What Is Lawn Aeration
Lawn aeration requires punching holes in your lawns surface, reducing surface compaction and allowing air to permeate the ground. These holes also create a path for water and fertilizer to easily reach the root zone beneath the turf, helping ensure a thick lawn.
There are different ways to aerate your lawn. A small lawn can be handled with a manual core aerator. This can be tedious, and you should wear thick-soled work boots to protect your feet from repetitively stepping on a metal bar.
The most effective way to aerate a lawn of any real size involves a machine with hollow coring tines. This type of aerator punches holes and removes soil cores from the ground.
Spike aerators and those with slicing knife blades, such as the Craftsman Tow Spike Aerator, are less effective. Many lawn owners like them because they dont bring soil to the surface, which can cause a mess. However, these non-coring aerators are not as efficient at opening up the soil for nutrients and water to enter.
Dont bother with aerator spikes you attach to shoes and wear around the yard. They dont penetrate the ground enough to make a difference.
Can You Dethatch And Aerate At The Same Time
As mentioned above, the best time to dethatch or aerate your lawn is during the peak growing season of your grass. This can vary between different types of summer or winter grass. However, no matter when the peak growing season for your grass is, these processes of dethatching and aerating can be performed concurrently.
Thatch is a common enemy in terms of your lawn. Dethatching and aeration are two techniques of dealing with issues that can be brought about as a result of thatch. Thatch that has become too thick that is to say, too much organic matter and debris has accumulated beneath the surface of your lawn can hinder the airflow and water uptake of your lawn.
When it comes down to aerating your lawn, you could also utilize a liquid aeration product designed to help manage the build-up of thatch. In addition to this, the techniques discussed earlier in this article can be used namely the spike or plug aerators. You may even be able to rent lawn aeration equipment locally.
For dethatching, there are a variety of tools that can be used at home without the need of hiring equipment or a professional. From manual to power rakes and verticutters, of course, there are many different tools that can be used to dethatch your lawn. Youll need to pick the option that is best for you! Like with aeration equipment, you may be able to locally hire this equipment for use in your garden.
Should You Aerate Your Lawn:
The most common question among homeowners is how to determine whether their lawn is a good candidate for aeration. Here are some tips.
- If your lawn get heavy use, such as children and pets routinely running around the yard. These activities contribute to soil compaction.
- If your lawn was created as part of a newly constructed home. Often, grass is established on subsoil and compacted by construction traffic, leaving the topsoil stripped or buried.
- If your lawn has a dried out and spongy feel to it. This is an indicator that you may have an excessive thatch problem. Use a shovel and remove a 4 inch slice of the lawn. If the thatch layer is greater than one-half inch, aeration is recommended.
- If your lawn was established using sod that leaves a soil layering of finer texture over the existing courser soil. This finer layer disrupts the drainage, leads to compacted conditions and causes poor root development. Aerating will break up the layering and allow water to flow more freely to reach the roots.
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What Do You Do After You Aerate Your Lawn In The Spring
What to Do After Aerating Your Lawn
When Is The Best Time To Aerate And Overseed
In Southern states, it is best to overseed in late Summer and early Spring since youd want to give the root systems time to establish underground before hot temperatures put the grass to the test.
At the same time, those in the Northeast, for example, could plant a little sooner to achieve the optimal overseeding result. This is due to the milder temperatures which would allow for the seeds to go in the ground earlier in the Summer.
It takes great soil to make a plant grow healthily. If you live in places where plants only grow by the help of miracles, you should bear in mind that youd need to aerate the soil where you want the plants to grow.
Theres a definite threshold for aeration and too much of a good thing is just that, too much. You just have to be vigilant and control all activities where you want your plant to grow since aeration can weaken the soil and existing grass for a brief time.
If youre still in the planning phase of planting grasses on your lawn, access the soil carefully to know exactly what youre dealing with.
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Should I Aerate Before Leveling
Re: Mechanically Aerate BEFORE Level? Yes but if you leave them, they’ll break down and eventually your soil will be exactly the same as it was before aeration. Removing and filling will sand will allow the aeration to be a more permanent solution for water and nutrient infiltration deeper into the root zone.
You Aerate And Overseed During Dry Conditions
Aerating is easy on your turf, and you, when your soil is slightly moist. Overly dry and compact soil is harder to penetrate and requires more manual effort to push the machinery. Especially during times of drought when you grass is already stressed, its best to wait until the day after a good rainfall before aerating.
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What Is The Best Month To Aerate Your Lawn
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Hereof, is it too early to aerate my lawn?
For spring aerating, the best time to aerate your lawn in Ohio is early to mid March. If you see the dandelions popping up in your lawn, it is too late to aerate. If you miss spring aeration, fall is another great time to aerate. Fall aeration should take place mid to late October after temperatures have cooled down.
Secondly, what is the best way to aerate your lawn? Before You AeratePeiffer says the best aerating machines are those with hollow, metal tines that penetrate the ground and pull plugs of soil from the lawn. You can help the tines penetrate deeper by watering your lawn one to two days prior to areating. Apply about an inch of water to the grass.
Subsequently, one may also ask, is it good to aerate your lawn in the summer?
This means that aeration should occur between late spring and through the summer. Anytime during this season will help your lawn, as long as it is not during heat waves or drought. Aerating during a heat wave or drought can do more harm than good because it can increase water evaporation.
How often should a lawn be aerated?
As for frequency, Friell said aeration should be performed at least once per year on most lawns, while twice annually is best for lawns with compacted soil or soil with high clay content.
Why And When You Should Aerate Your Lawn
Kelly Burke is a professional turf manager for a manicured corporate campus in New England. He is accredited in organic land care and is a licensed pesticide applicator. He formerly managed the turfgrass as a golf course superintendent and has held several senior management positions at private country clubs overseeing high maintenance lawns.
Aeration is a lawn care practice designed to create openings in lawn turf and the underlying soil structure in order to penetrate the root and thatch layer and allow essential water and air down into the soil where it can better reach the grassroots. The process is usually called “core aeration” after the practice of punching small plugs, or cores, into the lawn. Usually, the practice is done with a motorized machine that can be rented, though there are also hand tools that can be used and which may be practical on very small lawns. Lawn care companies also offer aeration among their repertoire of services.
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Does My Lawn Need Aeration
Lawns that suffer heavy foot traffic and consist of clay soil get compacted more easily, so they likely need to be aerated more often. Does rainwater run off your lawn without soaking in? Did your lawn turn brown after a few days of hot weather? If so, it might be time to aerate. Another check: Dig into a square-foot section of your lawn and inspect how deep your grass’s roots grow. If they extend less than two inches into the soil, then it’s time to aerate.
What To Look For
If youve been reading this article and considering whether or not your lawn needs to be aerated, the answer is probably a resounding yes. This is because your yard is probably suffering from a bad case of compacted soil.
If your lawn is brownish/greenish-yellow, this is an issue related to poor drainage and signifies that it needs to be aerated immediately. Seeing this means your lawn is dehydrated and not getting enough water because water cannot penetrate through the soil to the grass roots. Clay soil is much more likely than sand-based soil to have this issue.
If you have a yard that houses old cars, or if you have grandchildren who are fond of frolicking in the grass, aerating your lawn is the right move. Compacted soil can be caused by pressure applied to your lawn over a very long period of time, and you might be preventing a potential problem by properly caring for and aerating your lawn. For example, if a case of compacted soil gets to be too extreme, water cannot penetrate the soil at all instead, it looks to squeeze its way into your basement because thats the next-best place for it to stay. Trapped water within compacted soil doesnt disappear, it just ends up in places where it shouldnt be.
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When Should You Aerate Your Lawn What You Need To Know
When your grass starts growing unevenly, thinning out, or changing color, such as turning yellow, it very likely means it needs aeration even if youre feeding it regularly. Unsightly symptoms can occur when you have tightly compacted soil because neither the roots nor the water can penetrate it. Core aerating may sound like a miracle cure for your lawn, but it can do wonders. Keep on reading to learn more about this process and when to aerate your lawn.
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Picking The Wrong Time Of Year
We have already covered the best time of the year to aerate and overseed your lawn, but some people will still do this project at the wrong time of year and be disappointed with the results.
It can be hard to wait when youre ready to tackle a big lawn renovation, but dont waste your time and investment because you were impatient. Your lawn isnt going anywhere.
Harsh winters and hot summers will cause problems for seed growth if you overseed later than you should in the fall or spring.
Furthermore, you should avoid aerating soil when it is too dry because it will be harder for the machine to break through and the plugs wont come out of the tines cleanly.
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When To Aerate Your Lawn In Colorado
Now the big question, if youre in our area, you need to know when to aerate your lawn in Colorado. The important thing to know is that you dont want to aerate your lawn based on your region. You want to know what type of grass you have and aerate it based on that. For example, Colorado has Kentucky Bluegrass and Fescues, but warmer areas could have a warm weather grass.
Aerating your lawn may sound minor, but it can have a profound effect on your lawns health and appearance. Follow our tips and youll be well on the way.
Equipment You Need To Aerate Your Lawn
Before you can aerate your lawn, you need to buy or rent an aerator. Aerators are specialized equipment, and there are three main types. Heres what you need to know:
Spike Aerators break up thatch and compacted soil by piercing holes in the ground. There are several types of spike aerators, including tools that look like pitchforks, spike rollers, and even spiked shoes that you strap to your feet and aerate as you walk on the lawn. Some people love spike aerators because they are simple and usually the cheapest type of aerating equipment. Others claim that they are the least effective and can make compaction worse by pressing the soil between each hole closer together. If you decide to go with this option, make sure you read reviews and understand how to use it properly.
Slicing aerators are the next best option. They use rotating blades to slice through thatch and soil to loosen it up and create space for water and air to flow. Like spike aerators, there are inexpensive options to choose from, but there is debate over their effectiveness.
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Watering Your Lawn After Aeration
For the best results, you will have to follow a watering regimen that varies over time.
During the first two weeks after aeration, you should water the lawn daily but very lightly. Do not water beyond a 60mm depth, just enough to keep the soil moist without washing away the grass seed.
At three weeks, you can water the lawn 3-4 days a week, but you must increase the depth to about 130mm. This will keep the soil moist and not dislodge any newly established roots. You can also mow the lawn if the grass is taller than three inches.
After a month, you should water the lawn even less often. However, make sure to water to a depth of 3 inches. Avoid watering on, or immediately after a rainy day.
After a month and a half, you can water your lawn frequently at a depth of about 2 inches or so. Also, avoid watering on rainy days. You can water in this fashion until you are ready to aerate the lawn again.
What Is The Best Time To Aerate A Lawn
Late summer and fall is the optimum season. Why fall? Blame it on summer. Thats when many lawns become compacted from heightened activity, foot traffic and dry weather. Fall aeration alleviates the compaction, preparing the soil to grow healthy grass the following spring.
Spring aeration is an alternative, but if you aerate in the spring, you could unearth weed seeds and cause unnecessary weed growth. And if youre applying a crabgrass preventer in spring, punching holes in your lawn after treating with a pre-emergent herbicide can compromise the chemical barrier it creates to prevent crabgrass and other weeds.
The absolute worst time to aerate is during hot, dry weather, which could quickly dry out the grass, causing undue stress to your lawn.
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When To Aerate Lawns In Colorados Front Range
With Colorado weather changing every other day it can be a little confusing when the best time aerate your lawn is. Thats why Erbert Lawns has created a guide about when to aerate lawns in Colorado, more specifically the front range.
But first, lets talk about why its important to aerate your lawns. Over time you will notice your lawn will grow thin and shorter. Your lawns soil will get compacted from activities, rain, and even snow! This compacted soil doesnt allow for your lawn to soak up nutrients and breathe properly.
The key to proper lawn aeration is knowing when is the best time to aerate. A good rule of thumb is that aeration should be done in the cooler seasons like Spring or Fall. However, living in Colorado, you probably get a little confused when those seasons really start or end. Here are our tips and tricks for aerating your lawns in Colorado during these seasons.
Why Aerate Your Lawn In The Fall
Experts recommend aerating your lawn at least once per year in either the spring or fall. In some cases, your lawn may require aeration twice a year, especially if thatch accumulates quickly. If your grass continues to struggle to grow or is lacking that envious bright green color, consider aerating in both the spring and fall.
That being said, if you only need to aerate once a year, make sure its in the fall. This just may be the key to maintaining a luscious lawn all year long.
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Time Of Year Aeration Should Be Done
The best time to aerate is during the growing season when your grass can heal and fill in any open areas once soil plugs are removed.
In most parts of California, the best time to aerate tends to be in the late summer to mid-fall months, ideally September or October.
While the grass will likely still be actively growing, theres a strong chance that the foot traffic on your lawn has slowed down a bit youre probably hosting fewer backyard barbecues now than you were in the middle of summer, after all. Fall aeration can help get your lawn strong and healthy again after a busy season of use.
Summer tends to herald a great deal of foot traffic and activity on your lawn, something that contributes to heavily compacted soil and makes it more difficult for nutrients, water, and oxygen to reach your plants.
Ultimately, deciding the time of year to aerate your lawn will depend primarily on what type of grass you are growing.
Aerate in the early spring or early fall if you are growing cool-season grass, like bluegrass, fescue, or ryegrass. If you live in places like the Pacific Northwest, Northern California, or any other part of the region that experiences cold winters and hot summers, youre likely growing a cool-season blend.
