Aeration

LAWN AERATION

What is lawn aeration?

Lawn aeration involves the removal of small soil plugs or cores out of the lawn. Although hand aerators are available, most aeration is done mechanically with a machine having hollow tines or spoons mounted on a disk or drum. Known as core aeration, it extracts 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter cores of soil and deposits them on your lawn. Aeration holes are typically 1-3 inches deep and 2-6 inches apart. Other types of aerators push solid spikes or tines into the soil without removing a plug (spiking). These are not as effective because they can contribute to compaction. Core aeration is a recommended lawn care practice on compacted, heavily used turf and to control thatch buildup.

When/Why should I aerate?

SPRING

Spring Aeration prepares your lawn for the up and coming hot summer months. You see, as lawns get hotter, the soil expands. When you aerate your lawn in the spring, you can also over seed and put on some starter fertilizer. This will help you to have the healthiest and greenest lawn possible once the summer months come. In addition, one of the best reasons to aerate in the spring is to save the costs of frequently watering your lawn. Lawns can be very expensive to water in the summertime. But, having it aerated in spring will help your grass to develop deeper roots. With deeper roots, you will not need to water your lawn as often.

FALL

After a year of a being trampled upon by various activities that tend to pack the soil, the grass roots need a breath of fresh air (oxygen) for respiration fall is the season when turf grass growth begins to slow that only proper aeration can provide. This helps the root systems better establish themselves and helps relieve the stress of winter and get a head start for the coming spring, also a fall over seeding and fertilization is helpful as well.

Benefits of Aeration

Weed Resistance

Aeration allows water, oxygen and nutrients to reach the root level promoting new growth. The new turf growth will fill in the lawn and thereby crowd out weeds attempting to spread.

Thatch is Broken Up

Your lawn is continually building up a thick layer of surface thatch which prevents the uptake of water, oxygen and fertilizer. An annual mechanical core aeration effectively eliminates this problem by breaking up the thatch barrier while the soil cores lift micro-organisms to the surface which speed up the decomposition of the remaining thatch.

Compaction is Relieved

Aeration is the only proven method for relieving topsoil compaction. Hard, compacted soil will result in pooling of water, insufficient transfer of oxygen and nutrients and diminished microbial activity. An aeration can be likened to tilling garden soil in preparation for new planting.

Insect Resistance

Insects thrive in thick thatch build-up. As the aerator punches thousands of holes into the thatch layer, it breaks down the ideal environment for insect infestations.

Increases Fertilizer Uptake

In addition to promoting water and oxygen transfer to the root system, aeration will also enhance the uptake of fertilizer where it’s needed: at the root level. Get maximum return from your fertilizer investment by aerating in the spring and fall.

New Turf Growth

A steady introduction of healthy, new lawn shoots each year will keep your lawn vibrant and resistant to harmful weeds and insects. However, these new lawn shoots require room to grow. The thousands of small openings created by the aeration provide just what your lawn needs.