Why Aerating Helps Lawns
Grass roots need air, water and nutrients to grow thick, deep and strong. When soil becomes compacted, even slightly, it inhibit the flow of the essentials that support thicker, healthier turf growth. A layer of compacted soil just 1/4 to 1/2 inches thick can make a significant difference in the health and beauty of your lawn.1 Aeration creates holes down into the soil to alleviate compaction so air, water and nutrients can reach grass roots.
Deprived of their basic needs by compacted soil, lawn grasses struggle in stressful situations, such as heat and low rainfall, and lose their healthy, rich color. Grasses gradually thin and eventually die out completely, for lack of the oxygen, water and nutrients available just inches away. Even a single aeration session can open the avenue for these essentials to reach their mark and put your lawn back on an upward trend.
Core aerators pull small plugs of soil to the surface.
When Should I Aerate
The optimum time for core aeration in Idaho is the fall. A late-season aeration will minimize weed invasion due to soil disturbance and allow rapid recovery of cool-season turfgrass species during this season of fast growth. Alternately, core aeration can be done in the spring when rapid growth provides quick recovery. Weed invasion will be more of a problem in the spring. Core aeration should be avoided in the summer when cool season grasses are under heat stress and recovery from damage is slow.
Best Lawn Aeration Methods For You
- Written by Anubhav Kapoor on Aug 05, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by Caleb Mayo on Mar 29, 2021
Among gardening practices used to maintain the nutrition levels and overall health of the soil bed, lawn aeration is among the most widely-practiced technique. Lawn aeration refers to a method of aerating the soil or increasing its oxygen absorption and retention capacity. In this manner, more oxygen and consequently, moisture and nutrients are sourced towards the root system of the plants. People planning aeration of their gardens can choose across different techniques that can be used for this purpose. The best lawn aeration methods include:
Method 1 – Manual Aerators
This is perhaps the most undemanding form of lawn aeration. It is applicable to most residential gardens that dont present overwhelming size considerations like commercial garden spaces. This is also the most cost-efficient way of lawn aeration since it does not involve the usage of any specific machinery. It essentially depends upon some serious, manual labor.
However, this method does have some limitations. For instance, the depth of the aeration isn’t very encouraging. This is essentially because manual tools have limitations and can’t compete with the proficiency of lawn aeration tools.
Aerator Shoes
Method 2 – Using Power Aerators
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Lawn Care Professionals Have Better Equipment
The core aerators you rent work solely on gravity. You push them across the lawn. Hit a rock or an uneven patch of ground and the machine will bounce and careen off track, taking you with it.
Professional core aerators are sleek $12,000 machines equipped with hydraulics that do a smoother, more accurate job.
Diy Liquid Lawn Aerator
But you have to add a lot of organic matter and the process is very slow.Combine them, however, and you stand to compound the benefit by softening the soil to allow the aerator spoons to dig deeper and pull out even more compacted soil.Draw a diamond pattern as shown below.Eco lawn and garden soil amend plus.
Eco soil amend plus natural liquid aeration ready to use quart.Gather the things that you need and start working on.Hand push with brake lever and throttle cable 2) deck type:I havent used either of these, but i have been using air8 and rgs on my clay soil that when dry was nearly impossible to stick a screw driver into, and now the screw driver goes in easily when dry.
If you are looking to help the soil be less firm when fry i would start with the simple lawn solutions soil loosener or the lawn star liquid aeration.If you really want to try and aerate your lawn this way, spread 1/4 of compost over the whole lawn, each spring.Just buy a bottle of liquid dethatcher, mix it.Liquid aeration allows every spoton a microscopic levelto be more permeable and soak up everything it needs.
Liquid aeration is a convenient and cost effective alternative to manual aeration.Liquid aeration products and liquid lawn aerators have been discussed over and over.Liquid aeration provides coverage for your entire lawn, while a manual aerator is limited to the holes it makes.Natural liquid soil loosener aerator ssp 2.5 gallon.
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Choosing A Professional Lawn Aeration Service
At the end of the day, when you factor in all of these considerations, you might decide its not really worth pursuing DIY lawn aeration after all. For the amount of time and effort youre going to put in, you want to see amazing resultsbut you could be left feeling frustrated, instead.If you truly care about achieving superior results, then this is a service that should be left to the pros. At Grassperson, it is our goal to take away the burdens that you dont want to deal with and help you achieve the great lawn results you desire. When professionally performed, lawn aeration is going to help your lawn roots to grow longer and stronger, which is going to lead to healthier grass.Soon, youll be on your way to having the best lawn on the block.Ready to get the results that you desire for your lawn in the Flower Mound, Highland Village, or Lewisville, TX area? Get a free quote and then enjoy the best lawn with no worries!
Aeration Diy: How To Prepare Your Lawn For Fall
Ever wonder why the grass on your favorite golf course is so green? Professional care aside, the secret to lush, green grass is aeration. However, aeration doesnt get nearly enough credit for the role it plays in nourishing your lawn!
Ideally, your lawn should be professionally aerated in early spring or fall, during your grass growing season.
However, while we know the value of professional lawn care, we also understand there are some things youd rather do on your own! So, to help make sure your lawn stays healthy all year long, we created this DIY aeration guide. Below, youll learn what aeration is and how to do it, as well as the benefits of overseeding your lawn after aerating.
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Testing To See If Your Lawn Can Benefit From Aerating
The first sign of compression is when the rain puddles and does not soak into the soil easily. This is a sure sign that you need to work on this area.
If the symptoms are not that obvious such as unhealthy or sparse areas you could test with a large screwdriver. Slide it into the soil and if it goes in easily you are ok. If it is hard work to get in then the soil could be compacted. When you do this test do it away from tree roots or areas you know contain rocks.
If this test is inconclusive then you are going to have to work a bit harder. I would suggest that you dig out an area approximately a foot by a foot and half a foot deep. Look at the roots of the grass. If the roots are growing less than 2 inches deep then you need to aerate. Once you have established whether you need to go ahead or not you an put the piece of turf back in and it will blend back into your lawn in no time.
Homemade Lawn Aerator Using A Garden Rake
Homemade Garden Lawn AeratorDIY improvised lawn aerator
How to Make the Lawn Spike AeratorMaterials
- Wooden Boards – 3 1/2″ x 3/4″ x 11″ long, 2 pcs.
- Nails – 3″, 11 pcs.
- Wood Screws – 1 1/4″ 4 pcs.
- Eye Screws – 3/4″, 3 pcs.
- Construction Adhesive
Procedure
How to Use the Manual Garden Lawn Aerator
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Diy Lawn Aeration Vs Hiring A Professional In North Texas
Weve talked before about how lawn aeration can be one of the best services you can have performed on your lawn. This is particularly true due to our sandy loam soil type, which is prone to compaction. While compacted soil can make it difficult for oxygen, water, and nutrients to penetrate down to the root zone where theyre needed, a lawn aeration service can improve the conditions and make a huge difference in the overall performance of the turf.If youre thinking about aerating your lawn, you might be wondering if its something you can do on your own. While you can certainly attempt DIY lawn aeration, there are some important reasons why its a service best left to the pros. In this article, well explain the differences between DIY lawn aeration vs. hiring a professional so that you can make the choice thats best for you.
How Do I Aerate My Lawn Without A Machine
How to Aerate Your Lawn Without Machines Push a hand aerifier, which has tube hollows that are 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter, or a spading fork through your lawn grass and into the soil. Rake the lawn if it is heavily thatched. Push a hand aerifiers hollow tubes into the grass soil, and pull them out of the soil.
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Trugreen Lawn Care Plans
TruGreen also offers a TruNatural Lawn Care Plan that provides natural fertilizer, and the TruMaintenance Plan, which covers fertilization and weeding.
The lawn care provider also offers the follow a la carte services:
- Grub Prevention & Control
- Fire Ant Control
- Soil Amendment & Analysis
With a yearly package, TruGreen can take care of all your lawn aeration needs, plus fertilizing and more services your lawn needs to thrive.
If youd like a free quote from TruGreen, call 1-866-817-2287 or fill out this simple form.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at .
Diy Aerators That Will Make Your Lawn Lush And Beautiful
May 12, 2018 By Vanessa Beaty
Do you aerate your lawn? I recently started looking into ways of making my lawn more lush and healthy and what I learned is that aerating your lawn if really good for it. Aeration helps to create openings in the turf and soil that allows water and air to penetrate the roots of your grass and makes them healthier. This in turn, turns your lawn into a lush, beautiful green blanket that would rival any golf course. So, when I found out how good aeration is for my lawn, I started looking into aerators.
Let me tell you, a lawn aerator is not cheap. Even the seemingly cheaper ones are pretty costly, so what did I do? I started looking for DIY lawn aerators. I found seven great DIY aerators that all work perfectly to make your lawn lush and beautiful. Whether you want something that is going to cover a lot of space at once or you just need something simple that will allow that air and water to get to the roots of your grass, there is a DIY lawn aerator that is perfect for your lawn. And if you havent yet, be sure that you get a look at these 12 near genius IKEA hacks for your lawn and garden.
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When Is The Best Time To Aerate A Lawn
In Iowa, September and April are the best times to aerate Kentucky bluegrass and other cool-season lawns. While the overall results are beneficial, core aeration causes some initial damage. Aerating in September or April allows the grass to quickly recover during the favorable growing conditions in spring and early fall.
Lawn Aeration: Diy Vs Hiring A Professional
The rules of lawn care are pretty simple: Mow and water regularly, spread enough fertilizer to keep it fed, and aerate as needed.
The last part, though is tricky. You have to know when and how to aerate and make sure you poke enough holes in your lawn to let it breathe. Should you do it yourself, or are you better off hiring a professional? Here are the pros and cons of DIY lawn aeration vs. hiring a professional.
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What Should You Do After Aerating Your Lawn
Whenever possible, combine lawn aeration with other lawn care maintenance, such as fertilizing, adding soil amendments or overseeding. Water, fertilizer and grass seed all need to get through the lawn surface and into the soil to do their job. Creating a path for them to get there can be accomplished by core aerating. An application of fertilizer immediately after core aeration will also help restore your lawn.
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Whats A Lawn Core Aerator
A lawn core aerator is a machine with sharp tines that perforates the soil and removes plugs of soil, thatch and grass, leaving small holes to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. This helps the roots grow deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn.
Lawn aeration will improve the flow of water, oxygen and nutrients through the soil. It also encourages grass to grow roots deeper into the ground. That makes them tougher, more able to last through the winter and survive abrupt climate changes like storms and droughts.
Bottom line: A properly aerated lawn means a noticeably healthier and stronger turf.
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You Are Likely To Get Subpar Results With Diy Lawn Aeration
Finally, we also find that homeowners are often dissatisfied with their results. This may be no fault of your own. Even if you feel as though you pushed the aerator through your entire lawn and you did everything you were supposed to, the equipment itself could be subpar. You have to consider that this is a piece of rental equipment that has been used over and over again by homeowners who might not be utilizing it correctly. As a result, it can get beat up over time. That can make the equipment tough to operate and give you less-than-stellar results.
They Also Know Extra Tricks
The pros will do things you might not think of like ask about the location of any underground sprinklers, then marking them with small flags to avoid any expensive damage.
They know, for instance, to aerate when your lawn is moist to make the process faster and simpler. Or that very compacted areas need more than one pass with the aerator for best results.
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Reasons Why You Should Avoid Diy Lawn Aeration
It feels good to tackle a home improvement project yourself. Its good for self-esteem, can save you money and gives you something to brag about when you have the neighbors over for a cookout.
Maybe youve been thinking about renting one of those lawn core aerators to spruce up your lawn. Fall is a great time to aerate, to rejuvenate your lawn for spring.
First, you get points for knowing your lawn needs aeration. Its a crucial part of keeping a healthy lawn.
But this is one of those jobs best left to the lawn care service team. To get it done right, well, the process is far from a walk in the park.
With that said, lets take a closer look at lawn core aeration, why its important for your lawn and why the pros have a leg up with this particular chore.
Complete Lawn Aeration Equipment Guide
Whether you live in the scorching heat or the freezing cold, your lawn can become spotty and brown without the proper maintenance it requires. One method to help your grass grow stronger and healthier is aeration. Like any other plant, grass roots need oxygen. Over time, thanks to foot traffic, rain and snow, and gravity, the soil around the roots of grass can become compacted, limiting the amount of air reaching the roots. The result? A less than healthy-looking lawn, to say the least.
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