweeper saves immense time and effort.
Rake Gently: Use the rake to pull the plugs into rows or piles. Avoid aggressive raking that could damage grass crowns or fill the aeration holes back in.
Collect and Dispose: Scoop piles into a wheelbarrow or lawn bags. Do not send this valuable organic material to the landfill! Add them to your compost pile, use them to fill low spots in your yard (break them up first), or spread them thinly in garden beds as mulch.

The Best Time to Aerate and What to Do After

Timing your aeration correctly maximizes benefits whether you pick up plugs or not.

Cool-Season Grasses (Kentucky Bluegrass, Fescue, Ryegrass): Aerate in early fall or spring. Fall is ideal, as the grass is growing vigorously and can recover quickly.
Warm-Season Grasses (Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine): Aerate in late spring through early summer, when they are actively growing.

Right after aerating (and after dealing with the plugs), take advantage of the open soil:

Overseed: This is the perfect time to overseed thin areas. The seed will fall into the holes for excellent soil contact.
Fertilize: Apply fertilizer so nutrients can reach the root zone directly.
Water Deeply: Water your lawn to help settle the soil and kickstart the recovery and decomposition process.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Aerating at the Wrong Time: Aerating when grass is dormant or stressed harms it.
Using a Spike Aerator: Spike aerators poke holes but don’t remove cores. They can worsen compaction in some soils. Always use a core aerator for true benefits.
Raking Aggressively When Plugs are Wet: This makes a huge mess and can rip out grass.
Forgetting to Follow Up: Aeration is a great start, but not overseeding or fertilizing afterwards misses a key opportunity.

FAQ: Your Plug and Aeration Questions Answered

How long do aeration plugs take to disappear?

If you leave them and break them up with a mower, they can disappear in 1-2 weeks. Left alone, they may take 2-4 weeks to break down, depending on weather and soil type.

Can I just mow over aeration plugs?

Yes, and it’s highly recommended! Mowing over dry plugs is the fastest way to break them down. Just make sure they are dry to avoid clogging your mower deck.

Is it bad to leave plugs on the lawn?

No, it is generally very good. They return valuable soil and organic matter to the lawn. The only time it might be bad is in the specific exceptions mentioned, like very thick thatch or heavy clay.

What is the point of lawn aeration?

Lawn aeration relieves soil compaction, allowing air, water, and nutrients to reach grass roots. This promotes deeper roots, reduces runoff, and improves overall lawn health and thickness.

Should I water right after aerating?

Yes, watering after aeration is beneficial. It helps the soil begin to settle and provides moisture to the grass roots, aiding recovery. It also helps start breaking down any plugs you left behind.

In the end, the decision of whether to pick up plugs after aerating comes down to your lawn’s specific needs and your personal preference. For most people seeking a healthier lawn, the path of least resistance—leaving the plugs to break down naturally—is also the path that provides the most benefit. It saves you work and feeds your soil. So, take a deep breath, look past the temporary mess, and know that those little soil cores are working hard for a greener, thicker lawn in the weeks to come.