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Aeration of Lawn

August 16, 2016
lawn care, lawn service, lawn, landscapes, landscapes installations, landscape maintenance, lawn fertilization, insect interior pest control, weed control, dirt work, irrigation, irrigation and sprinkler repair, lawn solutions

While we never forget to take care of watering and fertilizing needs of our lawn, we usually don’t pay much attention to the aeration needs of their lawn. Landscaping companies explain that plants depend on air in the soil. Even water and nutrients are absorbed better when the soil is porous. Compact soil disrupts nutrient absorption and prevents roots from growing, hence regular aeration is a must.
If you want to get rid of thatch and make way for a beautiful lawn be sure to prioritize aeration.
Your lawn will thank you for letting it breathe again.

What is aeration?

The main reason for aerating a lawn is to alleviate soil compaction. Excess lawn thatch or heavy organic debris buried under the grass surface can also starve the roots from these essential elements and cause soil compaction which needs to be treated.
Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the soil and get absorbed by the roots. This helps not only the lawn grass to grow properly but also helps other plants in the lawn to become healthier and stronger.

Signs that your lawn needs aeration:

  • Your lawn suffers heavy footfall or vehicle driving and parking
  • You live in a region where soil has more clay content
  • Water puddles on watering and after rain
  • You find it difficult to stick a pencil or stick in the soil
  • Thatch layer is thicker than one and a half inch
  • Grass is thin, patchy or bare

When is the best time for aeration?

Though it’s advised aerate as soon as you see any of the signs mentioned above, the best time for aeration is during the growing season, when the grass can heal quickly and fill in any open areas after soil plugs are removed.
Ideally, aerate the lawn in the early Spring or Fall for cool season grasses and late Spring for the warm season grasses.

Aerating tools

There are two main aerating tools:

  • Spike aerators
  • Plug aerators

In a spike aerator, you simply poke holes in the ground with a solid fork or tine. While the plug aerator removes a core or plug of grass and soil from the lawn. Poking holes is less effective and can cause additional compaction in the areas around the holes.
For the best results, use an aerating tool that removes plugs of soil. Use an aerating tool that removes soil plugs approximately 2 to 3 inches deep and 0.5 to 0.75 inches in diameter with distance about 2 to 3 inches apart. These tools can be rented from a lawn care company together with the instructions to aerate the lawn properly.
Aeration is a beneficial practice toward achieving a beautiful lawn. It’s best to make it an integral part of your lawn care regime. It’s one of the most important landscape maintenance services to be performed for a healthy, green and disease free lawn.

Contact Us today to schedule an appointment.

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