Aerating Your Lawn

Why is aerating lawns necessary?

Aerating is a way of keeping the lawn healthy. Organic nutrients, loam, water and oxygen are added to the soil. Tight soil is loosened up which enhances the growth of grass. Lawn thatch resulting from dead and decaying roots, stems, leaves of plants can be cleaned in the aeration process.

When is lawn aeration done?

Lawn aeration can be done as soon as the lawn thaws after winter. Other factors such as type of soil and grass determine the frequency of aerating lawns. Sandy soil is quite loose and can be aerated once a year. If the lawn has warm-season grasses it should be aerated in spring whereas cool-season grass lawns should be aerated at the beginning of fall. In places with warm climates, grasses are over seeded to withstand cold. In such places the lawn should be aerated before over seeding. This will allow the lawn to soak the water and fertilizers.

When to avoid lawn aeration?

Even though aeration has its merits, it also has drawbacks. It can put a lot of pressure on grass. Some grass roots that spread horizontally in the topsoil can be cut during aerating and recovering may be difficult. Aerating should therefore be avoided during hot summer seasons when it is difficult for the soil to retrieve its losses.

Another time to avoid aerating the lawn is in case of a weed problem. First, the weeds have to be cleared and then the aerating can be done. Aerating with weeds in the lawn will spread the weeds all the more.

Which type is effective?

Proper aerating requires holes to be made 3-4 inches into the soil. Hydraulic aerators perforate into the ground and bring out some soil. This is known as punch-core aerating and is done with proper machinery operated by professionals. Self-aerating shoes available in the market do not work. The soil must be moistened before and immediately after aerating. Organic matter and fertilizers must be immediately added to the top soil layer after aerating.

Aeration is to allow the lawn to freely breathe. It lets the soil soak water and retain it longer. Nutrients also reach the root tips of plants. It is advisable to aerate your lawn once a year but if it is observed that the lawn is unhealthy then twice a year can be done. Consider aerating frequently if there are kids and pets at home those plays in the lawn or also when a lot of thatch is present in the soil.

Aerating unclogs the soil allowing deep penetration of nutrients and air into it. Sometimes the soil does not completely soak water resulting in loose and mushy top soil.  Clayey soil allows inadequate circulation of air and so it has to be aerated frequently. The lawn remains green and lustrous all through the year round if the lawn is aerated twice a year.