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When To Aerate Lawn In Wisconsin

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Does Your Lawn Need Aeration

3 Lawn Aeration Tools and When to Use (Solid and Hollow Tine)

Most of the Lawn owners mostly ask if their lawn needs aeration or not. Well, you can aerate your lawn if

  • Your lawn gets used heavenly. Vehicles and pets and children running on the lawn are the principal contributors to soil compaction.
  • Your lawn gets dried easily. It shows there is excessive thatch in your lawn. Thatch higher than ½ inch doesnt allow the air and water to flow under the soil.
  • Rainwater doesnt get absorbed, and your lawns soil is hard to touch.
  • Your lawn has heavy clay soil.
  • Why You Should Aerate

    Aeration is the antidote to the heavily compacted soil, which may be present on a lawn that gets very heavy foot traffic, or which is planted on a soil base that is heavy in clay content. It rarely is necessary where soils are on the sandy side. Core aeration is sometimes advertised as a solution to problems with thatch however, it does not do much to relieve that problem if thatch is already present. Where thatch is a genuine problem, a true dethatching operation is a better solution. However, dethatching is a fairly violent action to a lawn, and an annual core aeration may well prevent thatch problems in the first place.

    If you have the type of soil and conditions that require lawn aeration, you can do it once each year. It does not hurt your lawn, and in fact, will make it healthier and more attractive. Some people dislike the look of the small plugs of soil and turf that are pulled up and scattered over the lawn, and if so, you can rake them up. Left on the lawn, though, they will quickly break up and decompose.

    What Kind Of Results Will I See From Lawn Aerating And Seeding

    • First, be patient. This isnt like The Wizard of Oz where you go to bed before aeration in black and white and wake up after to a world in color. Results take time.
    • Youll start to see new grass sprouting in a few weeks, but you might not notice true results for a few months to a year. Keep in mind that even at a sod farm, it takes new grass seed 6-10 months to get to a point where sod can be harvested.
    • Eventually, youll notice thicker turf. And healthier turf thats better at resisting diseases and wont dry out as fast.

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    What Is Lawn Aeration

    Lawn aeration, coring, and aerifying are different terms you might hear for the same procedure. A core aerator removes plugs of soil from your lawn, which helps loosen compacted soil and allows vital air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots. You can either aerate your lawn yourself or call a lawn service. If you plan to DIY, rent an aerator and follow these tips.

    Why Overseed If My Lawn Looks Okay Isnt That A Waste Of Seed Will It Do Any Good

    Lawn Care Services
    • If your lawn is thick and healthy, you might not need overseeding. But if there are thin spots, or you see fungus or disease, those are signs some fresh, quality seed can do your lawn some real good.
    • Also consider this: its a good idea to introduce new varieties of high-quality grass seed into your lawn occasionally, no matter what type of grass you have. New, improved seed is always being developed thats more resistant to drought, insects, disease or has other impressive qualities.
    • There’s really no better time to seed than right after aeration. All those little holes are the perfect receptacles for seed to soil contact. Might as well take advantage of it.

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    What Exactly Is Lawn Aeration

    Lawn aeration is the process of puncturing the soil with small holes that aid vital elements, such as air and water, to enter the grassroots. This process helps the roots to grow deeply, which in turn produces a stronger and livelier lawn.

    The main purpose of lawn aeration is to provide air and breathability to your lawn and the soil underneath it.

    Why Cant I Use Seed From The Store Isnt All Grass Seed Pretty Much The Same Whats The Difference

    • You can. But will you know youre getting the right kind, designed for the conditions of your yard? And will you actually know what youre getting? Bargain seed from the big box store often has weed seed mixed in. Let the pros cover your lawn with high quality, premium grass seed thats a good match for your exact conditions, provides great color and resists diseases.

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    The Best Time To Aerate Your Lawn

    Though aeration helps your lawn, it also stresses it. To ensure it recovers quickly from any damage, only aerate it during its peak growing season. This varies based on the type of grass you have and your location. In cool climates and for cold-season grasses, early spring and early fall are good times. For hotter climates and warm-season grasses, late spring and early summer are best.

    Types Of Lawn Aerators

    How to Aerate, Spike & Hollow Tine a Lawn

    Lawn aerators come in two types: spike and plug.

    • Spike aerators are less effective but tend to be more affordably priced. They make very small holes and dont require any cleanup afterward.
    • Plug aerators remove small, cylindrical chunks of soil. They leave these strewn all over the lawn, so youll need to mow over them or manually remove them later, but this is much more effective.

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    When Should You Aerate Your Lawn

    Anyone who owns a home knows a great lawn doesnt happen by accident. It takes a lot of planning and maintenance to get lush green grass thats the envy of all your neighbors. Regular watering, mowing and fertilizing are important, but they wont do anything for you if your soil doesnt provide the right growing conditions.

    Over time, soil can become so compacted that it doesnt let nutrients reach the roots, where they can do the most good. Lawn aeration is a simple process that solves this problem. To get the best results, though, it is important to do it at the proper time otherwise, you may be doing more harm than good.

    How To Aerate Your Yard

    If you’re convinced that your lawn is in need of aeration, here are some lawn care tips on how to do it:

    • Before you get started, make sure the soil is moist enough. There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to aerate soil that is bone dry. Aerating the day after a rain shower or watering your lawn the day before is advised.
    • Most aeration machines cover only a small percentage of soil surface per pass, so make multiple passes over the most compacted areas. Save resources by leaving unaffected areas alone
    • The excavated soil plugs should be allowed to dry and then broken up to give your lawn a uniform, clean appearance. Break them up by running them over with a lawn mower or pounding them with the back of a rake.
    • An aeration myth is that if you apply a pre-emergent herbicide on your lawn in the spring, aerating your lawn will destroy the herbicide “barrier.” This is not true research shows that aeration will not affect crabgrass control or weed prevention.
    • After aerating, it’s important to continue basic lawn care practices such as proper fertilizing, mowing and watering.

    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.

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    What Are The Benefits To Aerate Your Lawn

    Lawn aeration is how will make your lawn healthy. As a result, youll get a dense and beautiful lawn. Aeration benefits your lawns root system, including:

  • Nutrients and fertilizers can easily penetrate the root system.
  • Your lawn will breathe because of easy access to oxygen.
  • The tendency for water to get absorbed will increase.
  • Enhance flexibility and cushioning.
  • Prevent the fertilizers and nutrients from running off.
  • Improve air exchange between atmosphere and soil
  • When Is The Best Time To Overseed

    #1 Lawn Care In Brookfield WI

    The best time to overseed is in the fall for cool-weather grasses.

    If you want to overseed in the spring, do it early so that the seeds can take root before summers heat arrives. Combining aeration and overseeding is the best way to enhance your lawns health and appearance. Overseeding is best done after aerating.

    Overseeding Lawns

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    Yard Md: Fall Lawn Tips To Prepare For Winter

    Even though your lawn may look great now with all of the rain and cool weather we have been having, keeping that fresh green look going strong next season requires proper fall care and maintenance now.

    Looks can be deceiving, and while your yard may appear healthy, heavy and wet soils are especially prone to compaction, which is one of the main causes of most common lawn problems.

    Fortunately, routine maintenance and care for your lawn, whether done yourself or with a lawn care professional, can prepare the lawn for winter and the coming spring.

    “The last few years have been tough on Wisconsin lawns,” said Troy Reissmann, owner of Valley Organics lawn care, which services customers throughout east central and northeast Wisconsin. “We have gone from one of the worst droughts in state history to one of the coolest and wettest summers on record.”

    Thin spots and compaction

    Thin spots in the lawn are often the result of soil compaction, which in itself, is a leading cause of just about every major lawn problem found in our area, including weed infestation and discoloration.

    Your best defense against weeds of all types is a full, lush lawn. This means keeping the mower setting high 3 to 4 inches is ideal.

    Overseeding, reseeding, fertilizing

    Jef Vondrachek, Vondrachek Lawn Care, Oshkosh, said that fall is a good time to do overseeding and reseeding of lawns because of the cooler temperatures and additional moisture provided by rain and dew.

    Broadleaf weeds

    Signs That Your Lawn Needs Aeration

    There are several signs that may indicate your lawn needs aeration.

    • It begins to turn brown after just a few days of hot weather
    • Water puddles on the surface after rain
    • The grass isnt growing or is growing slowly
    • There are lots of bald or worn spots
    • The grass is noticeably thinning
    • There is a heavy buildup of thatch

    If you are still unsure if your lawn needs aeration after seeing some of these signs, there are two tests you can perform. Try sticking a shovel into the soil. If it is difficult to penetrate, it is too heavily compacted. You can also dig into a section of your lawn and inspect the roots. If they dont extend at least 2 inches, your soil likely needs aeration.

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    How To Tell If Your Lawn Needs Aerating

    There are several signs that a lawn is in need of aeration. In addition to making aeration a regular part of your annual yard prep and/or clean-up, watch for indications that water is not penetrating the soil properly. If, after watering, you notice puddles forming or soil that seems to dry out very quickly, these are both signs that your soil is compacted which will prevent water from reaching the roots of your lawn. Other signs to look for include brown or dead spots, thin and dull grass, or grass that just doesnt seem to grow much . These may all be symptoms of compacted soil, best remedied with regular aeration.

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    Yard Care Tips- Aeration & DeThaching for an Awesome DIY Lawn White Bear lake Mn

    Our Milwaukee lawn aeration services also provide an array of other landscaping specialties to create a beautiful outdoor living space all your own. Whether you need a brand new patio installed or outdoor lighting ideas for your backyard pond, Loomis Landscaping provides all the above.

    We feature the following outdoor management, repair, and installation services:

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    How To Aerate & Dethatch Your Lawn

    Too much thatch can weaken your lawn. You have two ways to remove it: dethatching and aerating.

    If your lawn doesnt seem to be growing as well as it should, even though its being fed regularly, it may be because of either thick thatch or compacted soil . In both cases, the grass is suffering because air, water, and nutrients arent able to move freely into and through the soil, and are having trouble reaching the roots. You can tell your soil is overly compacted if you cant easily insert a screwdriver into it. When thatch is too thick, your lawn will feel spongy, and it will be difficult to stick your finger through to the soil.

    Either way, you need to take action. If your lawns failure to thrive is due to compaction, you will want to aerate it. If thick thatch is the problem, you will instead need to dethatch your lawn. Heres how to do both of these simple fixes.

    What Is Core Aeration

    The process of core aeration creates holes down into the soil by extracting plugs of soil out of the turf panel to allow air, water and nutrients to reach grass roots. It loosens soil, reduces compaction and enhances seed germination.

    Aeration is good for your lawn because it allows for seeds to germinate more easily in aerator holes.

    Another factor in lawn damage is compaction. Your lawn can become compacted easier than you think.

    Vehicles or small equipment driven on lawns and even entertainment, pets and children playing can cause soil compaction. By definition, compaction refers to increasing the density of the soil when it is compressed.

    Villani Landshapers Lawncare Manager Justin Kolvenbach says I work with our lawn care clients all throughout the year and the question of service options in the fall comes up regularly. There are several things that you can do to help reduce compaction, among them core aeration. It really does give your lawn new life.

    The weather from September through October in Wisconsin typically calls for mild days and cooler nights. With moisture in the ground this creates an ideal environment for growing grass seed.

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    Warm Versus Cool Season Grass

    The main difference between warm season and cool season grass is that each type exhibits active growth at different times. In most parts of the U.S., warm season grasses grow actively between April and October. Warm season grasses are heat and drought tolerant, making them ideal for warmer climates. During the cooler months, most warm season grasses will go dormant, turning brown or yellow until the warmer temperatures return. Cool season grasses, on the other hand, are ideal for areas that experience both hot summers and freezing winters. These grasses grow most actively in the spring and fall, when temperatures are moderate, and may go dormant in the hottest months. You can see a full list of warm and cool season grass varieties by visiting this link.

    When To Seed Your Lawn

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    The time just after aeration is ideal for seeding and overseeding. Take advantage of this time and seed sparse areas and make any repairs to your lawn. An overseeder rental can make this project quick, easy, and rewarding. Its also the perfect time to fertilize because nutrients have a direct line to the grass roots. Youll want to purchase seed that matches your current grass type, which is often determined by your geographic area. Certain seed types dont grow as well in different climates, so its important to choose the correct seed type for your lawn.

    The combination of aeration and overseeding once a year will have your lawns looking lush in no time. Take advantage of the early fall season and get from doing to done with The Home Depot Rental.

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    When Is The Best Time To Aerate

    Aeration is best performed just before or during periods of high growth. However, not immediately preceding or during periods of stress to the lawn. For example, heat or drought. The type of grasses that make up your lawn will determine the best time of year to aerate.

    When to Aerate if You Have Cool-Season Grasses: If youre working with cool-season grasses, including bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass, aerating during the growth periods in the spring and fall is best.

    When to Aerate if You Have Warm-Season Grasses: For warm-season grasses such as Bermudagrass, buffalograss, St. Augustine and zoysiagrass, aerate during warm times of the year, between late-spring and early-autumn.

    Considerations for Aerating in the Spring: In the spring, wait until youve mowed the lawn a few times before aerating. Doing so ensures the lawn will grow fast enough to recover and take advantage of the increased pore space and air exchange at the root zone that aeration creates.

    One caveat, says Friell, is that any disturbance of the root zone in the spring can increase weed competition by bringing buried seeds to the surface. Applying fertilizer and a pre-emergent weed killer following aeration can reduce the potential for weed competition and increase the hardiness of the grasses. But dont apply a weed killer if you plan to overseed following aeration. It will prevent germination of the seed you put down.

    Why Should You Aerate Your Lawn

    It is important to aerate your lawn because it helps to alleviate soil compaction. When the soils are compacted, they have a dense particle population, and this prevents the air, nutrients, and water in the soil from properly circulating. Excess lawn thatch, which is a layer of living and dead turfgrass tissue that has amassed on a lawn surrounding the base of the grass, can also starve the roots from the vital elements.

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