Aerating your lawn allows vital nutrients, water, sunlight and oxygen to sink in and reach the root system of your lawn. This will promote a healthy and deep root system, giving you a lush green lawn that is better equipped to defend against the intrusion of unwanted weeds and grasses.
This is especially key if your lawn experiences a lot of foot traffic. The increased foot traffic during the summer months from pets, family and friends can leave your lawn compacted due to the weight and pressure. Pulling out the small cores of soil helps your lawn release the added stress and tension.
Thatch is a layer of organic dead and living shoots, stems, and roots that builds up between the grass and soil surface. It is recommended for homeowners to aerate their lawn before fertilizing and seeding. This is because it gives the granules and seeds a better opportunity to take hold and penetrate the soil. A spiked roller is also useful for lawn aeration for incorporating lime, gypsum, or coarse sand into the profile to improve drainage or pH.
Unlike regular aeration, where solid tines simply punch holes in the ground, core aeration removes a plug of soil from your lawn at the same time.
You can read more about core aeration here. Different soil types require more frequent aeration. Clay soil compacts easily and should be aerated at least once a year.
You can aerate a sandy lawn once a year, or once every two years. In harsher climates, aerating twice a year will encourage turf growth and health. In areas where there is a high amount of foot traffic, pets or even cars on the lawn, compaction is a common problem. The best time to aerate warm season grasses, such as soft-leaf buffalo, couch, kikuyu and zoysia is during spring and summer while they are actively growing. Always try to aerate at the same time you are fertilising or performing any other major lawn care operation such as dethatching and top dressing.
It is also a fantastic time for aeration after rainfall, as it will make this process much easier. For cool season lawns, such as fescue and rye grass, the same principle applies. Plug aerators remove a core or plug of grass and soil from the lawn. For the best results, use an aerating tool or machine that actually removes plugs of soil.
Poking holes is less effective and can actually cause additional compaction in the areas around the holes. Look for an aerating tool or machine that removes soil plugs approximately 2 — 3 inches deep and 0.
These machines can be rented from lawn and garden stores or home improvement centers. Always follow the directions provided by the store.
You may want to consider sharing the rental cost with a neighbor who is interested in aerating the lawn. If you're convinced that your lawn is in need of aeration, here are some lawn care tips on how to do it:. Aeration is a beneficial practice toward achieving a beautiful lawn, but most people don't realize it or understand the process. If your lawn is a candidate, make it an integral part of your lawn care regime. Your lawn will thank you for letting it breathe again. View solutions for handling the most common engine and product troubleshooting and maintenance questions.
All rights reserved. Change Region. United States. New Zealand. Latin America. Push Mower Engines. Riding Mower Engines. Commercial Power. Perform fall aeration between August and November. Aeration before or at the time of late season fertilization enhances root growth and improves spring greenup and growth. Warm season turfgrasses such as zoysiagrass and bermudagrass should be aerated in mid-spring to summer. Avoid aerating when warm season grasses are dormant — it may encourage weed competition.
In addition, avoid aerating warm season grasses during spring greenup, and not until after their first spring mowing. Aerating after a herbicide application can reduce the chemical barrier formed by the herbicide, allowing weeds to germinate. Applying fertilizer after aeration helps the lawn compete against weeds. Water the lawn after aeration, particularly in areas where drought and high temperatures are common.
Immediately after aeration, your lawn will be dotted with small plugs pulled from the soil. Within a week or two, they break apart and disappear into the lawn. About 7 to 10 days after aeration, the aerification holes will be filled with white, actively growing roots — a sign that the turfgrass is receiving additional oxygen, moisture and nutrients from the soil.
On compacted soils and on lawns with slopes, you should see an immediate difference in water puddling and runoff after irrigation or rainfall. After aeration, your lawn should be able to go longer between waterings, without showing signs of wilt.
With repeat aerations over time, your lawn will show enhanced heat and drought stress tolerance. Remember, most lawns benefit from annual aeration. Compacted soils have reduced air spaces and more resistance to root growth than noncompacted soils. Compacted soils are dense and cause water to puddle and run off. Core Aeration: The mechanical removal of small plugs of soil and thatch from the lawn. Dethatching: The process of removing the thatch layer from turf, the layer of dead and decaying plant tissue located between the soil surface and the green vegetation.
This process is usually done mechanically with a dethatching unit or power rake.
0コメント