What is lawn aeration
Aeration, or core cultivation, is standard lawn care. Heavy traffic can compact soil over time. Soil compaction restricts the flow of oxygen, water, and nutrients into the roots, causing the turfgrass to grow slowly and making it more susceptible to weed invasions. Aerating a lawn means supplying the soil with air, usually by poking holes in the ground throughout the lawn using an aerator. It reduces soil compaction and helps control thatch in lawns while helping water and fertilizer move into the root zone.
When to Aerate
A lawn can be aerated at any time, but should not be done when it is extremely hot and dry. Heavy traffic areas will require aeration more frequently.
You will aerate your lawn either in the fall or the spring, depending on what kind of grass you are growing in the lawn. If you have a cool season grass, you should aerate in the fall, when the danger of heat damage is low. For a warm season grass, you should aerate in the spring and summer during active growth times. For either kind, no matter when you aerate, you should do so on a day with mild temperatures and moist soil.
Plugs
Aeration is most effective when actual cores or plugs of soil are pulled from the lawn. Holes should be two to three inches deep and no more than two to four inches apart. Lawns should be thoroughly watered the day before aerating so plugs can be pulled more deeply and easily. Mark all sprinkler heads, shallow irrigation lines and cable TV lines before aerating so those lines will not be damaged.
On thatchy lawns, it is important to leave the cores on the lawn, allowing them to work back into the grass. Otherwise, the cores may be removed or left on the lawn. Lawns may be fertilized and seeded immediately after aeration. There is no need to top dress lawns following aeration.
How Aerating Heals your Soil
Aerating your lawn will take care of a lot of your problems. Aeration will loosen the compacted soil and thatch so that water and nutrients are more available to the plants. The process of aerating will also increase oxygen in the soil, which can stimulate the roots as well as the activities of the thatch-decomposing creatures that help keep your lawn healthy. Aeration helps reduce water runoff so that your watering is more efficient. Overall it will improve your lawn’s health and increase its tolerance to drought.
References
Adapted from the following sources:
Onlinetips.org and Colorado State University
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